Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (2024)

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This Mediterranean olive tapenade without anchovies is a 5 minute dip with just three ingredients! My favorite way to eat black olive tapenade is with homemade fried za'atar pita chips.

Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (1)

My friend, Farida, was kind enough to share with me this easy black olive tapenade recipe after I ate the whole bowl at her home. Mediterranean cuisine is no stranger to olives (and olive oil).

What You'll Love

Make this easy olive tapenade recipe with THREE ingredients: olives, olive oil, and garlic cloves. The beauty of this simple appetizer is how quick it is to make.

This easy appetizer is great for family gatherings, holidays, or weekend entertaining. Serve with crusty bread, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, fresh herbs, and white wine.

What is Tapenade?

Tapenades originated in the south of France but can be found all along the Mediterranean. Tapenade is a thick paste made traditionally from black olives, however more contemporary tapenade recipes use green olives instead. A tapenade is salty and can be made with a variety of ingredients, including anchovies, anchovy paste, or capers.

Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (2)

We've compiled a complete guide to black and green olives if you want to know a little more about the different types of olives and olive origins.

Ingredient Notes

  • Black sliced olives: The easiest way to prepare this homemade olive tapenade is by using pre-pitted olives. I found a jar of sliced and pitted black olives, so I'm using that. The sliced olives look similar to pizza black olives, so you can't miss them at the grocery store. I've also made black olive tapenade using canned whole pitted black olives, which turned out equally great.
  • Garlic: Use one clove of fresh garlic.
  • Some EVOO: You need just a little bit of high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
  • Salt: Just a pinch of salt to tie everything together.
Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (3)

How To Make Mediterranean Olive Tapenade

Rinse the olives after you drain them from the can/jar. Chop the fresh garlic a little bit prior to adding it to the food processor (to reduce the chances of a single chunk of garlic landing in your mouth).

Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (4)

Add the olives, chopped garlic, and olive oil to the food processor.

Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (5)

Blend, then stop and scrape the sides of the food processor a few times (to ensure you get everything pulsed evenly).

Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (6)

Do not add any liquid or water to the tapenade. The food processor should give an olive tapenade consistency like the above. Serve with fresh bread.

Tips and Tricks

  • If your black olives are not salted, add salt to taste after pulsing the olive tapenade.
  • Use pitted olives to save time and sanity!
  • If using whole pitted olives in lieu of sliced olives, measure about 25% more into the food processor. So if using 2 cups of sliced olives, use 2.5 cups of whole pitted olives.

Variations

Change the olives. Make kalamata olive tapenade using kalamata olives. Try castelvetrano olives or nicoise olives. Use any pitted olive you have available.

Some traditional olive tapenades use some form of anchovy (either paste or whole anchovies). The anchovies add a complex flavor to the tapenade. I prefer no anchovies, but it's up to you!

What To Serve With Olive Tapenade

Serve olive tapenade as a dip. Here are some options to eat it with:

  • Chips: fried pita chips, baked pita chips, or tortilla chips
  • Crackers
  • Bread: Homemade french bread, whole wheat toast, toasted croissants, pita bread, Algerian Kesra flatbread, the list is endless
  • As part of a mezze platter: serve this Mediterranean spread alongside eggplant dip, a charcuterie board, baguette slices, roasted garlic, fresh vegetables, and fresh tomatoes.
Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (7)

Storage

Store the black olive spread tapenade in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I do not recommend storing tapenade in the freezer or leaving it at room temperature.

More Dip Recipes

  • Homemade Labneh Dip From Milk
  • Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
  • Baba Ganoush Without Tahini

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📋 Recipe

Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (12)

Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies)

Author: Lily

Course: Dip

Cuisine: Algerian

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

3.34 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Servings 8

This easy Mediterranean black olive tapenade spread is made without anchovies and only uses 3 ingredients: black olives, olive oil, and garlic. It is the perfect vegan party dip and can be made in 5 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sliced black olives or 2½ cups of whole pitted olives**
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste

Instructions

  • Drain sliced black olives. Rinse with water using a strainer.

  • Peel and chop the garlic.

  • Add the chopped garlic, sliced black olives, olive oil, and salt to a food processor. Blend on high.

  • Stop the blender and scrape the sides. Blend on high.

  • Store the black olive spread tapenade in an airtight container or enjoy right away!

Notes

  1. The olive spread can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  2. I purchase 2 cans of whole pitted black olives (about 6 ounces in size). The olives were the perfect amount for this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 8g | Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 500mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g

More Homemade Dips and Sauces

  • Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant Dip
  • Garlic Guacamole With Tomatoes
  • Homemade Garlic Butter Sauce
  • Meat Lasagna Tomato Sauce (From Scratch!)

About Lily

Howdy! My name Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks to the fridge, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave A Comment

  1. Phil Reynolds

    It is, of course, technically not a tapenade at all since it includes no capers (Provençal for “capers” is “tapenas”) but it sounds interesting enough to try.

    Reply

    • Lily

      Thanks for the comment!

      Reply

  2. Janelle

    I have a jar of different coloured olives, do you think it would matter too much I use different coloured olives for this recipe?

    Reply

    • Lily

      Hi Janelle, that's a great question. You can sub colored olives for black olives if you prefer!

      Reply

  3. Jess

    Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (17)
    This was a hit at my friend's celebration over the weekend. Everyone loved it.

    Reply

    • Lily

      Great to hear that!

      Reply

Easy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade (Vegan - No Anchovies) (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for olive tapenade? ›

Alternative ingredients include savoury cousins- sun-dried tomato, artichoke, roasted aubergine, feta, etc. etc. Though easy to whip up in the food processor in seconds, it can be bought ready-made in jars.

Does tapenade contain anchovies? ›

Olive tapenade combines a handful of loud and lively pantry staples–olives, capers, garlic, lemon, anchovies, and, of course, olive oil—in a food processor until you get an intensely bright, briny, and salty paste.

What are the ingredients in Trader Joe's olive tapenade? ›

Ingredients. Black olives (ferrous sulfate gluconate to stabilize color), green olives, canola oil, olive oil, fresh roasted garlic, capers, red pimientos, mustard, spices.

What's the difference between olive tapenade and olive bruschetta? ›

Like bruschetta, tapenade is often served on bread. This olive-based condiment, however, is more smooth and spreadable, whereas traditional tomato bruschetta is chunky and must be spooned onto toast. Tapenade is also much saltier due to the brined olives, capers, and optional anchovies.

What can I use instead of capers in olive tapenade? ›

What's the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas
  1. Green olives. They're salty, they're acidic, they're savory, they're buried somewhere in your fridge—what more can you ask for? ...
  2. Lemon. What a difference a squeeze of fresh lemon makes. ...
  3. Pickles. ...
  4. Green peppercorns. ...
  5. Thyme. ...
  6. Caper berries. ...
  7. Artichoke hearts. ...
  8. Anchovies.
Apr 15, 2020

How long does olive tapenade last in the fridge? ›

Any opened jar of store-bought tapenade in the refrigerator should be consumed within two weeks for the best quality. Homemade versions might have a shorter lifespan, usually around seven days, due to the absence of commercial preservatives.

Can I use olives instead of anchovies? ›

You could replace the anchovies with an extra tablespoon of drained capers, and this would be the easiest option as capers are in the recipe already. You could also add 6-8 pitted black olives as an alternative, though use the cured type that are vacuum packed rather than the olives sold in brine.

Are canned anchovies unhealthy? ›

Canned anchovies are very high in sodium because they're cured in saltwater, which also gives them their distinct, strong flavor. Although neither is necessarily healthier than the other, anyone who's watching their salt intake may need to avoid canned anchovies.

Are anchovies inflammatory? ›

These fatty acids have been known to reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart disease. Anchovies are popularly found in the Mediterranean, where they form compact schools and move quickly to evade predators.

Are there different types of tapenade? ›

However, nowadays, tapenade doesn't just mean olive spread - through the years, it has almost become an umbrella term for a wide variety of pates, mostly made of different types of vegetables. From tomato to mushroom and even eggplant tapenade, there is no end to all the decadent pastes you can make!

Are olive spreads vegan? ›

Soft and delicious, blended with mediterranean olive oil (21%). Suitable for vegans. Keep refrigerated. Keep Refrigerated.

Is olive tapenade good for you? ›

Olive tapenade is a melody of ingredients that sing with health benefits. The star of the show, olives, are renowned for their high content of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, particularly oleic acid, which can help lower bad cholesterol levels and improve cardiovascular health.

What is a substitute for green olive tapenade? ›

If you are opposed to olives, a thick pesto would be a good substitute. You could also substitute the olives with another vegetable of your choice, such as peppers.

Is olive tapenade the same as pesto? ›

Pesto ,Pistau, is very similar to genoese Pesto, while Tapenade is a sauce (dip, made by, olives, capers, anchovies, mustard, and various other ingredients. grinded to be a paste. No. Tapenade is the same as crema or patè di olive.

Can you substitute butter for olive spread? ›

It couldn't be easier to substitute butter for oil using a 1:1 ratio. This should work with olive, canola, vegetable, and coconut oils. Simply melt and cool the butter to room temperature, then continue with your recipe.

What is tapenade sauce made of? ›

Tapenade is made with olives and capers, then flavored with other herbs and spices. The dish is finished with plenty of olive oil to give it the desired consistency. What does tapenade taste like? Olive tapenade has a briny, salty flavor from the olives.

Can I substitute olive? ›

Vegetable oils such as canola, safflower, and sunflower will contribute less flavor than olive oil to salad dressings but bring the same body and texture. With so many oil options available, there's no reason to pause cooking for an emergency grocery run; one of these substitutes will fill in nicely.

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