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    You are Here: Masala Herb » Recipes » RECIPES

    Olive Tapenade Recipe

    Jun 22, 2025 by Helene Dsouza

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    Helene Dsouza
    Prepare this tapenade with green or black olives from scratch.
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    12 slices with tapenade
    RECIPE
    grind olives to make tapenade
    serve up tapenade at a party
    tapenade condiment to serve over bread

    Easy homemade olive tapenade to serve as a party appetizer over bruschetta or with crackers.

    This recipe is without anchovies, making it vegan-friendly.

    olive tapenade over baguette slices
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    Jump to:
    • 📕 What is a Tapenade?
    • 🫒 Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make a tapenade from scratch?
    • 🥣 Serving
    • 🍱 Storing
    • 👁️ More Vegan Appetizer Ideas
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    📕 What is a Tapenade?

    Tapenade is a spread prepared with black or green olives.

    It's a condiment from the Provence in South France, where olives and Mediterranean food are a tradition.

    Traditionally, olives are ground in a stone mortar and pestle with other ingredients.

    🫒 Ingredients

    • olives - I used green, but black ones are fine too. Try to get Kalamata olives if you can!
    • garlic - fresh
    • lemon juice - freshly squeezed
    • olive oil - extra virgin if possible
    • salt and black pepper
    • herbes de provence - if you don't have that, you can still make it with thyme but it will taste slightly different.
    olive tapenade prepared in mortar and pestle

    A french tapenade consists usually also of anchovies and capers.

    I skip the anchovies and capers because I like it without and you can cater to more guests that way because it's a vegan condiment.

    But you can add to this recipe 1-2 tablespoon ground anchovies or 1 tablespoon capers if you like.

    You could also add sun-dried tomatoes and a few drops of balsamic vinegar to your tapenade to enhance it further.

    I think adding fresh cilantro can be also a great choice, if you are into cilantro.

    I tried adding some curry powder once to make a curried tapenade. It was mind-blowing!

    🔪 How to make a tapenade from scratch?

    Choose if you want to grind your olives in a stone mortar and pestle or in a food processor.

    Here is an overview of how it's done in a mortar and pestle. The complete recipe with a food processor option is located further below. The video is the pop-up.

    Step 1

    Pit olives.

    pit olives

    Step 2

    Crush and grind olives and garlic in your mortar and pestle, coarse or smooth.

    grind olives

    Step 3

    Place ground olives and garlic into a mixing bowl and combine with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and herbes de provence.

    combine olives and seasoning

    🥣 Serving

    Cut some freshly baked soft baguette bread into slices and spread the olive tapenade over it. You can see that in my pictures.

    You can also serve up tapenade spread over bruschetta or crostini bread. Just like Spanish tapas!

    A great addition to that can be goat cheese or cream cheese with the olive tapenade on a pretty looking bread.

    Serve these canape amuse bouche bites to entertain your party guests.

    New Years', Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Easter are great occasions for small bite-sized appetizers.

    For the rest of the year, you can choose to make tapenade nonetheless and stuff your sandwich with it.

    Or serve it up as a dip with crackers or chips for a healthier tv snack.

    tapenade spread with bread

    🍱 Storing

    You can easily store your olive tapenade in an airtight container in your fridge. It's good for at least 2 weeks!

    In fact, I think it turns out better when left to marinate in the fridge.

    You can also help yourself to prep ahead by freezing your tapenade.

    In that case, prepare smaller batches and freeze.

    Leave to thaw in the fridge overnight.

    👁️ More Vegan Appetizer Ideas

    • Vegan Caviar Bites
    • Avocado Crostini
    • Spicy Black Bean Dip
    Olive Tapenade Recipe pin image

    📖 Recipe

    grind olives to make tapenade

    Olive Tapenade Recipe

    Prepare this tapenade with green or black olives from scratch.
    4.50 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: French
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 slices with tapenade
    Calories: 42kcal
    Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

    Ingredients

    • 9 Ounces Olives green or black unpitted
    • 1 Piece Garlic Clove fresh
    • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice fresh
    • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil extra virgin
    • ½ Teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper Ground
    • 1 Teaspoon Herbes de Provence or Thyme as substitute
    US - Metric

    Instructions

    • Pit your olives. Some olive varieties are easier to pit than others. Help yourself with a knife. Keep pitted olives together, discard pit.
    • Decide if you want to use a mortar and pestle or a food processor. *see Notes

    Mortar and Pestle

    • Place olives into mortar and pestle with garlic and grind to desired consistency. It's easier to use a stone grinder, a ceramic grinder will result in a coarse tapenade (see pics).
    • Place ground olives and garlic into a mixing bowl and add lemon juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and herbes de provence.
    • Mix to a well-combined condiment.
    • Serve up or store for later.

    Food Processor

    • Place all the ingredients together into a food processor. Olives, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and herbes de provence.
    • Mix to desired consistency to a well-combined condiment.
    • Serve up or store for later.

    Notes

    You can choose if you prefer to use a mortar and pestle or a food processor. Use a food processor if you are in a hurry or if you feel lazy. The mortar and pestle is good if you have time to cook with your senses. It truly smells wonderful! I use both all the time.
    You can also add 1-2 tablespoon anchovies and 1 tablespoon capers to make a more authentic olive tapenade.
    Serve with baguette bread, crostini, bruschetta, crackers, or as a dip with chips.

    Equipment

    • Mortar and pestle or food processor

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Olive Tapenade Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 42 Calories from Fat 36
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 4g6%
    Saturated Fat 1g5%
    Sodium 428mg18%
    Potassium 9mg0%
    Carbohydrates 1g0%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 1g1%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 84IU2%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 13mg1%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    270 shares
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    I am Helene, and I created Masala Herb in 2011. Here you will learn to cook with spices and herbs. I share from scratch, international food recipes and my mission is to teach you to cook flavorful food at home. Read More…

    MasalaHerb.com as seen on

    Welcome

    Hi there! I'm Helene and here you will learn how to cook with spices and herbs. Discover global food and learn to season your food like a pro. Read more about my work and mission or head over to my food ingredient space, Unknownbite.com, and our travel space, Paulmarina.com!

    More About Me ->








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