Citrus Olives with Za’atar
Featuring orange zest, walnuts and za’atar seasoning, these Citrus Olives with Za’atar make for a unique and delicious appetizer!
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I would never have thought about this combination of ingredients in a recipe. Don’t get me wrong – these olives are delicious! But orange zest with za’atar seasoning and walnuts? Say what?
The inspiration for these Citrus Olives with Za’atar comes from Kentucky. My wife and I are big bourbon collectors, and last winter we took a long weekend trip to Bardstown, KY. We visited a number of distilleries, sampled a bunch of whiskey and enjoyed lots of good eats. This particular recipe? It was inspired by the Bar at Willett.
Now if you’re a bourbon fan, then you might be familiar with Willett Purple Top. These bottles are elusive and expensive. But they’re also damn good. I could go and on about the bourbon, but this is a recipe blog…so we’ll stick to the recipe.
We had stopped by the Bar at Willett for a drink, and we ordered some olives to snack on. The photo below does not do it justice, but the bowl of olives we got was absolutely fantastic. We both love olives to begin with, but the seasonings and flavors used in these olives was unique…and irresistible!
Citrus Olives with Za’atar
One of the more unique flavors in this olive recipe was the za’atar. If you aren’t familiar with this spice mix, then you should be! Za’atar is a blend of Middle Eastern spices, and like many spice mixes, there are lots of different variations on za’atar. It’s a great spice blend that can be used on everything from grilled chicken to hummus to, yes, olives.
What does Za’atar Taste Like?
Almost all versions of za’atar mix include oregano, thyme, sumac, salt, toasted sesame seeds, dried orange peel and za’atar. (Za’atar itself is a wild herb that is sometimes called hyssop.) The resulting taste is a little bit earthy, tangy and nutty. It has an aromatic and deep flavor, but it’s not overpowering. Used in the right proportions, za’atar adds a wonderful depth of flavor to foods without masking the flavor of the other ingredients.
I don’t have the recipe for the olives from the Bar at Willett. Instead, I had their menu and a rather poor photo that I snapped of our olives before we devoured them. I used those as inspiration for this Citrus Olives with Za’atar.
Mixed olives mixed with orange zest, finely chopped walnuts and toasted sesame seeds. The toppings on these olives mirror the flavors in the za’atar mix, so the whole dish comes together nicely.
We often pick up olives from the olive bar at our local grocery store and nibble on them during cocktail hour. However, now that I’ve made these Citrus Olives with Za’atar, I might have to make these every time from now on!
Storing Leftover Olives
These olives store very well. In fact, we’ve made these olives in advance and then just stored them in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before friends arrived. The olives can be served warm or at room temperature. When we ordered them at Willett, they came warm…and I have to say that warm olives are fantastic!
Leftovers should be stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. As long as they stay refrigerated, olives have an impressive shelf life. However, due to the other ingredients in this recipe, I’d recommend eating these Citrus Olives with Za’atar within about a week. I would not recommend freezing these olives.
If you’re looking for a unique and delicious appetizer recipe, then put these Citrus Olives with Za’atar on the list. The flavor is absolutely delicious! Cheers!
Did you make this Citrus Olives with Za’atar recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Citrus Olives with Za’atar
Ingredients
- 1 navel orange
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp za’atar spice mix see note
- 1½ cups mixed olives such as Castelvetrano, Kalamata, Nicoise and Cerignola (see note)
- ¼ cup walnuts lightly toasted and finely chopped
- {Optional garnish} 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
- {Optional garnish} 2-3 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Zest the orange; set both zest and orange aside for later.
- Using a small saucepan, add olive oil and place over medium-low heat.
- Once warm, add red pepper flakes, garlic, za’atar mix and olives.
- Cook, stirring often, for 4-5 minutes, or until garlic is just beginning to turn brown. (Note: Make sure the temperature is medium-low or even low. You don’t want to fry the garlic!)
- Remove saucepan from heat and add 2 Tbsp of fresh orange juice; set aside to cool.
- Drain excess olive oil and place olives in a small mixing bowl. (Note: Save the olive oil for other recipes – it makes a great marinade!)
- Add walnuts and orange zest; toss until well combined.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- {Optional} Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs and/or toasted sesame seeds before serving.
- Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
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Cant wait to make this soon for me i never had citrus olives with zaatar before perfect for my after office snacks love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Definitely give this recipe a try, Ramya – it’s become a new favorite here in our house!
My favorite part of this post is how you quietly revealed that you have an at-home cocktail hour. Why am I not having one?
I love za’atar. I havent’ cooked with it, but one of my favorite restaurant has, for the past few years, been on a za’atar craze, and I’ve loved everything they’ve done with it. I also LOVE a bowl of great olives, so this sounds fantastic. That you can put it together in advance of a party makes it all the more attractive!
Well, I’m guessing you’re not having an at-home cocktail hour because it was 9:25am when you left that comment. Fast forward to 4 or 5pm? Cocktail hour! And I highly (!) recommend making these olives for today’s cocktail hour. Cheers, Jeff!
Great recipe! We were just in Jordan to visit The Lost City of Petra, and where we stayed there was za’atar on every table! And great food. I like the chopped walnuts, too.
Interesting! Za’atar on every table? I mean that makes sense as it is an all-around spice mix. I like it! Thanks, Mimi!
These sound delicious! We have an allergy to both walnuts and pecans here. Would almonds or pistachios be a good substitute? Thank you.
Hey Mary! I think pistachios would be a great substitution here. Finely chopped almonds could work, too, but pistachios would be my choice. In fact, I may have to try that next time we make this recipe here. Cheers!
These olives sound so delicious David. I wish we had some this afternoon for our happy hour.I just bought some fresh zaatar, I know how to use it now.
Well if that timing isn’t perfect! Use some of that za’atar to make these olives. They’re great for happy hour!!
this sounds really good David. I love olives!
You and me both, Sherry! Bring on the olives!!
What a cool and unique combination of flavours! Indeed, the combination of orange and za’atar is not too surprising to me, as za’atar is already somewhat citrusy. But the overall flavour profile that goes with olives sounds quite intriguing. Gotta try this!
You definitely should try this one, Ben. It was so unique and delicious…which is why I had to come home and recreate it! Now it’s become a favorite party appetizer because (1) it’s delicious, (2) it’s unique and (3) it’s super easy to make!
Sounds like a fantastic combination, David. I love nibbling on olives before dinner so this is right up my alley.
Ohhh you should totally try this recipe, Frank! I love nibbling on olives, too, and this was a fun (and easy) way to add so much flavor!!
This is the perfect make ahead appetizer for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I really like how it can last up to 7 days in the refrigerator. I also love how quickly this comes together… so easy!
That’s a great point about making this one as an advance appetizer for the holidays. I might just have to do that…a couple of times! Thanks, Heidi!
These Citrus Olives with Za’atar sound like a bold and flavorful appetizer that’s perfect for impressing guests! The mix of orange zest, za’atar, and walnuts is a creative twist on traditional olives.
Olives go amazingly well with orange, walnuts and za’atar! Give it a try!