Citrus Marinated Olives and Feta are the perfect blend of flavors from the briny olives and salty feta with a hint of orange zest. Perfect low carb and keto appetizer for a holiday cocktail or New Year's eve party.
This easy and delicious recipe is also diabetic friendly as there is no added sugar and a serving contains 1g of natural sugar.
If you love olives you will love this Muffaletta Olive Spread recipe.
Olives are a great option when having people over as they are low in carbs and go well with charcuterie meats and cheeses. This holiday appetizer is often found in a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, fresh herbs, meats and vegetables. Marinated feta is a staple in many households in the Mediterranean. You might also want to serve these Charcuterie Cups for your next holiday party.
I was inspired to make this low carb citrus marinated olives and feta recipe while I was making my Keto Marinated Mozzarella Balls recipe.
Other low carb appetizer recipes you might enjoy
Ingredients Used
Marinated olives made with briny olives and fresh feta cheese with a blend of spices and citrus flavours.
- Green Olives: pimento stuffed green olives were used as they have a crisp flesh with rich and briny flavours.
- Kalamata Olives: a rich and almost fruity taste, with a milder less salty flavour.
- Feta Cheese: fresh feta cheese has a tangy sharp flavour and creamy mouth texture
- Olive Oil: a good quality extra virgin olive oil brings that fruity tangy flavour to this recipe
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: red pepper flakes add a little bit of spice to this recipe.
How to make Citrus Marinated Olives and Feta?
This recipe is a very simple quick throw together recipe with basically zero prep time.
STEP 1: In a large bowl combine the olives with the spices until well mixed throughout.
STEP 2: Cut the feta cheese into chunks or cubes and then place on top of the olives.
STEP 3: add the zest of one orange and gently mix everything together until well combined. Try not to break the chunks of feta and keep them whole, this is just for aesthetics, if some of them crumble it's ok.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinade for 2 hours. Can be marinated at room temperature if serving the same day, otherwise keep in the fridge until 1 hour prior to serving. Serve at room temperature.
Recipe tips
Top Tip: when mixing the ingredients together, mix it gently so not to break the cubes of feta, otherwise it may look mushy.
- Tip: if marinating in the fridge, remove one hour before serving to allow the olives and feta to get to room temperature.
- Serving: serve in small bowls with toothpicks or small forks and a side bowl for the pits
- Storage: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
Recipe variations
Marinated feta and olives can be flavoured with many other herbs, spices and other ingredients. Here are just a few other variations.
- Herbs - adding other herbs like thyme, bay leaves or basil to the marinade can add different flavours you might also enjoy.
- Garlic: adding thin slices of garlic cloves to the marinade will add those pungent and nutty flavours that garlic provides.
- Lemon - add more citrus flavours and marinade with lemon zest and lemon juice with the orange zest
This recipe is also gluten free.
Love olives? See this Keto Muffaletta Salad Spread recipe for another great recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Olives go well with other cheeses, grilled vegetables or nuts.
Serve in small bowls with a side of toothpicks.
A serving which is about 2 tablespoons contains 3g net carbs.
1 large orange may contain up to 22g of carbs. Since I am a type 2 diabetic and develop recipes that could be safe for other diabetics, I chose not to use the juice of the orange due to the added carbs and sugar.
Recipe Card
Citrus Marinated Olives and Feta
Instructional Recipe Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups pimento stuffed green olives
- 1.5 cups kalamata olives
- 8 oz feta cheese cubed
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dry rosemary
- 1 zest of an orange
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the olives and feta with all the ingredients until well mixed throughout.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinade for 2 hours.
Notes
Important Information
For more information, tips and variations please review the recipe video and content above and below the recipe card.
Updates and Revisions
If the video and recipe card differ, follow the recipe card for the latest ingredients and instructions.
Nutritional Information
Nutrition info is estimated and varies by ingredients, measurements, and portions.
Nutrition
🌡️ Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more food guidelines
Debra says
Loved how easy this was to make...and so tasty too.
Sara says
Love this combination of flavors.
Amy Liu Dong says
Such an easy and delicious appetizer. I will make this for my father-in-law's birthday!
Jeannie says
such a great tasting appetizer and easy too, totally a crowd pleaser
Emily says
I'm a diabetic too, so I know how hard it is to find good apps, especially around the holidays! This is a great idea.
Oscar Chimenti says
Thank you, these are a great snack option for diabetics.