ROASTED BLACK OLIVES AND PEARL ONIONS

Roasted Black Olives and Pearl Onions image

Provided by bikerchick

Categories Brunch

Time 9h

Yield 3 cups

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 lb well-drained pitted oil-cured olives (kalamatas or Gaetas, etc)
1/2 lb tiny white pearl onion (1/2", wide, or as small as possible)
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons orange zest, in fine threads or julienne slivers
1 -2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 -2 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

Steps:

Preheat oven to 300°.
Spread the olives on a large baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until they have shriveled a bit and are slightly crunchy, but not crisped or burned.
Let them cool in the pan (they'll dry more and become a bit crunchier).
Meanwhile, cut off the root end of each onion, but don't peel them.
In a small saucepan, heat 2 cups water and the vinegar to a boil and drop in all the onions, cook for 5 - 10 minutes, depending on their size, until they feel soft all the way through when you squeeze them, but not mushy.
Drain and let them cool.
Remove the skin (or pop the onion out of the skin by squeezing at the top).
If the onions are 3/4" or more, slice them open and flake them apart, separating the layers; tiny onions can be left whole.
Toss the olives, onions, and orange zest in a bowl.
Dress with the oil and juice to taste.
Marinate briefly or overnight, refrigerated, if you want.
Serve at room temperature in a shallow bowl with a serving spoon.