Easy Olive Spread (How to Make Olive Tapenade)

This easy Olive Spread recipe comes together in just 10 minutes in your food processor or blender. Serve this olive tapenade as an appetizer, served as part of a charcuterie board with crostini, baguette slices or used as a sandwich spread.

Olive Spread is salty, tangy, garlicky. Basically all things amazing. Especially for all you olive lovers out there!

But the best part is that you can make this easy recipe in just 10 minutes with the help of your food processor or blender. Plus, it’ll keep in the fridge for up to two weeks, meaning that you can make it way ahead of time.

It’s perfect to keep on hand to use as a delicious spread for sandwiches throughout the week. Or, serve it as a party appetizer or quick snack with some crostini or pita bread.

Ingredients needed

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• Kalamata Olives – Or, a blend of your favorite olives, green or black.
• Sun Dried Tomatoes
• Capers
• Fresh Garlic Cloves
• Anchovy Fillets – To make this vegetarian-friendly, simply leave out the anchovy. After processing you may find that your tapenade needs a bit more salt, so simply adjust that to taste with some kosher salt.
• Fresh Basil & Parsley
• Lemon Juice
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

How to make Olive Spread

• Simply add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and process until a smooth paste forms.

Recipe FAQs

Variations

• Try switching things up by using your favorite olives from the olive bar – black olives, green olives, castelvetrano olives, niçoise olives.
• Add in some roasted red peppers.
• Make an artichoke tapenade by using artichoke hearts.

What do you eat olive spread with?

• I love it served on crostini with goat cheese or cream cheese and sun dried tomatoes.
• Served with pita bread.
• Include the tapenade on a charcuterie or cheese board.
• Serve it as a dip with crackers.
• Swirl it into hummus.
• Combine it with a bit more oil and vinegar to make a yummy salad dressing.
• Spread it on sandwiches.
• Add a small amount to some sliced roasted chicken or pork tenderloin.

Wine pairings

• Look for a red with a bit of tannins to stand up to this salty spread. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot are all great pairings.

More easy appetizer recipes

• Steak Bites with Garlic Butter & Mustard Dipping Sauce
• Burrata Recipe with Sweet Pea Puree & Arugula
• Blistered Shishito Peppers
• Prosciutto Wrapped Avocado Bites
• Mexican Meatballs (Albondigas)

Did you try this olive spread recipe?

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Easy Olive Spread Recipe

This easy Olive Spread (Olive Tapenade) comes together in just 10 minutes in your food processor or blender. It's amazing as an appetizer for parties, served as part of a charcuterie board, or used as a sandwich spread.

4.60 from 5 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Created by Platings and Pairings

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Ingredients

• 2 cups pitted mixed olives (rinsed in warm water (black kalamata, green, nicoise))
• 1/4 cup marinated sun-dried tomatoes (drained)
• 1 Tablespoon capers (rinsed)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 anchovy fillet
• 1 Tablespoon fresh basil leaves chopped
• 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley leaves chopped
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

• In food processor or blender, combine all ingredients except olive oil. Pulse a few times until coarsely chopped.
• Slowly drizzle in olive oil while processing until it reaches your desired texture.
• Serve at room temperature.

Notes

Tapenade will keep up to 2 weeks, refrigerated, in a covered container.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Equipment

Food processor or blender

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1124mg | Potassium: 264mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

This recipe was originally published in 2020. It was updated in 2021 to add new photographs, and again in 2023 to add new content. The olive spread recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

Check out the web story here.