Pesto Marinated Olives Recipe

Tossing your favourite olives with fresh basil pesto is one of the simplest ways to create a flavour-packed party snack in minutes. These pesto marinated olives are quick, vibrant, savoury and ideal for effortless entertaining, whether you are planning a drinks party, building an antipasti board or need a last-minute appetiser for guests.

It is always useful to have a few easy party snack recipes you can rely on, especially when people arrive unexpectedly or you want to put something impressive on the table without cooking. This recipe is exactly that kind of idea. Open a jar of olives, stir through a generous spoonful of basil pesto, loosen everything with a little olive oil and you have a colourful, Mediterranean-style appetiser ready to serve.

The beauty of pesto marinated olives is that the ingredients are simple, but the flavour tastes much more special than the effort involved. The salty richness of the olives works beautifully with the herby freshness of basil pesto, while the olive oil helps coat every olive so each bite is glossy and full of flavour. Serve them straight away, or make them ahead and let the flavours mingle in the fridge.

These olives are lovely with pita chips, crusty bread or soft no-knead focaccia. They also fit perfectly into a larger grazing spread with dips, marinated feta, marinated mini mozzarella balls and other easy nibbles. They are casual enough for a relaxed evening but delicious enough to include on a holiday appetiser table.

Ingredients

You only need three ingredients to make these easy pesto marinated olives. Because the recipe is so simple, choose ingredients you genuinely enjoy. Good olives and a good pesto will make the biggest difference to the final flavour.

• Olives. Use your favourite olives, or choose a mixed selection for colour and variety. Kalamata olives are a great option because they are rich, briny and full of flavour. Pitted olives are easiest for guests to eat, but unpitted olives can also be used if you prefer them.
• Pesto. A fresh basil pesto gives the olives a bright, herby flavour. Homemade basil pesto is a wonderful choice if you have it, but a good-quality shop-bought pesto will also work.
• Olive oil. A little olive oil loosens the pesto so it coats the olives evenly. It also gives the finished dish a glossy texture and helps the marinade spread through the bowl.

How to make them

Making pesto marinated olives could not be easier. Drain the olives well, place them in a mixing bowl, then add the pesto and olive oil. Gently stir until the olives are completely coated. You can serve them immediately, but if you have time, let them sit for a little while so the pesto can settle into the olives and create an even deeper flavour.

If you are using unpitted olives and would rather serve them without stones, remove the pits before mixing. Pitted olives are especially good for this recipe because the pesto can settle into the centres, making every bite more flavourful. Once mixed, transfer the olives to a serving dish and add small skewers or cocktail sticks on the side for easy snacking.

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Like this recipe? Here are other easy party food ideas

If you make these pesto marinated olives, you can serve them as a simple appetiser, add them to a grazing board or keep a jar in the fridge for easy snacking during the week.