You will love these marinated olives with feta, lemon, and garlic! It is the quickest, most delicious appetizer you will ever make and the one that will wow your guests. Good olives can be mouthwatering on their own, but in this quick marinade, they are addictive!

If you love these Marinated olives, you will also love this Cretan DakoTaramosalata or Bread Dipping Oil!

Close up of a shallow bowl with marinated olives in olive oil, lemon peel, feta cheese, and pieces of bread.

Why this recipe sings

The olives are quickly marinated on the stove in extra virgin olive oil with lemon peel, chili pepper, and garlic for a unique, delicate flavor. The heat allows the flavors to meddle quicker, infuse the olive oil, and soften the olives. The cubed feta cheese is the finishing touch for this mouthwatering appetizer.

Plenty of crusty warm bread or homemade crackers are perfect for this dish. Dip it in the olive oil; the flavor is divine.

These olives can be served on grilled fish or as a delicious side dish.

Whether you’re a fan of olives or just looking to try something new, these marinated olives are worth a taste!

Here is what you need

Ingredients to make marinated olives.

The key to this dish is the quality of the ingredients.

Olives: I suggest you visit a Mediterranean or Greek grocer and get a variety of olives. Certain stores have an olive bar where you can choose and package your own olives. It’s up to you whether you choose pitted olives or not. Rinse the olives of any brine they may come in before marinating. See below our quick guide to Greek olives.

Extra virgin olive oil. Get the best extra virgin olive oil for your budget. Avoid blends as they are of inferior quality and most contain questionable vegetable oils. One of my favorite extra virgin olive oils is Athena Kolymvari Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Crete. You can find it at Shoprite, Whole Foods, Titan Foods and other supermarkets.

Chili pepper. The spicy pepper adds a bit of heat but does not overpower the dish. Substitute with a teaspoon (or more) of chili flakes.

Feta cheese. The most famous Greek cheese always comes in a block and in brine. Choose a good quality feta. Avoid pre-crumbled in a plastic container as it is dry and tasteless. The same goes for fat-free feta; it does not exist in Greece. Good brands of feta widely available in the USA are Dodoni and Vikos. Trader Joe’s also has good Greek feta in brine.

Lemon. You will use the zest as well as a few strips of lemon peel. It adds a freshness and a citrusy flavor to the dish.

A quick guide to Greek olives

Ten olives of different colors and sizes with olive tree branches on a old wooden table.

Kalamata olives: These meaty olives have tight skin and are pretty large, with an almond-shaped and dark aubergine color. The brining process involves the addition of red wine or red wine vinegar, which gives them a rich and fruity flavor that is simply exquisite.

Green olives from Chalkidiki: These olives are known for their vibrant green skin that has a glossy finish. Their flesh is firm and rich, and they have a subtle fruity scent. When it comes to taste, they have a unique blend of bitterness and spiciness that is truly one-of-a-kind. They are widely recognized in Greece and beyond as some of the finest table olives available.

Throumpa olives from Crete: These olives have a distinct black hue and a firm consistency. They are infested with the Phoma oleae fungus, and as they mature on the tree, it causes them to lose their bitterness. Additionally, no human intervention is necessary once the best olives have been chosen.

Throumpa olives from Chios: Same as the previous variety, the bitterness of these olives is removed by the fungus Phoma oleae that grows on the tree, so there’s no need for any extra processing. These olives are left to dry out naturally without any additional heat sources. You can find Throumpa Chiou all over the island and beyond, as they are gaining popularity due to their deliciously sweet flavor.

You can use many wonderful olives from other countries, such as Castelvetrano olives from Sicily, Italy, Cacereña and Manzanilla from Spain, Olives Noires de Nyons from France, etc.

Source: Tasteatlas.com

How to make it

Slice the garlic and chili pepper.

Remove two to three long strips of peel from one lemon using a vegetable peeler. Scrape or slice off the white pith at the back of the lemon peel. The pith can be bitter and can add an unpleasant note to the flavor. When it is removed, the peel will be edible.

Olives, sliced garlic, chili pepper and lemon peel in a skillet with olive oil.

In a skillet, add ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil, the sliced garlic, lemon peel and sliced chili pepper, and cook over medium heat for two-three minutes. Add the olives and cook for five minutes. 

Break the feta into bite-size pieces and put it in a shallow bowl. Pour over the olives, garlic, chilies, and all the olive oil. 

Close up of a shallow bowl with marinated olives in olive oil, lemon peel, feta cheese, and pieces of bread.

Zest the other half of the lemon on top. Serve immediately with crusty bread. Enjoy!

A shallow bowl with marinated olives in olive oil, lemon peel, feta cheese and garlic. A cloth napkin, pieces of bread and herbs are around, on a wooden table.

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Close up of a shallow bowl with marinated olives in olive oil, lemon peel, feta cheese, and herbs.

Marinated Olives With Feta, Lemon And Garlic

by Jenny | The Greek Foodie
These marinated olives with feta, lemon, and garlic are the quickest, most delicious appetizer you will ever make and the one that will wow your guests.
4.92 from 12 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Greek
Servings 4
Calories 196 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves sliced
  • 1 chili pepper sliced
  • 1 cup olives pitted
  • 1 lemon
  • cup feta cheese

For serving

  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves

Instructions
 

  • Slice the garlic and chili pepper.
    Remove two to three long strips of peel from a lemon using a vegetable peeler.
    Slice or scrape the white pith off from the back of the lemon peel.
  • In a skillet, add ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil, the sliced garlic, lemon peel and sliced chili pepper and cook over medium heat for two-three minutes. Add the olives and cook for five minutes.
  • Break the feta into bite-size pieces and put it in a shallow bowl.
    Pour over the olives, garlic, chilies, and all the olive oil.
    Zest the other half of the lemon on top.
    Serve immediately with crusty bread. Enjoy!

Notes

The key to this dish is the quality of the ingredients.
Olives: I suggest you visit a Mediterranean or Greek grocer and get a variety of olives. Certain stores have an olive bar where you can choose and package your own olives. It’s up to you whether you choose pitted olives or not. Rinse the olives of any brine they may come in before marinating. See the post for our quick guide to Greek olives.
Extra virgin olive oil. Get the best extra virgin olive oil for your budget. Avoid blends as they are of inferior quality and most contain questionable vegetable oils. One of my favorite extra virgin olive oils is Athena Kolymvari Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Crete. You can find it at Shoprite, Whole Foods, Titan Foods and other supermarkets.
Chili pepper. Substitute with a teaspoon (or more) of chili flakes.
Feta cheese. The most famous Greek cheese always comes in a block and in brine. Choose a good quality feta. Avoid pre-crumbled in a plastic container as it is dry and tasteless. The same goes for fat-free feta; it does not exist in Greece. Good brands of feta widely available in the USA are Dodoni and Vikos. Trader Joe’s also has good Greek feta in brine.
Lemon. You will use the zest as well as a few strips of lemon peel. It adds a freshness and a citrusy flavor to the dish.
 
 
Nutritional Info – Please remember that the nutritional information provided is only estimated and can vary based on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 5gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 814mgPotassium: 128mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 373IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 174mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @thegreekfoodie__ or tag #thegreekfoodie__
Marinated Olives With Feta, Lemon And Garlic

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Recipe Rating




9 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I am always on the lookout for delicious new appetizers. This is going to be a hit at bbq parties this summer. Love the combination of flavours.

  2. 5 stars
    When my stomach was growling just looking at the pictures I knew I had to make it. So good and made a great bbq appetizer!

  3. 5 stars
    What a great appetizer/snack idea! This would also make the perfect addition to a charcuterie board. 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    This was such a delicious dish! My partner loves feta and olives so this was exactly their kind of appetizer. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to make two bowls (one for them and one for everyone else) the next time we have a get-together.

  5. 5 stars
    This recipe is a winner in my book. Super simple but full of flavor. I prepared it in minutes and just like that in minutes my family ate them all. A great recipe for a family gathering for sure.

  6. 5 stars
    This is basically a dream appetizer for my husband and me – I would devour the olives, and he would take down the feta! 🙂 I love the garlic infusion, it really adds so much flavor to everything. Thanks for the fun recipe!

  7. 5 stars
    I love olives and could eat them alone as a lunch so I often have marinated ones from the store in my fridge. I figured they were easy enough to do on my own I gave this recipe a try and LOVED it. So much fresher than the store bought olives.

  8. 5 stars
    This is going to be go to recipe for marinating my own olives. I loved the feta rather than mozzarella, which is usually in the kind that I buy. This will be my new go to recipe.