• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

Join my free recipe email club!
Free eBook
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbook
  • ABOUT JO
  • Contact
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • One Pot
  • Desserts
  • a tortilla stick being dipped into a bowl of queso blanco
    Crockpot Queso Blanco Dip
  • side view shot of a hand holding a cracker dipped in bacon corn dip
    Bacon Corn Dip
  • spicy cheese and corn tomato dip in a bowl
    Spicy Cheesy Corn and Tomato Dip
  • a tomato and tapenade tart with mascarpone cheese on a plate
    Tomato and Tapenade Tarts with Mascarpone Cheese
  • a bowl of olive stew
    Olive Stew With Pork
Home / Recipes
5 minutes
4.69 from 22 votes
26 Comments

Olive Tapenade

Jump to RecipePrint RecipeJump to Video
  • 87
  • 1728
by: Joanna Cismaru
03.04.19
Updated: 03.26.19

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Olive Tapenade is a simple and savory spread made with olives and sun dried tomatoes. All made from scratch and perfect to be served on crostini, as a dip or a condiment!

olive tapenade in a small bowl surrounded by crostini

I really love olives. Probably because of how salty they are. I’m a sucker for anything salty. So as you can imagine, this olive tapenade is right up my alley. I would probably take this kind of dip over a creamy cheesy dip. I know, weird!

But I love all sort of olives. There’s a vendor at the market we usually go to on Thursdays, and all she sells are olives. I’ve never seen so many different types of olives in my life. And we’ve tried most of them. She also sells all sort of tapenades. However, I prefer to make my own.

What Is Tapenade

Tapenade is a Provencal name for a spread or dip consisting of pureed or finely-chopped olives, capers, and olive oil. There are many versions of tapenade, but the main ingredients is usually olives.

process shots for making olive tapenade

Ingredients in Tapenade

While ingredients in Tapenade can vary from region to region, my version here is a pretty basic recipe with one exception; the addition of sun-dried tomatoes. Here’s the list of ingredients needed:

  • Kalamata Olives
  • Sun Dried Tomatoes
  • Parsley
  • Garlic
  • Capers
  • Sun Dried Tomato Oil
  • Lemon juice
  • Pepper

How to Make Olive Tapenade

I love making my own tapenade, because it only takes about 5 minutes to make a great tapenade, and it’s fresh and I know all the ingredients that go in it. I love the addition of sun dried tomatoes to this olive tapenade, and also instead of using just plain olive oil, I decided to go ahead and use the oil from the sun dried tomatoes, and take advantage of all that flavor.

Simply place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until a course puree or desired texture.

a hand holding an olive tapenade crostini

How to Serve Olive Tapenade

I love to serve this tapenade over crostini, as a dip with some good tortilla chips, or even on lamb chops. YES! Totally a must try! I even made these tarts with it.

There are many variations of tapenade, some even with anchovies which I’m yet to try. This tapenade is quite impressive and delicious, so I hope you give it a try!

spreading olive tapenade over crostini

How to Store Leftover Tapenade

Tapenade can be stored in an airtight container or a jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to bring it back to room temperature before serving. If you seal the jars or place the tapenade in freezer containers, you can freeze for up to 3 months.

overhead shot of olive tapenade in a bowl

Try These Delicious Dips:

  • Homemade Salsa
  • Baja Spinach Dip
  • Baba Ganoush
  • Crockpot Queso Blanco Dip
  • Bacon Corn Dip

Looking for more recipes? Follow on... My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram

overhead shot of a bowl of olive tapenade surrounded by toasted baguette slices

Olive Tapenade

4.69 from 22 votes
Prep: 5 mins
Total: 5 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 8
Print Pin Rate
This Olive Tapenade is a simple and savory spread made with olives and sun dried tomatoes. All made from scratch and perfect to be served on crostini, as a dip or a condiment!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Kalamata olives pitted
  • 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes (in oil) reserve oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1 tbsp capers
  • 2 tbsp sun dried tomato oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 tsp pepper or to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until a course puree or desired texture.
  • Serve over crostini, as a dip or condiment.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. Tapenade can be stored in an airtight container or a jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to bring it back to room temperature before serving. If you seal the jars or place the tapenade in freezer containers, you can freeze for up to 3 months.
  2. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
 

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 46kcal (2%)Carbohydrates: 4g (1%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 3g (5%)Sodium: 312mg (14%)Potassium: 200mg (6%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 300IU (6%)Vitamin C: 9.7mg (12%)Calcium: 20mg (2%)Iron: 0.6mg (3%)
Course:Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine:American, French
Keyword:appetizer, game day, snack
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!

Recipe originally published August 2011. Updated with new photos and video.

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

30 recipes from around the world cover.

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

side view shot of a spoon drizzling caramel over the apple turnovers
Previous Post
Quick Apple Turnovers
side view shot of a stack of peanut butter cookies, the top cookie is split in half and stacked
Next Post
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Primary Sidebar

Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More…

My Cookbook

Order Now: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

Sign me up

Dinner Recipes

a wooden spoon lifting a salisbury steak out of the skillet

Salisbury Steak

closeup of beef stew in a dutch oven with a ladle inside.

Beef Stew

overhead shot of zucchini lasagna in a baking dish

Zucchini Lasagna

a white bowl full with american goulash and a fork inside stacked on top of an empty bowl

American Goulash (Chop Suey)

two plate with sloppy joes and buns next to a greens salad

Sloppy Joes

beef barley soup in a white bowl with a spoon inside.

Beef Barley Soup

overhead shot of chicken broccoli and rice casserole in a pot

One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

creamy chicken lazone in a skillet garnished with parsley.

Chicken Lazone

Popular Now

a hand dipping a chicken tender in ranch dressing

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

a fork stabbing a garlic butter steak bite in a skillet full of them

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

side view shot of a cinnamon bun with a bite taken out of it on a plate

Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls

side view shot of a hand dipping a piece of naan bread into the bowl of chicken tikka masala

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

close up of the layers on the homemade croissant

Homemade Croissants

overhead shot of crusty bread loaf

No Knead Bread

side view shot of two halves of a chicken salad sandwich stacked on a plate exposing the centers

The Best Chicken Salad

Jo Cooks...

Flavors from around the world

No matter what household we have all grown up in, there is something that has brought us all together here and that is a love and appreciation of food. Food that is from cultures and cuisines across the world has always been a staple of the blog. I'm excited to bring you all a taste of each corner of the earth, every last bite seasoned to perfection and served up with love - from my kitchen to yours.
spring rolls cut in half in a black bowl with peanut sauce.

Asian

overhead shot of a fork with spaghetti twirled around it in a plate full of spaghetti.

Italian

freshly made pineapple salsa in a white bowl.

Mexican

sweet cheese buns stacked on top of each other with the top one broken in half.

Romanian

sideview shot of butter chicken on a plate over white rice garnished with parsley

Indian

red lentil hummus in a big black bowl garnished with a bit of smoked paprika.

Middle Eastern

Trending Now

overhead shot of oven baked chicken breasts in a baking dish

Baked Chicken Breast

overhead shot of oven baked chicken thighs in a pan

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

a whole roast chicken surrounded by potatoes

Roast Chicken

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

Browse All
  • Easy Dinners
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Recipe Index

Featured On

today logo.
huffpost logo.
the washington post logo.
jezebel logo.
countryliving logo.
good housekeeping logo.
lifehack logo.
buzzfeed logo.
mashable logo.
woman's day logo.
health logo.
better homes & gardens logo.
delish logo.
healthline logo.
nbc news logo.
blogloving logo.
university of washington logo.
shape logo.
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbook
  • About Jo
  • Contact
  • visit my other site: Craving Home Cooked
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2021 · All Rights Reserved · Back to Top
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and get a free dinner recipes ebook!

3614shares
  • 87
  • 3
  • 1728