Make-Ahead Green Olive Tapenade for Meal Prep

I enjoy both rich, indulgent dishes and lighter, healthy foods. After the holiday excess, my cravings usually shift toward fresher, lighter fare—think broiled fish rather than a heavy chocolate custard. It’s not about New Year’s resolutions; it’s just how I feel in this season.

That doesn’t mean I want bland food. I still want bold, satisfying flavors, which is why Green Olive Tapenade is one of my go-to recipes. If you haven’t tried tapenade yet, here’s a quick introduction: traditional tapenade is a spread or dip made with black olives, capers, and anchovies. It’s served with bread or crackers and also works as a vibrant flavor boost for sandwiches, flatbreads, or even as a finishing touch on broiled fish. A spoonful of tapenade can turn plain fish into something memorable.

I’m a fan of all tapenades, but green olive tapenade holds a special place for me. I didn’t fall in love with green olives until later in life, so I’ve made up for lost time by adding them into many dishes. My version of green olive tapenade brightens the traditional salty base with fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, and sun-dried tomatoes for a lively, layered flavor.

There’s also a health bonus: olives contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that help support cholesterol and blood sugar control. So you can enjoy a delicious, bold spread that also offers nutritional benefits.

Before you decide you don’t like anchovies, give them a chance here. Anchovies add a subtle depth and umami that blends into the tapenade when everything is finely chopped or processed. You won’t taste a distinct “anchovy” note, but the overall flavor will be richer with them included. If you prefer to skip them, the tapenade will still be tasty but a little less complex.

Make a batch of Green Olive Tapenade to keep in the fridge—tightly covered, it can last up to a month. It’s perfect to have on hand for quick appetizers, toppings, and more. I’ll be sharing a simple Super Bowl idea using this tapenade soon, so you’ll be glad you made some ahead.

Green Olive Tapenade | Make Ahead Mondays {GIVEAWAY}

Rebecca Lindamood

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This fast, flavorful Green Olive Tapenade combines briny olives and capers with fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, and sun-dried tomatoes. Serve it with bread, crackers, crisps, or vegetables, use it as a topping for fish, chicken, or pork, or toss a spoonful with hot pasta for a quick, comforting meal.

Ingredients

• 2 cups drained Manzanilla olives with pimientos
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons brined capers + a little of their brine
• 7 anchovy fillets from a can packed in olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
• the juice and zest of one lemon
• 3 fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 to 1 small clove garlic, peeled and minced or pressed

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until everything is evenly chopped. Leave it coarser if you want to spoon it over dishes, or process it a bit more for a smoother dip or sauce—adjust to your preference.

Notes

No food processor? Finely chop the herbs and sun-dried tomatoes, then combine all ingredients in a bowl and mash them together with a sturdy spoon. The result will be more rustic but just as delicious.

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate precise values with the exact ingredients you use.

did you make this recipe?

Tag @foodiewithfam on Instagram and use #foodiewithfamily so the author can see your creation.

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Update: The giveaway is now closed. The randomly selected winner was Katee L. Congratulations!

More giveaway fun! Wasa Crispbreads (pictured with the tapenade) are sturdy, unsalted crispbreads with natural grain flavor that pair nicely with salty spreads like olive tapenade. They also work well with sweet toppings such as cream cheese and jam.

Wasa offered a prize package to one Foodie with Family reader in the United States that included:

• 1 $25 gift card to help purchase ingredients.
• 2 packages of Wasa Crispbreads so you can try different toppings.

How to enter (original contest instructions):

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment telling what you do to reset after the holidays—do you make resolutions, crave healthy foods, or keep doing holiday activities?

Optional entries: Leave a separate comment for each optional action you completed.

1. Like Foodie with Family on Facebook.
2. Follow Foodie with Family on Twitter.
3. Follow Foodie with Family’s boards on Pinterest.
4. Like Wasa on Facebook.
5. Follow Wasa on Twitter.

The winner was selected at random and announced on the original post. Good luck to everyone who entered!

Disclosure: Wasa provided crispbreads for review and contributed compensation for additional ingredients, but opinions are the author’s own.