Icon - Arrow LeftAn icon we use to indicate a rightwards action. Icon - Arrow RightAn icon we use to indicate a leftwards action. Icon - External LinkAn icon we use to indicate a button link is external. Icon - MessageThe icon we use to represent an email action. Icon - Down ChevronUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - CloseUsed to indicate a close action. Icon - Dropdown ArrowUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Location PinUsed to showcase a location on a map. Icon - Zoom OutUsed to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Zoom InUsed to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - SearchUsed to indicate a search action. Icon - EmailUsed to indicate an emai action. Icon - FacebookFacebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - InstagramInstagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - PinterestPinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - TwitterTwitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Check MarkA check mark for checkbox buttons.
You are reading

DIY: Home Cured Olives

Search

DIY: Home Cured Olives

November 28, 2012

When I moved into our current home, I was delighted that there were three large olive trees in the garden. When autumn came, the trees were laden with plump, black olives. Imagine my dismay when I discovered a hole in each, the result of a worm. I promptly went out and bought a couple of small olive trees in pots and for the past few years have managed to get at least four small jars of cured olives out of them.

Curing olives is easy, requiring nothing more than salt and water and a little attention. See below for details and if you are the sort of person who finds weekly tending to olives a bore, you can always try the slacker's approach: chuck all the olives in a pillowcase, drown in salt and hang from a tree. Leave for several months (even in the rain). Taste periodically and one day you will know they are ready when suddenly they taste good. (I tried this one year after a friend gave me five huge buckets of olives.)

700 olive tree in garden copy

Above: The small olive tree in a pot in the garden produces enough olives for two small jars.

DIY Home Cured Olives portrait 4

Above: Olives ripe for picking.

700 olives salt water

Above: The three simple elements needed for curing: salt, water, and olives. RInse the olives, put them in a jar along with a healthy handful of salt and mix around. Use a weight on top to make sure all the olives are submerged. Change the salted water weekly (or thereabouts). Store in a dark place for four to five months.

700 olives in jar two

Above: Two jars of home-brined olives.

N.B.: For more DIY holiday gifts, see "DIY: Moroccan Preserved Lemons."

(Visited 80 times, 1 visits today)
You need to login or register to view and manage your bookmarks.

Have a Question or Comment About This Post?

Join the conversation

v5.0