Homemade Olive Tapenade

If you’re a fan of savory dips and spreads, you’re going to love this recipe for homemade olive tapenade. Olive tapenade is well-loved for its fresh and tangy Mediterranean flavors.

Did you know it’s also super easy to make? Whether you’re having friends over for a party or just want a tasty snack for yourself, this is your new go-to recipe!

Need more great party recipes? Try these Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Roasted Stuffed Eggplant Salad, and these Apricot Coconut Bliss Balls for dessert.

What is olive tapenade?

Olive tapenade is a classic spread that’s derived from the flavors of the Mediterranean. It typically uses olives, garlic, ad oil, and sometimes contains capers and other additives.

Olives are It’s served as a dip or spread with bread or crackers, often alongside charcuterie-style foods like meats, cheeses, and raw vegetables. You can also spread it on a sandwich or wrap for extra flavor.

What can you dip in Olive Tapenade?

The flavor of olive tapenade lends for plenty of dipping options. Consider plain-tasting dippers since the olive tapenade has a lot of flavor! Try any of these:

• Crostini
• Sliced French baguette
• Butter crackers
• Carrot sticks, celery sticks, or cucumber slices
• Pita chips
• Tortilla chips
• Mini naan bread
• Roasted vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers

What can I serve with Olive Tapenade?

Olive tapenade can be used on the main dinner table, too! It doesn’t have to be an appetizer. You can serve it alongside grilled chicken or fish as a spread or dip.

You can also add a dollop to a fresh salad or pasta salad. Or, you can use it as a base for pizza with feta cheese, grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, and more olives

Why You’ll Love This Olive Tapenade Recipe

• It’s easy to make – you just run the ingredients through a food processor and serve!
• The combination of olives, sundried tomatoes, capers, parsley, and garlic creates a bold and savory flavor.
• It’s a healthy appetizer option since it’s low in fat and calories.
• It’s a crowd-pleaser and quite different from many common dips and appetizers. It’s a bit of a vintage recipe that’s making a comeback!

Helpful Equipment To Make Easy Olive Tapenade

Here’s what you’ll need to make olive tapenade:

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Cutting board and knife
• Food processor

Homemade Olive Tapenade Recipe Ingredients

• 1 cup green pitted olives
• 1 cup black pitted olives
• ¼ cup sundried tomatoes
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup parsley
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tbsp capers
• ½ lemon, juiced

How To Make Homemade Olive Tapenade

To make this tapenade recipe, start by draining your olives. Give them a good rinse under cold 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. Scoop the tapenade into a serving dish.

Serve with crostini.

Prep Time

This recipe takes 10 minutes to prep.

Tips & Tricks and Recipe Notes

• Grab some pitted olives to make it even easier to whip up this recipe.
• Add or remove garlic based on your preference.
• If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a high-powered blender to make the tapenade smoother and creamier.
• If the tapenade is too thick, you can add a little more olive oil or lemon juice to thin it out.

Recipe Variations

• If you’d like a sweet taste, drizzle a touch of honey over the top before serving.
• A teaspoon of smoked paprika can give this recipe a pleasantly smoky flavor.
• Use kalamata olives for a bold, rich olive flavor.

Ingredient Substitutions

Sundried Tomatoes: Use fresh tomatoes if you prefer.

Capers: You can omit these. If you want to substitute the flavor, add in a few chopped pickles instead.

Parsley: You can add in basil or cilantro instead for a different flavor.

How to Store Olive Tapenade

Olive tapenade lasts a long time! You can store this recipe in the fridge for up to a week. Keep it tightly covered.

The best way to keep this fresh is to press the plastic wrap down directly onto the tapenade. This will help it to stay moist and not dry out.

You can also freeze the olive tapenade if you want to keep it longer. It will stay fresh for 3 months. Keep it covered tightly and in an airtight container.

You can make this recipe ahead and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve. I like to make it the day before a party so the flavors have time to meld together and intensify.

FAQs

What does olive tapenade taste like?

Olive tapenade has a salty, briny flavor, obviously, since it tastes primarily like olives. This recipe also contains garlic and sundried tomatoes for a fresh flavor, and capers for a salty, tangy flavor.

What are the best olives for Olive Tapenade?

You can use any type of pitted olives for this recipe. I prefer the flavor of the green and black olive combination.

I feel like it makes a well-rounded and balanced flavor. If you prefer a stronger olive taste, you can use kalamata olives instead.

Can I make this without a food processor?

You can make this without a food processor. You can use a blender instead if you want. If you don’t have either, you can chop up these ingredients very finely and stir everything together well in a bowl. You can also use a mortar and pestle to crush the ingredients even more.

Conclusion

This recipe for homemade olive tapenade is deliciously savory with a salty, garlicky flavor. It comes together in just a couple of minutes, and makes an impressive centerpiece to any appetizer table.

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