Classic Olive Tapenade

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

  • ¼
    cup drained capers
  • ¼
    cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2
    tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1
    tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1
    tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2
    teaspoons anchovy paste
  • ½
    cup oil packed tuna, drained
  • ½
    cup drained Spanish pitted olives
  • cup drained sliced black olives
  • ½
    cup thinly sliced green onions
  • Assorted crackers, for serving

Directions

  1. 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.

  2. 2

    Add the olives and green onions and pulse until coarsely chopped.

  3. 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!