Best Homemade Olive Pickle
Meta Description: Learn how to make the best homemade olive pickle with briny olives, garlic, lemon, herbs, and spices. This easy pickled olive recipe is tangy, savory, and perfect as an appetizer or side.
Best Homemade Olive Pickle
If you love bold, tangy flavors, this Homemade Olive Pickle is a delicious addition to your table. Juicy olives are combined with garlic, lemon, chili, herbs, and aromatic spices to create a flavorful pickle that’s salty, slightly sour, spicy, and incredibly addictive.
It’s easy to prepare and makes a wonderful accompaniment to bread, rice dishes, grilled meats, sandwiches, and cheese platters.
The recipe is especially useful when you want to turn ordinary olives into something much more flavorful.
Why You’ll Love This Olive Pickle
- Easy to prepare
- Bold, tangy flavor
- Great with everyday meals
- No complicated ingredients
- Customizable spice level
- Perfect appetizer or side
- Keeps well when properly refrigerated
Ingredients
- 3 cups green or mixed olives, pitted or whole
- 5–6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 small green chili, sliced, optional
How to Make Olive Pickle
1. Prepare the Olives
If you’re using jarred or brined olives, drain them well.
Give them a quick rinse if they’re extremely salty, then pat them dry.
If using whole olives, lightly crush each one with the flat side of a knife. This allows the flavors to penetrate more easily.
2. Toast the Spices
Place a dry skillet over medium-low heat.
Add the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and black pepper.
Toast for approximately 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove from the heat once fragrant.
This small step brings out much more flavor from the spices.
3. Prepare the Pickling Mixture
In a bowl, combine the vinegar, lemon juice, salt, red pepper flakes, oregano, and toasted spices.
Stir well.
4. Add Garlic and Lemon
Add the sliced garlic, lemon slices, parsley, and green chili if using.
Mix everything together.
5. Combine With the Olives
Place the olives in a large bowl or clean glass jar.
Pour the pickling mixture over them.
Add the olive oil.
Gently stir or shake the container so the olives are evenly coated.
6. Let the Flavors Develop
Cover the container and refrigerate.
For the best flavor, allow the olives to marinate for at least 24 hours.
The flavor becomes even better after 2–3 days as the garlic, herbs, lemon, and spices infuse the olives.
Tips for the Best Olive Pickle
Choose Good Olives
Green, black, Kalamata, Castelvetrano, or mixed olives can all work.
Using a combination of varieties creates more interesting flavor and texture.
Don’t Oversalt
Brined olives already contain plenty of salt, so taste them before adding additional salt.
Adjust the Heat
Add more or less chili depending on your preference.
Give It Time
Although you can eat the pickle after a few hours, letting it sit for a day or two gives the best flavor.
Keep the Olives Covered
Make sure the olives remain well coated with the oil and pickling mixture during storage.
Easy Variations
Spicy Olive Pickle
Add extra red pepper flakes and sliced fresh chilies.
Lemon Herb Olive Pickle
Add extra lemon zest, parsley, oregano, and rosemary.
Garlic Olive Pickle
Increase the garlic for a stronger savory flavor.
Mediterranean Olive Pickle
Add sliced roasted red peppers, thyme, oregano, and a few capers.
Indian-Inspired Olive Pickle
Add mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cumin, chili powder, and a pinch of turmeric for a more intensely spiced version.
How to Serve Olive Pickle
This olive pickle is delicious served alongside:
- Fresh bread
- Naan
- Paratha
- Grilled chicken
- Grilled fish
- Rice dishes
- Sandwiches
- Cheese
- Crackers
- Charcuterie boards
- Salads
You can also chop the olives and use them as a flavorful topping for sandwiches, wraps, pasta, or roasted vegetables.
Storage
Because this recipe contains fresh garlic and herbs, keep it refrigerated.
Store it in a clean, airtight glass container and use within approximately 1 week.
Always use a clean utensil when removing olives from the container.
Important: This is a refrigerator pickle, not a shelf-stable canned pickle. Do not store it at room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use black olives?
Yes. Black olives work beautifully, and you can also combine green and black olives.
Can I make it less spicy?
Absolutely. Simply reduce or omit the chili flakes and fresh chili.
How long should olives marinate?
At least 24 hours is recommended, but 2–3 days gives even better flavor.
Can I use Kalamata olives?
Yes. Kalamata olives provide a rich, fruity flavor and work especially well with lemon, garlic, and oregano.
Can I use fresh olives directly from the tree?
Freshly harvested olives are naturally very bitter and require proper curing before they can be eaten. Use commercially cured olives for this quick refrigerator recipe.
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Marinating Time: 24–72 hours
Total Time: About 24 hours
Servings: 6–8
Category: Pickles, Appetizer, Side Dish
Method: Refrigerator Pickling
Final Thoughts
This Homemade Olive Pickle is an easy way to transform simple olives into a bold and flavorful side dish. Garlic, lemon, vinegar, olive oil, herbs, and warm spices create a delicious combination of salty, tangy, spicy, and savory flavors.
Make a jar, let it marinate for a couple of days, and serve it alongside your favorite meals or as part of a beautiful appetizer platter.