Everyone has that one ingredient they always have stocked in the refrigerator. For us, it’s kalamata olives (among a few others). They make a great snack and can brighten up just about any dish. This recipe for Kalamata Olive Tapenade showcases the olives as the star ingredient. Not familiar with tapenade? It’s a French name for a paste or dip made from puréed or finely chopped olives. It’s the perfect addition to a cheeseboard, spread for a sandwich, topper for fish or chicken and much more!
How to Make Kalamata Olive Tapenade
Now pay attention to this part because here’s where it gets tricky…..JUST KIDDING! Simply add all of the ingredients to a food processor and blend. A few pulses will do combining all of the ingredients and creating a chunky consistency. If you keep blending it will turn into more of a paste. So if that’s what you want, then go for it! Otherwise, stop after a few pulses and the Kalamata Olive Tapenade is ready to serve!
Where to find Kalamata Olives
We always try to buy our Kalamata olives from a local Mediterranean food store. Here’s why, they are cheaper, can be bought in bulk, and in most cases imported from Greece. But if you’re in a pinch or don’t have access to a Mediterranean food store you can almost always find them at a local grocery store either packaged in a glass jar or in the salad bar section.
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To make this dish quick be sure to buy pitted olives. If you buy olives with the pits you’ll need to plan for extra time to remove the pits. Honestly, olives with the pits usually have the best flavor. We find the quickest way to remove the pits is to use the blade of a knife and firmly (and carefully) smush the olive. The seed should pop right out. Think of it as the same technique to easily remove a garlic clove from the skin.
Want More Mediterranean Appetizers?
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Kalamata Olive Tapenade
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups kalamata olives pitted
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup capers
- ½ cup feta cheese
- ½ cup fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ lemon juiced
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor.
- Pulse until combined and desired consistency.
- Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
