Classic Olive Tapenade
December 20, 2024
If you love the briny flavors of anchovy and olives, you’ll love this Classic Olive Tapenade. It’s one of those wonderfully versatile recipes that comes together with pantry staples you likely already have on hand. Olives, garlic, capers, anchovy paste and a splash of lemon juice plus some fresh herbs are really all it takes to create this umami-packed topping.
What we love most about tapenade is how it can elevate even the most basic dishes. Spread it on crusty bread or serve it with fresh veggies for an easy appetizer (it offers a welcome contrast to creamy dips like hummus or spinach artichoke dip), dollop it onto a salad or grilled fish and chicken, and even spread it onto sandwiches. The best part? It keeps beautifully in the fridge, so you can make a batch on the weekend and enjoy it all week long. Just be warned, once you start snacking on this stuff, it’s hard to stop.
YIELD
2 cups
PREP TIME
10 min
REST TIME
2 hr
Ingredients
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¼cup drained capers
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¼cup extra virgin olive oil
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2tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
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1tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
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1tablespoon minced garlic
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2teaspoons anchovy paste
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½cup oil packed tuna, drained
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½cup drained Spanish pitted olives
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⅓cup drained sliced black olives
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½cup thinly sliced green onions
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Assorted crackers, for serving
Directions
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1
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the capers, olive oil, cilantro, lemon juice, garlic, anchovy paste and tuna. Pulse until just blended.
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2
Add the olives and green onions and pulse until coarsely chopped.
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3
Transfer the tapenade to a serving bowl and cover. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight. Serve cold with crackers.
This recipe is brought to you by The Best of Byerly’s cookbook. Originally printed in 1985 with hundreds of popular recipes, the cookbook includes all types of foods, tastes and cooking styles. If you love this recipe, check out the entire cookbook!