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Olive Tapenade

Easy, healthy and delicious Mediterranean green olive tapenade makes an amazing bread spread and vegetable dip. 10-minute vegan recipe.Olive Tapenade Bread Spread with Fresh Bread on Top of the Squared Cloth

Olive tapenade is always a good idea if you like bread spreads. It’s so easy and delicious I keep making it over and over again. If you want to use up your olives, the best way to do it is to make tapenade. I was lucky enough to buy three big jars of Greek green olives, to bring my tapenade recipe to perfection.

Olive Tapenade - Green Olives in Three Jars on Top of One Another

Tapenade is a traditional Mediterranean bread spread. It is served as an appetizer, as an accompaniment to soups or or as a dip with chopped fresh vegetables. Similar to Russian mushroom caviar, you spread it on a toast or crackers. Tapenade can be made from both black and green olives. The better quality olives you use, the better tapenade will taste. Other ingredients include capers, anchovies and garlic, crushed in a mortar and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice and mustard. It’s a very easy recipe and you can easily adjust it to your taste. Tapenade comes from Provence, where it is made in different ways but is always delicious.  I found that the best result is when I use high quality olives and olive oil, fresh anchovies and add a bit of parsley in the end. You can experiment with amounts or add other herbs or even a bit of rum or other liquor for an extra flavor.

Olive Tapenade Dip with Some on the Bread Pieces, Shot from the Top

Tapenade is vegan (if you omit anchovies) and very healthy, as it contains one of the world’s healthiest ingredient – extra virgin olive oil. Its quality makes a difference when it comes to health benefits, so opt for a good extra virgin olive oil extracted from pressing whole olives (so called “first cold press”). It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as cardio- and blood pressure-protective effects, cancer prevention, digestive and cognitive benefits. Olives themselves have similar health benefits.

Olive Tapenade - Focus on Bread with Bread Slices around on a Wooden Table

How to Eat Tapenade

Making tapenade is a healthy and interesting way to incorporate more olives and olive oil in your diet. I urge you to try it if you haven’t done it yet. This umami-packed olive spread goes so well with fresh crusty ciabatta bread or baguette! Serve it as an appetizer or a nice addition to your cheese plate with young white wine, spread it over a sandwich, place a slice of cheese on top to enjoy it for lunch or use it as a dip for fresh veggies that will make an amazing snack. Whatever way you choose, you will love tapenade, especially if you are a big olives fan like myself. Check the recipe below for details:

Olive Tapenade - in the Process of Making Tapenade

Olive Tapenade Bread Closeup with Blueish Fabrics in the Background

Olive Tapenade Dip with Some on the Bread Pieces, Shot from the Top
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5 from 2 votes

Green Olive Tapenade

Easy, healthy and delicious Mediterranean green olive tapenade makes an amazing bread spread and vegetable dip. 10-minute vegan recipe.
Course Condiment
Cuisine Mediterranean
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 109kcal

Ingredients

  • 250 grams pitted green olives
  • 1-2 anchovies omit if vegan
  • 2 teaspoons capers
  • 1 teaspoon green peppercorns
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4-5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • fresh crusty bread to serve

Instructions

  • Combine all the ingredients except of the olive oil and pulse them in a blender or food processor the mixture becomes a coarse paste. You don't wan the texture to be too smooth.
  • Add the olive oil, just enough to to form a spreadable paste. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Usually, not much salt is needed, as capers and anchovies are salty. Serve with fresh crusty bread. Store the tapenade covered with a layer of olive oil in a glass jar for about 2-3 weeks. Enjoy!

Notes

Store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 521mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Follow @happykitchen.rocks on Instagram and show me the recipes you are making from my blog using the hashtag #happykitchenrocks!

Olive Tapenade Dip with Bread and Olives around on the TableWhat is your favorite dish with olives? Leave a comment below!
What about Cream Cheese Stuffed Olives as an appetizer?

Cheers,
Elena

Easy, healthy and delicious Mediterranean green olive tapenade makes an amazing bread spread and vegetable dip. 10-minute vegan recipe.

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Olive Tapenade Overhead Collage with Text Overlay
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About Elena Szeliga

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Elena Szeliga is the founder of Happy Kitchen.Rocks, where she shares delicious and healthy vegetarian and vegan food, from weeknight dinners to veganized classics and gourmet appetizers. Her recipes have been featured at Better Homes & Gardens, BuzzFeed, Country Living, The Kitchn and Reader’s Digest. Her mission is to help cook easy vegetarian and vegan meals with simple and fresh ingredients. Read more about Elena.

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