Tossing your favourite olives with fresh basil pesto has to be the easiest party snack idea for entertaining. It’s quick, uses cupboard staples and is always a crowd-pleaser.
I love having a bank of quick, super easy party snack recipes to hand, especially in case of unexpected guests. It doesn’t get much easier than these pesto-marinated olives. Just grab a jar of olives from your cupboard, mix them with some lovely pesto and that’s it, you’re done. Quick, easy and such a delicious combination of flavours.
Serve up with a pile of pita chips, your favourite bread (I love serving them with soft, no-knead focaccia) and a selection of dips, more marinated goodies (marinated feta or marinated mini mozzarella balls are great) and watch your guests devour them.
Ingredients
All you need are three ingredients for this incredibly easy party snack.
- Olives. Use your favourite here – I like a mixture to keep things varied – but my go-to is always Kalamata. I prefer them pitted, but you can use unpitted olives if you like.
- Pesto. You really want to use a good quality, fresh basil pesto if you can, for the best flavour. I love making my own basil pesto – it’s easy and it tastes SO much better than anything storebought.
- Olive oil. This will help to loosen the pesto up, so it can be mixed properly through the olives.
How to make them
It really is as simple as mixing your olives with the pesto and a little olive oil, and then serving them up. So easy, so fast.
Got a question?
For at least one week, stored in a glass jar or a covered container in the fridge.
You can use either, but I personally prefer to use pitted olives. They’re easier to eat and it means the pesto can get right up inside so you get more of the flavour.
I definitely think so! This would be delicious with a red pepper or sundried tomato pesto, wild garlic pesto or even spicy zhoug sauce would be lovely.
Like this recipe? Here are other easy party food ideas
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear from you! You can leave me a comment below.
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Pesto Marinated Olives
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Tossing your favourite olives with fresh basil pesto has to be the easiest party snack idea for entertaining. It’s quick, uses cupboard staples and is always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 325g/11oz (drained) mixed olives (I used pitted Kalamata and green olives)
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Prep your olives. Drain the olives from their brine, then add them to a mixing bowl. If you’re using unpitted olives and want to pit them, do this now (I normally use my fingers to pry the stones out, but you could slice them in half).
- Marinate the olives. Add 1/2 cup of pesto and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bowl with the olives. Gently mix to combine, making sure the pesto is dispersed evenly through the olives. Transfer to a serving plate, and serve.
Notes
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS: These olives will keep well for at least 1 week, stored in a glass jar or covered container in the fridge.
INGREDIENT NOTES: I like to use a mixture of pitted olives, but you could use unpitted olives if you like. Switch up the pesto you use – this works equally well with red pepper or sundried tomato pesto, wild garlic (ramps) pesto or even spicy zhoug sauce.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: They’re wonderful as part of a party spread – serve them in a big antipasti platter with marinated feta, pita chips, a selection of colourful dips, chilli cheese focaccia and marinated mini mozzarella balls. You could also toss them through pasta or salads.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: snacks
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 tablespoons
Keywords: marinated olives
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