Description

Guests will feel like they are in an elegant restaurant when you serve these warm, spiced olives. It's a gourmet appetizer that is really simple to make but you will get rave reviews because they are just bursting with flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 t. fennel seeds, toasted
• 6 strips (3 x 1/2 inch) lemon zest from 1 lemon
• 4 bay leaves, dry
• 1 1/2 lb. mix of un-pitted olives (like Castelvetrano, Cerignola, and/or Alfonso)
• 1 c. olive oil
• 1 T. Aleppo pepper

Steps

1. Toast fennel seeds in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add lemon zest strips, bay leaves, olives, oil, and Aleppo pepper; cook, stirring, until just warmed through, about 3 minutes.
2. Remove any pits, if possible. They are easily removed from the warm olives.
3. Serve immediately in a serving dish or bowl with fancy cocktail toothpicks on the side.