Artisan Tapenade

Homemade tapenade: Mediterranean air and the sun of Provence on your plate

Olive-based paste, full of flavor and aromas, artisanal tapenade is the magic ingredient that brings a spark to your dishes and your table. A must-have on a buffet, it is also the star of aperitifs, and an ally of good cooking.

Tapenade, a Mediterranean specialty

The origins of tapenade date back to classical antiquity: in Greece as in Rome, sauces were made with olives and olive oil. These were also a real basis of the diet of the time. Thus, the olive has always been part of the culinary tradition of the Mediterranean region.

Modern tapenade was invented in 1880 by chef Meynier of the restaurant La Maison Dorée in Marseille. It is made with crushed olives, capers, olive oil, anchovy fillets and herbs. A similar recipe exists in Catalonia, called olivada. The name "tapenade" comes from the Occitan "tapena" which means "capers", the second main ingredient in this preparation.

What's in a good tapenade?

Today, we speak of artisanal tapenade when the sauce contains at least 70% olives . The traditional recipe uses black olives, which have an intense flavor and aroma. Aromatics such as oregano or other herbs from Provence enhance the taste of the sauce, but must not mask the authenticity of the olives and capers.

Green olive tapenade is milder, lemon juice sometimes helps to maintain a balanced and tasty acidity.

In all cases, all the ingredients are ground to form a smooth paste. It is possible to add other elements such as pine nuts or dried tomatoes to bring a little originality. For example, you can make a red tapenade with tomatoes.

How to enjoy tapenade?

Traditionally served as canapés, crostini, bruschettas and other open sandwiches, tapenade is a key ingredient of the aperitif. The simplest way is to present it with grilled toast rubbed with garlic, but you can also opt for breadsticks or crackers.

It is also a topping of choice for tartlets and appetizer croissants. In the same spirit, tapenade can be used on all kinds of puff pastries.

Used as a condiment in cooking, tapenade can be used to enhance many dishes:

• Mixed with cream or yogurt, it makes an excellent sauce for dipping vegetables.

• Presented with tender meat, it adds an extra salty flavor, ideal for seasoning

• It is used as a marinade for meats and fish , providing intensity and a slightly tangy taste.

• Tapenade is also used as a stuffing for meat and poultry.

• It adds flavor to the most ordinary dishes like mash or omelette.

• With it, the simplest pasta recipes become exquisite, and risottos have character.

• It is an essential asset for enhancing vegetarian dishes and creating tasty preparations with everyday vegetables.

Homemade tapenade is also excellent in a sandwich : with slices of sausage and ham, complemented by lettuce leaves and a few slices of tomato, it makes a simple and delicious dish.

Black or green tapenade: which one to choose?

It is first of all a question of taste. If you like the intense and salty flavor of black olive tapenade , do not hesitate to use it on your preparations and to accompany your dishes. It is especially interesting on toast, with croutons and vegetables.

Green tapenade for its part is made from olives picked before maturity. Less intense, it nevertheless has a very marked taste of sunshine that will not fail to brighten up your tables. It is excellent to accompany fish such as cod and as a tart base.

Black or green , tapenade forms a winning duo with cheese. goat cheese . By mixing the two, you get a delicious filling that will allow you to make fabulous tartines. To make things easier for you, we have developed a goat cheese delight with black olives, which is a must-try.

Discover our gourmet tapenades and sauces

We offer black and green olive tapenades, made exclusively from natural ingredients and without colouring . To vary the pleasures, do not hesitate to try our other sauces based on vegetables and fish: artichoke delight, eggplant caviar, anchoïade… Enough to enhance your aperitifs and bring sunshine to your cooked dishes.

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