Homemade Martini Olives Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

September 30, 2020October 9, 2020

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Once you start making these Homemade Martini Olives, there’s no stopping. Whether you’re having a party with friends or making a party appetizer, these co*cktail olives are a tasty treat. Plus, they make the perfect gift for any martini enthusiast.

Homemade Martini Olives Recipe:

I’ll be honest, olives aren’t my first choice of snack. But I finally found an olive recipe that I love. Actually, I can’t stop popping open the jar and snacking on these bad boys and I am actually shocked.

The olive brine is simple to make. Add the jarred olives (plus the juice) to some lemon juice, zest, white wine vinegar and minced garlic. Let them marinate in the fridge, and bam, you’re done. The absolute best part is that they won’t spoil as long as they are sealed tight in the refrigerator.

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

These brined olives can be used for the perfect dirty martini or served in a dish as a tasty appetizer or snack. They’d make a beautiful addition to any antipasto, crudité or vegetable tray, and they would also be great on a Charcuterie board, which are all the rage today. A Charcuterie board traditionally has a selection of cured meats and garnishes, like crackers, bread, nuts, dried fruits and spreads.

Did you know that charcuterie boards traditionally didn’t have cheese on them? A platter with meats and cheese with garnishes is traditionally called antipasto. But whether you call it charcuterie or antipasto, add whatever you enjoy and don’t forget these brined olives! Check out Farmwife Drinks’ post on making the perfect Cheese Plateand you should add these olives to it!

Easy Brined Olives = Perfect Homemade Gift

I love making homemade Christmas gifts. Cookies, cakes, breads, dog treats – you name it, I’ve made it and given it as gifts. When I found this recipe for Martini Olives in my Caterin to Charleston Cook Book, I knew exactly what I would do with these. Package them in a glass jar, add a pretty ribbon and label and you have a perfect homemade gift.

Everyone has a friend that either loves martinis or just plain loves olives. If you have a martini enthusiast in your life, pair these co*cktail olives with a new co*cktail shaker, martini glass or even a bottle of gin or vodka.

How to Make Martini Olives:

Instructions:

1. Zest a lemon and set aside.
2. Dump two jars of olives (with the juice) into a quart Mason jar.
3. Add white wine vinegar, chopped garlic, and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
4. Stir in lemon zest.
5. Refrigerate until ready to use. These keep indefinitely.

For the full instructions and ingredient list for homemade olive brine, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Notes About Homemade Martini Olives:

• Use your favorite green olive. I recommend Spanish Manzanilla, Pimento Stuffed or Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives.
• Essentially, this recipe makes a delicious olive brine, and the longer the olives marinate, the tastier they become.
• Add these to a martini or eat them just as they are.
• See the recipe card for a recipe for both a pint or quart sized jar.
• To be a little extra fancy, cut off the lemon zest in strips instead, and you will have an even prettier presentation.
• These homemade co*cktail olives won’t go bad as long long as they are kept in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
• These are the perfect edible Christmas gift. Pack them up in a basket with everything needed for a dirty martini – co*cktail shaker, co*cktail toothpicks, vodka (or gin) and vermouth or pair them with a new set of martini glasses!

Edible Christmas Gifts:

Mom’s Poppyseed Bread

Dainty Logs (Chocolate Chip Shortbread)

White Chocolate Crack (Snack Mix)

Linking up to Meal Plan Monday