Marinated olives 

Coming from the culinary tradition of the Marche region, the recipe for marinated olives is a true regional Italian specialty that brings to the table all the taste of the precious fruits of the olive tree and the true flavors of Mediterranean cuisine. Simple to prepare, this recipe not only gives you the opportunity to obtain an appetizer or a delicious side dish, but also allows you to preserve fresh olives, freshly picked in autumn, for a long time, and enjoying their goodness for months. 

The recipe for marinated olives is really simple, as are most of the preserves from the Italian food and wine tradition: the simple but fragrant and tasty ingredients help the fine olives to lose the bitterness that they naturally present as soon as they are picked and to highlight the unique flavor.  We will marinate for 1 week in the refrigerator and serve the olives at room temperature.

The ingredients we need to create this preserve are few and simple:

Selected black or green olives

Salt

Garlic

Wild fennel

Orange or lemon zest, preferably organic

Preparation

The first step for the preparation of tasty marinated olives is in common with several other recipes, even the basic one for preparing olives in brine or olives in oil: after selecting the best olives, making sure that they are not bruised or ruined, the first operation is to clean the fruits. Wash the olives under running water, making sure to rinse off any residues and impurities, and then let them dry well on a cloth. In the meantime, cut the wild fennel, garlic and orange or lemon zest into slices. Cover the bottom of the jars with a first layer of coarse salt, then insert a layer of olives and one of slices of seasonings, and so on, being careful to leave about two centimeters of space from the lid of the jar: this will serve to shake the olives from time to time in the days following preparation, so as to be sure that the flavors and ingredients mix. Now all that remains is to wait about 15/20 days for the olives to be ready: don't forget to shake the jars at least once a day and drain the water that will form on the bottom. Your delicious appetizer will soon be ready. The marinated olives according to the Marche recipe are an all-Italian delight: don't forget to serve them as an appetizer to amaze your guests!