A Twist on The Classic Olive Tapenade Recipe
This twist on the classic olive tapenade combines both green and black California ripe olives with capers, fresh herbs, lemon zest, and a hint of Calabrian chile flakes for a vibrant, flavorful spread perfect for appetizers or as a topping for proteins and vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: About 2 cups 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Olives and Capers
- 1 can California ripe green olives, drained
- 1 can California ripe black olives, drained
- ⅓ cup capers
Herbs and Aromatics
- 2 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 cup basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Seasonings and Liquids
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Calabrian chile flakes
- 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Olives: Drain the green and black olives, then slice them in half to enhance texture and flavor blending. Transfer the sliced olives to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the capers, grated garlic, roughly chopped basil and parsley, lemon zest, dried oregano, extra virgin olive oil, Calabrian chile flakes, and red wine vinegar to the bowl. Season with a generous pinch of salt and coarsely ground black pepper, then stir everything together until well combined.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the tapenade and adjust the flavors by adding more garlic, salt, pepper, chili flakes, or red wine vinegar according to your preference to achieve the perfect balance.
- Serve: Serve the tapenade as a flavorful topping on bruschetta, crackers, crostini, or small flatbreads. It also pairs wonderfully with proteins like chicken, steak, burgers, pork, fish, seafood, tofu, and eggs, or as a delicious accompaniment on baked feta and roasted tomatoes.
Notes
- This tapenade can be customized by adding more or less Calabrian chile flakes for spiciness.
- Use fresh herbs for the best aromatic flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Great for entertaining and as a versatile condiment for various dishes.
- For a chunkier or smoother texture, pulse ingredients briefly in a food processor instead of mixing by hand.
Keywords: olive tapenade, Mediterranean appetizer, green olives, black olives, capers, basil, parsley, lemon zest, Calabrian chile flakes, no-cook spread, vegan appetizer
