Marinated Olives with Herbs and Spices

Featured by Handley Cellars in the Gold Wine Club.

Ingredients

2 cups brine-cured olives, rinsed and drained
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 fresh thyme sprigs
6 whole star anise
4 large garlic cloves, peeled & sliced
2 fresh rosemary sprigs
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
1½ tablespoon coriander seeds, roasted and ground in a spice grinder
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
¼ teaspoon dried allspice
Fresh ground pepper

Instructions

Place olives in a medium bowl. Combine oil and all remaining ingredients in a heavy saucepan; bring to simmer over medium-high, until garlic is cooked, about 3 minutes. Pour mixture over olives. Cover and chill from 3 days to a week before serving.
To serve: bring olives and oil to room temperature.