Bringing the Flavors of Calabria to Your Kitchen: Spiced Olive Condiment Recipe

Have you ever been captivated by the authentic flavors of Southern Italy? Today, you have the chance to bring a piece of Calabria into your kitchen with a recipe that embodies tradition and taste: olives transformed into a rustic and spiced condiment. I’ll guide you through the process of making this delight, perfect as an appetizer or to enhance your dishes.

I still remember when my grandmother would open the large terracotta jar; the pungent aroma of wild fennel would blend with the spicy kick of red chili, immediately evoking the magic of Sunday family lunches. This condiment is more than just a side dish: it’s a sensory journey to the warm and breezy lands where these techniques have been perfected over centuries.

You, armed with simple yet full-flavored ingredients, can immerse yourself in the art of brining. The process requires patience – three months for the flavors to meld perfectly – but the result will give you that satisfaction that only homemade things can provide. And don’t forget that citrusy twist: finely chopped orange zest will add a fresh and surprising note to your Italian appetizer!

Recipe Notes

• SIMPLICITY: Easy to whip up with just a few ingredients.
• PROS: Bold flavor and a taste of traditional Calabrian cuisine.
• CONS: Requires some time for preservation.
• PREPARATION: Takes only 20 minutes of active time.
• NUTRITIONAL NOTES: Approximately 150 calories per 100g.

Ingredients notes for the recipe

• Olive: carefully selected and soaked to remove bitterness
• Wild Fennel: adds a fresh and distinctive aroma to the olives
• Garlic: gives a strong and aromatic flavor to the brine
• Red Hot Chili Pepper: adds a touch of spiciness to the olives
• Sea Salt: used to prepare the brine that preserves the olives

Nutritional Aspects

Let’s discover the benefits of Calabrian Style Brined Olives together:

• Source of monounsaturated fats, great for a healthy heart.
• High in antioxidants thanks to the olives and chili.
• Wild fennel adds fiber and aids digestion.
• Low in calories, about 150 Kcal per 100g of olives.
• Rich in vitamins and essential minerals for everyday well-being.
• No added sugars, a healthy option for a snack.

Recipe for Calabrian Style Brine-Cured Olives

Prepare traditional Calabrian-style olives in brine. Enhance the bold flavor with garlic, wild fennel, and hot red chili, and add a twist with finely chopped orange peel. Perfect as an Italian appetizer to share with friends and family.

Servings 4

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

• Olive
• Fennel Wild
• Garlic
• Chili Pepper Hot Red
• Salt Coarse

Instructions

• Carefully select the olives, ensuring that they are perfectly healthy. Immerse them in running water and leave them to soak for two days to remove the bitterness.
• Prepare a brine following the proportion of three parts coarse salt to seven parts water. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.
• In a suitable container, arrange a layer of olives and intersperse with wild fennel inflorescences (if not available, you can use chopped fennel seeds), thin slices of garlic, and chopped hot red chili pepper.
• Repeat the layering until the container is full, then pour the brine to completely cover the olives.
• Seal the container and store it in a cool and dry place for about three months, after which the olives will be ready to enjoy.
• If preferred, you can remove the olives from the brine once sweetened and preserve them in oil adding fennel, garlic, chili pepper, and finely chopped orange peel.

Notes

For an original twist and a citrusy aroma, add finely chopped orange peel to your oil-preserved olives along with wild fennel, garlic, and chili pepper.

Author: Tips4Food

Calories: 150kcal

Course: Appetizers

Keyword: Coarse Salt, Italian appetizer, olive soaking, olives in brine, Orange Zest, preserved in oil, spicy red chili, traditional Calabrian recipe, wild fennel

Variations of Calabrian Style Brined Olives Recipe

Add a twist of citrus by incorporating orange zest for a unique and zesty flavor.

• Take the olives out of the brine and preserve them in olive oil with fennel, garlic, chili, and finely chopped orange zest.

Common Questions About the Recipe

If you’re unsure about how to make Calabrese-style brine-cured olives, here are answers to some common questions.

How can I get rid of the bitterness in the olives?

Soak the olives in running water and let them sit for two days.

Can I substitute wild fennel with something else?

Yes, you can use ground fennel seeds if you don’t have wild fennel.

How long do I need to store the brine-cured olives for?

You’ll need to store the olives in a cool, dry place for about three months.

How can I enhance the flavor of the brine-cured olives?

You can finely chop some orange zest and add it along with the wild fennel, garlic, and chili to enhance the flavor of the olives in brine.