This Preserved Lemon Martini with Spicy Olives ain't yo' Mama's martini! This is a lemony, salty, slightly tart and hella spicy version all wrapped up in one snappy cocktail.
I believe in starting the week off right, so I made y'all a Preserved Lemon Martini with Spicy Olives on this beautiful Monday. Martini Mondays are a real thing and if you didn't know about them, then you need to jump ASAP on the martini boat that leaves every Monday around 5 o'clock (or 6 for some of you who may leave work a little later).
Here's a little bit of 411 on me: I adore slightly dirty martinis (made with Grey Goose vodka, pretty please) and 3 blue cheese stuffed olives chillin' in the delectable liquid. I especially love them with a nice, big rare steak on the side. There is something about grilled beef and vodka that pair so well together. Add in some lyonnaise potatoes and a wedge salad and it's all good!
By the way, my love for this great beverage runs in the family as I take after my Mother and my Grandmother, who are both die-hard martini lovers. They don't mess around with martinis and are definite connoisseurs.
Feel free to use my homemade preserved lemons for this recipe or buy them at the store. What I really liked about this drink was I took a bite of a spicy olive and a bite of the preserved lemon, then a sip of vodka and the flavors were sublime together. I think I'm always going to have preserved lemons on hand now just so I can make this martini whenever I want.
Hope y'all have a fantastic Monday, as well as a wonderful week, and maybe partake in a little Preserved Lemon Martini at the end of today. If you like this recipe, check out my Preserved Lemon Spicy Margarita recipe too!
RECIPE
Preserved Lemon Martini with Spicy Olives
Ingredients
- 4 ounces vodka
- ½ tablespoon olive juice (add more if you like it dirtier)
- ¼ preserved lemon rind
- 1 cup ice
- 6 spicy olives (Make your own spicy olives: put 6 queen sized pimento stuffed olives in a small bowl and cover with olive juice. Stir in ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper. Cover and let sit for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator)
- 2 skewers for olives
Instructions
- Chill two martini glasses in the freezer. Place 3 olives on each skewer and set aside.
- Cut off the pulp from the preserved lemon rind and place the pulp in a cocktail shaker. Cut the rind into thin strips (I made 8 out of mine) and place all the slices, reserving 2-4 for garnish, into the cocktail shaker with the pulp. Muddle the lemon pulp and slices together, then add 1 cup of ice to a cocktail shaker, vodka, and olive juice. Shake together for about 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled and frost begins to form on the outside of shaker.
- Strain into the two chilled martini glasses and garnish with 3 spicy olives and the reserved lemon slices. Cheers!
Alice
Fantastic idea! I made this, but instead of using olive juice I used a very tiny amount of peaty scotch (literally, just enough to coat the glass). It adds a smokey flavor to the martini. I make preserved lemons every year and love putting them in my salads and hummus, but never thought to use them in a cocktail. Thanks for sharing!
Karrie
Thank you so much Alice and very happy you made this drink! Even though I love it, when I decided to put the recipe up, I thought "No one is going to EVER make this". BUT YOU DID!!! YAY!!! Appreciate you taking the time to review it too. Also, I'm putting preserved lemons in my hummus for now on, so thanks for the suggestion 🙂
Kathleen Aguayo
This was sublime.
Katie Crenshaw
Karrie, I keep saying I am going to make your Preserved Lemon and I have yet to make it… I have been dying to try it. I just have been so busy. I am going to make it THIS week!!! And because I love a good Martini with Olives, I am going to make this recipe also as soon as those Preserved Lemons are ready!!!!!! I can't wait to try both! I know I will love them. You are so awesome in the kitchen! Thanks for all the inspiration.
Smitha
Refreshing and i would like to dig in. Who doesnt want such a drink. Love the look. Visually drooling
Karrie@tastyeverafter
That's the truth Smitha! hahaha! Thank you so much for your kind comments
Erica
These look divine! I am always in the mood for a good martini. Can not wait to spice things up.
Karrie@tastyeverafter
Thanks Erica! Spicy in a martini turns out is pretty darn good
annie@ciaochowbambina
A juicy steak and a tasty martini? I'm in! Especially one made with preserved lemons! This drink and that meal are a winning combo! Thanks for sharing, love!
Karrie@tastyeverafter
Thanks Annie! Steak and martinis = yummy!!!
GiGi Eats
Won't lie - I do NOT like lemon... That being said, I loveee olives so I would probably steal them from your dirnk!
Karrie@tastyeverafter
WHAT?!? Get outta here! I always imagined you gettin' on with yo' bad healthy self drinking lemon water all day, every day. Say it ain't so, Joe...
Karrie@tastyeverafter
Maine don't know spicy so good luck! hahahaha! When I first moved to New England, we lived for a year in Wells, Maine. I cried the first time I went to the local grocery store because they had a tiny bottle of jalapenos (only enough to get me through 2 days!) and they didn't have any of my usual hot sauces. It was terrible! I'm okay now because I moved just North of Boston so got all my ethnic markets and hot stuff now!
Melany Berger
YUM! Love martinis! Will have to give this one a try when it is after 5PM since it is just 8:30AM right now! LOL Grey Goose is my fav. Love them so much and they follow me on Twitter! Cheers.
Karrie@tastyeverafter
I'm insanely jealous right now that Grey Goose follows you on Twitter. I'm going to follow you on Twitter too
kushigalu
I am in love with the spicy olives in the recipe. This sounds amazing. Can't wait to try this out this weekend. Bookmarked
Karrie@tastyeverafter
I love spicy anything, but especially spicy olives in vodka!
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
I'm with you on the martini love! And twist my arm, martini Monday sounds like a great way to start the week Loving the balance of flavors in this one - what a great twist! Need to make me some of your preserved lemons asap! Cheers to a great rest of the week, with lots more of these martinis!
Karrie@tastyeverafter
Martini love for everyone!! Cheers to a great week Kathryn xoxox
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
I like Martinis, but I'm not a die hard fan like you, Karrie... although I think after a sip or five of this spicy deliciousness I'd be converted to a Martini lover for life! Love the spicy olives in here and preserved lemons are always a good idea! Is it 5 o'clock yet, because I'm thinking a few of these (and a steak) would cure my Monday blues! Pinned! Cheers, lovely! Xo
Karrie@tastyeverafter
That's okay. I'll drink the martinis and you drink the wine or champagne. Wait! I'll drink champagne too!! heeheehee And we need steak!