Homemade preserved olives are a great way to enjoy a flavourful snack, prepared in the traditional way. With a touch of spice and a traditional process, these olives are perfect to accompany any occasion.
Ingredients (for 2 jars of 500 ml):
- 1 kg fresh green olives
- 1 lemon (sliced)
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf per jar
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- Water (to cover the olives)
- Extra virgin olive oil (to cover the olives)
Elaboration:
- Prepare the olives: Wash the green olives well and, if you prefer, you can make several cuts with a knife or crush them slightly to better absorb the flavours. Soak the olives for 20 to 30 days, changing the water daily to eliminate the bitter taste.
- Sterilise the jars: Sterilise the glass jars in which you will store the olives. You can do this by boiling the jars and lids in water for 10 minutes and then drying them upside down on a clean cloth.
- Prepare the mixture: In a large bowl, mix the drained olives with the lemon slices, garlic cloves, oregano, thyme, bay leaf and paprika. Stir well so that all the olives are infused with the flavours.
- Pack the olives: Fill the sterilised jars with the olive and spice mixture, making sure to evenly distribute the ingredients. Add two tablespoons of coarse salt to each jar and cover the olives with water until they are completely submerged.
- Cover with olive oil: Add a layer of extra virgin olive oil to the top of each jar. This will help keep the olives fresh and prevent mould from forming.
- Decorate the jars: To decorate the jars like the ones in the picture, cover the lid with a piece of checkered fabric (or the design of your choice) and secure it with a rubber band or string. This will give it a rustic and handmade touch, ideal as a gift or to present on the table.
- Label the jars: Create personalised labels to stick on the jars, indicating the contents and the date of preparation. This is not only useful for knowing when the olives will be ready, but will also add a special, elegant touch to your preserves.
- Close and preserve: Close the jars tightly and store them in a cool, dark place for at least a month before consumption. In this way, the olives will absorb all the flavours and will be ready to enjoy.
Preparation time:
- 20 minutes (+ 20 to 30 days soaking and 1 month maceration).
Suggested presentation:
- Serve the olives in a bowl with other tapas such as cured cheese or Iberian ham, and accompany them with a good wine or a cold beer.
Additional advice:
- You can customise the olive dressing to your taste, adding spices such as cumin, fennel or even chilli if you like a spicy kick.
- If you want softer olives, you can soak them for longer to remove the bitterness.
- For a more attractive presentation, decorate the jars with chequered fabric and add personalised labels.
Calories and nutritional data (per approximate serving):
- Calories: 70 kcal
- Fat: 6 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fibre: 2 g
Come and prepare these delicious homemade olives, ideal to accompany special moments with friends and family. Don't forget to share your photos and opinions about this homemade recipe!
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