Salty Kalamata olives, zesty capers and fresh parsley combine to create an incredibly flavorful spread with this homemade tapenade recipe!
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My New Kalamata Olives Obsession
I used to hate olives.
As in, loathe them.
But then one bite of some freshly baked olive bread from a farmer's market in Ireland changed everything.
Now I adore olives!
Well, kalamata olives that is.
They're salty, rich and creamy and add so much flavor when added to wraps, sandwiches and salads.
Oh, and when you process them with zesty lemon juice and fresh parsley, you end up with the amazingness that is....TAPENADE!
What is tapenade?
Tapenade is a paste or dip that is usually based around black olives, capers and anchovies. The name tapenade actually stems from the Provençal word tapenas which means capers. It is popular in the south of France.
However, there are many varieties of tapenade. Today I'm showing you how to make a vegan tapenade that is based around purple, meaty Kalamata olives instead of black olives!
Ingredients
To make this Kalamata Tapenade, you'll only need a handful of ingredients. I'll list them out below:
- Garlic
- Kalamata olives
- Lemon juice
- Capers
- Fresh parsley
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
I know it can be easy to rely on bottled lemon juice, but trust me, freshly squeezed lemon juice is always better!
How to make tapenade
This homemade Kalamata Tapenade recipe couldn't be easier to make, especially if you purchase already pitted olives. Follow the step-by-step instructions below and you'll be enjoying fresh tapenade in minutes!
Step 1: Peel your garlic cloves and place them in a food processor. Process them on high for a few seconds until finely minced.
Step 2: Add in the remaining ingredients, excluding the salt and pepper, and process again until a chunky paste forms.
Step 3: Taste the tapenade and add more lemon juice or capers for zest, salt for saltiness or parsley for freshness.
Step 4: Enjoy the tapenade immediately or transfer the mixture to a sealable jar.
What to serve with tapenade
You mean, you don't eat tapenade with a spoon straight out of the jar?!
Well, in that case, there are numerous other ways to enjoy tapenade!
- We love it as a spread on sandwiches like in this Vegan Tapenade and Avocado Sandwich (pictured below)
- It tastes amazing on crackers, especially when paired with cream cheese.
- Add it to wraps, salads and buddha bowls for a burst of flavor.
- Use it as a garnish for pizza.
- Use it as a dip for fresh veggies.
- Stuff portobello mushrooms with it.
- Stir it into pasta sauce or classic hummus for extra umami flavor.
- Use it as a sauce for cold pasta salad.
- Fold it into yeasted bread dough to make a delicious olive loaf.
Storage
Store any leftover homemade tapenade in a sealable jar in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Thankfully the acid from the lemon juice and capers will help to keep it from going bad too quickly!
Please let me know if you give this simple kalamata tapenade recipe a try and what you think!
📖 Recipe
Homemade Tapenade Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the peeled garlic cloves into your food processor and process on high until well minced.
- Taste and add more salt for saltiness or lemon juice for zest.
- Transfer the mixture to a sealable jar.
Giselle C says
Hi Faith, thank you for sharing. It reminds of a tapenade I use to make awhile back and would put it atop my fish, it could also be used to top burgers. I love using green olives as well. I became so addicted to the stuff that it was a standard condiment that I experimented with all the time. Another ingredient I always added was walnuts. So delicious as a sandwich spread! It must be 10 years since I’ve made it.
Faith VanderMolen says
Well, it seems to me like you need to make some homemade tapenade! 10 years is definitely too long! And adding walnuts or using green olives both sound so delicious and unique. And now the next time I make burgers, I definitely want to use this as a condiment. Thanks for commenting and giving us so many great ideas!
annupamaa K says
i don't get fresh parsley in my country. can I substitute with basil, coriander, or mint which are far more easily available?
Faith VanderMolen says
Basil, coriander and mint would all change the flavor quite a bit, so my first thought is to just leave out the parsley and don't worry about replacing it with anything! But if you think one of those flavors would pair well with olives, then you can experiment with whichever one you think would go best. Let us know what you end up doing and how it turns out!