Aceitunas Aliñadas Recipe: Easy Spanish Marinated Olives 2026

Aceitunas aliñadas are one of the simplest and most rewarding tapas you can put on the table. Starting with good brined green olives, you build a fragrant marinade of sweet paprika, oregano, fresh thyme, garlic and black pepper, then let time do the rest. The result is savory, slightly smoky and completely addictive.

This version takes about five minutes of hands-on work. You mix the seasoning in a jar, add the drained olives, cover them with a light salt brine and finish with a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil. Then the jar goes into the fridge, where the olives soak up every bit of flavor.

Patience is the only real requirement here. Two days in the refrigerator gives you tasty olives, but a full week turns them into something special. Serve them as a tapa with drinks, set them out before dinner, or keep a jar on hand for spontaneous guests.

Ingredients for Aceitunas Aliñadas

Makes 4 servings

• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 small bunch fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon if dried)
• 2 garlic cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 250 g green olives in brine
• 10 g salt
• 200 ml water
• Extra virgin olive oil

How to Make Aceitunas Aliñadas Step by Step

1. Mix the marinade base

Start with the base of the marinade. In a large jar, combine 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and 1 small bunch of fresh thyme (use just 1 teaspoon if yours is dried). Add 2 peeled and chopped garlic cloves along with ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper.

2. Add the drained olives

With the marinade ready, it is time to add the star of the dish: the olives. You will need 250 g of green olives in brine, well drained beforehand.

3. Cover with a light brine

Next, make a small brine to help preserve the olives and boost their flavor. In a separate container, dissolve 10 g of salt in 200 ml of water. Once the salt is fully dissolved, pour the solution into the jar, covering the olives completely. If needed, make more using the same salt-to-water ratio.

4. Seal and shake gently

Close the jar and shake it gently so all the ingredients mix together. You want the paprika, oregano, thyme and garlic to spread evenly among the olives.

5. Top with olive oil

Now add a splash of extra virgin olive oil to the surface for extra flavor and better preservation. Pour it in slowly so it stays on top and forms a protective layer that keeps the olives in perfect condition.

6. Marinate in the fridge

With everything in place, seal the jar tightly and store it in the refrigerator so the olives marinate and absorb all the flavors for at least 2 days. If you can wait up to 1 week, even better. The wait is well worth it.

Tips for the Best Aceitunas Aliñadas

Start with brined olives

Always begin with olives in brine, the kind you find at the supermarket. Olives straight from the tree need a prior curing process with water, brine or even caustic soda to become pleasant to eat, and that can take more than a week of careful attention. Using brined olives saves you all of that work.

Make the marinade your own

The combination here is delicious and simple, but there is plenty of room to play. You can switch the olive variety to green, black, with or without pits, manzanilla or gordal. As for spices, add or remove whatever suits your taste, and try rosemary, lemon or orange peel or even a few fennel fronds for interesting combinations.

Try extra add-ins

Beyond olives, herbs and spices, other common ingredients add delicious flavor notes, such as roasted red pepper, sliced carrot or small pickled onions. Feel free to experiment, then simply let the maceration time work its magic before enjoying them.

30 Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to lineup that covers cozy classics, well-known dishes from around the globe, and desserts that make everyone at the table happy.

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Even More Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on straightforward methods, dependable technique, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely come back to time and time again—whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for loved ones.

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And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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