Name: Olive Tapenade Appetizer
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 9 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1/4 cup Green olives with stuffed pimentos; 1/4 cup pitted Black olives like Kalamata or Italian black olives in oil pits removed; (1/4 cup Kalamata olives for the third kind); 14 cup olive oil; 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar; 1 clove garlic minced; 1/2 teaspoon oregano; 2 fresh basil leaves; freshly ground pepper a twist; dash cayenne pepper

This is one of my favorite appetizers I first had at a 5 Star Italian Restaurant and so delicious for all the olive lovers out there.

It's really an addicting starter for any meal, served as a topping on crusty bread or crudités.

It may be used as a condiment, as well on salads and some grilled meats.

Tapenade is also used in preparing fish dishes

Olive tapenade is loved in southern France but originally comes from Italy.

While the word and the tradition come from Provence, the first written recording of eating tapenade was made by Italians in the first century AD, and Cato the Elder included a tapenade recipe in his book On Agriculture.

This is a simple easy way to make it for dinner parties or just as a delicious snack any time of the day, and leftovers make a perfect topping as suggested previously.

To all my olives lovers, this is a must-try you will love it or you can also try my Tomato Tapenade and Avocado Tapenade.

Scroll down to the printable easy recipe to get started.

these are garlic toasted bread with olive tapenade on them there are also fresh herbs in the photo with an olive skewer

these are breads cut into shapes and topped with assorted chopped olives called tapenade

Easy Appetizer

This is a delicious olive appetizer.

The spread goes great on garlic bread or flavored crackers of any kind.

If you need an easy appetizer before an Italian meal, this isn't filling and the perfect choice,

Olive spread tapenade appetizer is famous in established gourmet 5 Star Italian Restaurants, and now you can make it at home easily with just a few ingredients.

Olives

You can use an assortment of olives or just two that you like or all the same it doesn't matter.

We have a fresh gourmet market to get non-bottled olives which is my first choice for this recipe.

I prefer to have a balanced color when using olives.

I love oiled cured Italian black olives.

The green large Italian olives can be purchased sometimes stuffed with garlic or almonds which adds another delicious flavor.

IF you use the canned of bottled types rely on a gourmet label with lots of great reviews.

this is an olive appetizer in a white dish

Ingredients To Use

Scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements

green olives with stuffed pimentos, plain or stuffed
pitted black American olives or Italian black olives in oil (or use both)
Kalamata olives
olive oil
aged balsamic vinegar
garlic minced
oregano
fresh basil leaves
freshly ground pepper a twist
dash cayenne pepper optional

these are bottled olives to make a tapenade for an appetizer on bread

Tips:

Always removed any pits
Buying fresh olives in special gourmet shops are always the best choice
Bottled olives are fine for this recipe if you can find fresh olives
Use a good grade olive oil
I also recommend an 18 year aged balsamic vinegar for the best flavor
Spread on toasted rounds, crackers or pita bread

these are appetizer cutters made by pampered chef for cutting bread out to make orderves

Pin for later

this is a pin for tapenade appetizer recipe

Tools You Will Need

Appetizer cutters or make large cookie cutter shapes
Toothpick to thread olives for extras
Food processor or sharp knife
Cutting board
Bowl
Serving dish

this is olives chopped in a white ramekin dish for an appetizer

More Recipes Using Olives

Italian Escarole Salad

Bruschetta Antipasto

How To Make an Appetizer Cheese Board

Zucchini Bites

Appetizers

I love this simple recipe and if you're an olive lover, it certainly will be a hit at any party or family gathering.

The recipe is simple and can be made ahead of time.

You can even buy frozen garlic bread and bake it and this will eliminate any other step in the recipe for a quick appetizer to serve at any cocktail dinner party.