Elevate your appetizers with this Homemade Olive Tapenade! Bursting with the bold flavors of olives, capers, and garlic, this easy spread is perfect for crackers, crusty bread, or as a versatile topping. A Mediterranean-inspired treat you’ll make again and again!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Bold and Flavorful: Packed with the savory goodness of olives, garlic, and capers, it’s a taste explosion in every bite.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in minutes with just a handful of ingredients and a food processor.
- Versatile: This Olive Tapenade is perfect as a dip, spread, or topping for everything from crackers to grilled meats.
🥘 Ingredients
- Green Pitted Olives: Add a salty, tangy flavor that forms the base of the tapenade.
- Black Pitted Olives: Bring a deeper, mellow taste to balance the green olives.
- Sundried Tomatoes: Add a sweet and tangy richness for a burst of Mediterranean flavor.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Creates a smooth texture and enhances the overall flavor with its fruity richness.
- Parsley: Adds a fresh, herbaceous note to brighten the tapenade.
- Garlic: Infuses the mixture with a bold, aromatic depth.
- Capers: Provide a tangy, briny kick to complement the olives.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a zesty acidity to balance the richness of the olives and oil.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Vegan Cheese Tapenade: Mix in a dollop of Vegan cream cheese for a creamier consistency.
- Herb-Infused Tapenade: Add fresh basil, thyme, or oregano for a more herbaceous twist.
- Nutty Tapenade: Mix in toasted pine nuts or almonds for added texture and flavor.
- Spicy Tapenade: Add red pepper flakes or a diced chili for a kick of heat.
- Anchovy Tapenade: Incorporate anchovies for an extra savory, umami-rich depth.
- Citrus Twist: Include orange zest or swap lemon juice with lime for a zesty variation.
🔪How To Make Olive Tapenade
Step One: Drain your pitted olives and rinse them under water.
Step Two: In a food processor, add the black olives and green olives
Step Three: Next add the capers, sundried tomatoes and parsley.
Step Four: Finally add the peeled garlic, lemon juice and olive oil.
Step Five: Process until all ingredients are finely processed.
Step Six: The Olive Tapenade is now ready to enjoy. Serve with crostini.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Use High-Quality Olives: Opt for good-quality olives for the best flavor; Kalamata and Castelvetrano are great choices.
- Drain Well: Ensure the olives and capers are well-drained to avoid a watery tapenade.
- Adjust Consistency: Blend the tapenade to your preferred texture—chunky or smooth, depending on how you plan to serve it.
💭 FAQs
Absolutely! Olive tapenade can be made a few days in advance and stored in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
Serve it as a spread on a Charcuterie Board With Crackers, bread, and cheeses, or use it as a dip with vegetable sticks for a lighter option.
Yes, you can freeze tapenade in small portions in an airtight container or ice cube trays for up to 3 months.
Most traditional recipes are vegan, but check if you’re adding ingredients like anchovies or non-vegan toppings.
Transfer the tapenade to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Drizzle a thin layer of olive oil on top to keep it fresh and prevent the tapenade from drying out.
🧂Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite foods to serve with Tapenade:
- Crusty Bread: Spread it on slices of toasted Baguette or artisan bread for a simple yet delicious appetizer.
- Crackers: Pair with plain or herbed crackers or Bagel Chips for an easy snack or party bite.
- Cheese Platter: Serve alongside a Variety of Cheeses like brie, goat cheese, or aged Parmesan for a Mediterranean-inspired board.
- Grilled Chicken or Air Fryer Cod: Use as a topping to enhance the flavor of grilled chicken, salmon, or white fish.
- Pasta: Toss with Feta Pasta for a quick and flavorful meal.
- Vegetable Sticks: Serve as a dip with carrot sticks, celery, or Cucumber Slices for a lighter option.
- Stuffed Vegetables: Use as a filling for Stuffed Mushrooms, tomatoes, or Stuffed Bell Peppers for a unique twist.
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Homemade Olive Tapanade
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Green Pitted Olives
- 2 Cup Black Pitted Olives
- ¼ Cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
- ¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ Cup Parsley
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Capers
- ½ Lemon Juiced
Instructions
- Drain your olives and rinse them under water.
- In a food processor, add the black olives, green olives, capers, sundried tomatoes, parsley, peeled garlic, lemon juice and olive oil.
- Process until all ingredients are finely processed.
- Serve with crostini
Notes
Nutrition
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