| ign="center"> | | | | 9. Drain the olives and pack into sterilised jars. |
| Curing Raw Olives is Simple. | | | | 10. Add a few woody herbs (thyme and rosemary are |
| Just follow these easy steps to make tasty, | | | | traditional) and/or some garlic cloves or chilli peppers to |
| home-cured black olives. No harsh chemicals or | | | | the jars. |
| preservatives are involved. | | | | 11. Top up the jars with olive oil and seal. |
| | | | 12. Leave for four weeks before eating. |
| 1. Get hold of some raw olives. They should be purple | | | | That's all there is to it! The olives will keep for up to a |
| black and blemish free. Do not worry if they're a little | | | | year and will taste fantastic. The oil will take on an |
| wrinkled though as the preserving process will plump | | | | even more concentrated olive taste plus the flavour of |
| them up again later. | | | | any herbs or spices you added to the jars and will be |
| 2. Rinse your olives. | | | | great on salads. |
| 3. Make a clean cut down the side of each olive. | | | | There is no need to use dangerous caustic soda to |
| 4. Soak your prepared olives in clean water for 17 | | | | cure your olives like the commercial operations do. |
| days changing the water daily. | | | | Keep it natural and very tasty curing your olives this |
| 5. Prepare a 10% brine solution. For every 600ml of | | | | way. |
| water add 50g of salt. Warm the mixture and stir till | | | | We have lots more information on basic food |
| the salt has dissolved. | | | | preserving and canning technique. Preserving and |
| 6. Drain the olives and soak in the brine solution for 3 | | | | canning at home is a great way to move towards a |
| days stirring every now and again. | | | | more sustainable lifestyle. You'll waste far less food, |
| 7. Prepare a 2:1 water and vinegar mix. For every 2 | | | | use up all your gluts of seasonal produce and impress |
| litres of water add 1 litre of vinegar (distilled malt and | | | | your family and friends with all those tasty home-made |
| cider vinegar will do but white wine vinegar is more | | | | treats. |
| traditional). | | | | You can find lots of preserves and canning recipes to |
| 8. Drain the olives and soak in the water and vinegar | | | | use up your surplus produce too. |
| mix for 3 days stirring every now and again. | | | | For ideas on sustainable living and self-sufficiency. |