Marinated Grilled Olives – How to Make This Delicious Appetizer

At first, marinated grilled olives sound strange, but they are so good that they might become your go-to olive. I first came across grilled olives at the grocery store, being advertised as “Turkish grilled olives.” I tried them and I was instantly addicted. They eat like a meal and are so delicious that I couldn’t stop eating them until they were gone.

Grilled alone, maybe this recipe isn’t all that groundbreaking, but it’s the marinade that is the real game changer. Green olives are first grilled to get a slight char; barely a grill mark. Then, the grilled olives are combined with cubed feta and soaked in this marinade, or better yet sauce because the marinade is never shed. This is a perfect accompaniment to a mezze platter or appetizer platter.

This recipe is also perfect for surprise guests because it comes together quickly with ingredients you likely have on hand. You will look like a habile hosting hotshot and everyone will ask you your secret for these delicious marinated grilled olives!

Makes about 1 cup of olives, suitable for a group of 6. These are delicious when served warm, but will also keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Tools:

I think the best way to make these would be with an indoor grill just to prevent the olives from finding their way through the cracks or rolling away. A grill basket would also work, but keep a close eye on the temperature!

Ingredients:

8 ounces of good green olives. Pitted or with the pit is fine, just make sure they are whole olives and not sliced.

Spritz of olive oil

For the Marinade:

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

2-3 cloves of raw or roasted garlic

1 Thai red chili pepper, minced or 1/2 teaspoon of red chili flakes

2 tablespoons of chopped parsley

4 ounces of feta, cubed (optional)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat your grill to medium. Meanwhile, drain your olives in a colander.
2. Once the grill is preheated, spritz with some cooking spray and add the olives. Cook for about 5 minutes.
3. While the olives are cooking, combine all of the marinade ingredients and give it a quick stir.
4. Remove the olives from heat and allow to cool slightly before adding to the marinade. Serve the marinated grilled olives immediately warm or store in the fridge in an airtight container for a week or two.