• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Green Smoothie Gourmet
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipe Index
    • Summer Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ร—

    Home / Recipes / Healthy Meals

    Green Olive Tapenade (paste or spread)

    Jan 1, 2018 ยท Updated: May 15, 2023 by Dee Dine ยท Affliate links disclosure.

    • Share
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    a sliced sandwich on a table

    Green olive tapenade is a savory, flavorful paste or spread or dip that takes only five minutes to whip up. Delicious with a hint of umami, this recipe is made with fresh parsley and is without anchovies and without oil. A delicious paste, appetizer, dip, or spread.

    tomatoes and tapenade on a bun

    Green olive tapenade uses including spread on toast, piling on a sandwich bun, or even just as a dip for crackers and fresh vegetables. My family brunch tables tend to be ladened with such flavorful dishes like this green olive tapenade recipe as well as my herbal stuffed mushrooms and my Italian seasoned chickpea meatballs.

    What is Green Olive Tapenade?

    Green olive tapenade is a paste made of olives. Mine is a green olive tapenade without anchovies and instead includes parsley, capers, lemon juice and garlic. Traditionally tapenades include anchovies and olive oil, but since green olive tapenade is vegan, fish aren't allowed. I also chose to leave off oil to make a lighter tapenade and it worked wonderfully.

    Whether using this paste as a spread, dip or to boost the flavor of salads or main dishes, this tapenade explodes in the mouth with salty, meaty olive flavors.

    Table of Contents
    • What is Green Olive Tapenade?
    • Why You'll Love This
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment Needed
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Uses for Tapenade
    • FAQS
    • More Savory Recipes
    • ๐Ÿ“– Recipe

    Why You'll Love This

    A spread full of flavor. This green olive recipe is delicious. Whether used as a sandwich spread or as a marinade for your main meal, this is one explosion of flavor recipe. The green olives are sweet and buttery, the parsley is fresh and green, the capers add a touch of umami, and the garlic is, well, garlicky.

    Easy beyond easy to make. Got 5 minutes? Blend up olives, parsley, lemon juice, garlic and capers and you've got the best green olive tapenade ever.

    Super nutritious. The 5 ingredients of my green olive tapenade pack a powerful nutritious punch. Olives are super strong at blocking disease and supporting the heart thanks to antioxidants. Parsley and lemon are excellent detoxers, and immunity boosters.

    a sliced open sandwich

    Ingredients

    Green Olives. I recommend Castelvetrano olives because they are sweeter and without olive oil, a fat, the olive you choose must be buttery and sweet. A budget choice is Manzanilla, more bitter but easier to find at supermarkets. Buy pitted and unstuffed with red pimentos, or anything similar.

    Parsley. Use flat-leaf parsley, also called Italian parsley, because while the flavor is more pungent than curly parsley, the flat leaves are easier to clean, important since this dish is not cooked, and chops more smoothly allowing the tapenade to have a smoother texture.

    Capers. A very tiny amount is enough to provide the unami flavor that anchovies normally do. Rinse to soften the briny flavor.

    Lemon juice. To brighten the green flavor.

    Garlic. Use fresh and hand-chop before adding to the processor.

    Equipment Needed

    • food processor or blender
    • measuring cups, spoons
    • strainer, to rinse capers
    • 2-cup storage container

    labeled ingredients for tapenade

    Step by Step Instructions

    Here are general steps to make this recipe. For specific measurements and instructions, scroll down to the bottom of this post for the printable recipe card.

    Step 1: Prepare ingredients. Drain the olives whether you bought them in jars or cans. Rinse the capers. Peel and chop 2 garlic cloves. Chop parsley roughly.

    Step 2: Make olive tapenade. Add all ingredients to a food processor or a blender that purees pastes. Process for about 1-2 minutes. The texture will be chunky. If you don't want the paste to be oil-free, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil here and process briefly again.

    Step 3: Use it on a sandwich, or as a dip or as a flavorful paste. See more green olive tapenade uses below.

    steps to make green olive tapenade

    Variations

    Olive oil. Add a light virgin olive oil to the food processor for a richer, smoother flavor. Oil is a fat that leaves a smoother aftertaste. Add 2 tablespoons of oil to this recipe as you process the other ingredients.

    Miso paste. You can boost the umami flavor by adding 1 tablespoon of white miso paste to the recipe while processing. You can either add it with the capers or leave the capers off the recipe for a less salty, but more umami flavor.

    Lower salt tapenade. To make a lower salt version of green olive tapenade, rinse both the capers and green olives with fresh filtered water. Then soak them both for up to two hours, rinse again and use in the recipe. The soaking absorbs some of the salt out of the meat of the olives and capers.

    Storage

    Keep this green olive tapenade refrigerated in air-tight container for about two weeks. After that, freeze it in ice cube trays and store in freezer bags for up to three months. To thaw, put a few cubes in a jar in the refrigerator overnight or microwave to thaw.

    Uses for Tapenade

    • Spread it on bread or crackers or use as a sandwich condiment.
    • Add to salads and soups for a flavor boost.
    • Use as a dip for crackers and raw veggies.
    • Spread on roasted vegetables or any main dish before or after cooking.
    • Toss pasta in green olive tapenade as you would pesto.

    FAQS

    Where Does Olive Tapenade Come From?

    Olive tapenade is a Mediterranean recipe that originated in France nearly 100 years ago. The word comes from the French language. It is a paste or spread, and oddly is often confused with pesto.

    The Difference between Olive Tapenade and Pesto

    Pesto is a paste that is made by crushing (see the word pestle in there?) things like leaves and nuts and garlic. And the result is a sauce, often an uncooked sauce for pasta and other dishes. And generally pesto does not involve olives, more leafy greens.

    What Does Green Olive Tapenade Taste Like?

    Green olive tapenade tastes salty from olives and capers, tangy from lemon juice, green from chopped parsley, and flavorful with garlic and umami accents.

    More Savory Recipes

    • Chickpea Salad with Lemon Mint Dressing
    • Chickpea Vegan Meatballs
    • Quinoa Artichoke Vegan Paella
    • Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steaks
    • Italian Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Jackfruit BBQ Sandwiches

    a sandwich stuffed with tomatoes, mushrooms, kale, and spilling over with green olive tapenade which is also on a spoon to the right.

    Here is the green olive tapenade web story for this recipe. I invite you to keep up with me on: Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Food Gawker | Twitter

    Don't miss a thing, subscribe here to get recipes delivered to your inbox!

    ๐Ÿ“– Recipe

    a sliced open sandwich

    Green Olive Tapenade (paste or spread)

    Created by Dee Dine
    Green olive tapenade is a savory, flavorful paste or spread or dip that takes only five minutes to whip up. Delicious with a hint of umami, this recipe is made with fresh parsley and is without anchovies and without oil. A delicious paste, appetizer, dip, or spread.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved! Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 8
    Calories 54 kcal

    Equipment

    • food processor or blender
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • 2-cup storage container
    • strainer, to rinse capers

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups green olives Buy pitted and with no stuffing
    • 1 teaspoon capers, rinsed
    • 1 cup flat leaf parsley
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 cloves garlic

    Optional

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Prep

    • Drain the olives whether you bought them in jars or cans.
    • Rinse the capers.
    • Peel and chop 2 garlic cloves.
    • Chop parsley roughly.

    Make olive tapenade

    • Add all ingredients to a food processor or a blender that purees pastes. Process for about 1-2 minutes. The texture will be chunky.
      2 cups green olives, 1 teaspoon capers, rinsed, 1 cup flat leaf parsley, 2 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 cloves garlic
    • If you don't want the paste to be oil-free, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil here and process briefly again.
      2 tablespoon olive oil
    • Keep refrigerated in air-tight container; lasts about a week

    Video

    Notes

    Ingredient detail
    Green Olives. I recommend Castelvetrano olives because they are sweeter and without olive oil, a fat, the olive you choose must be buttery and sweet. A budget choice is Manzanilla, more bitter but easier to find at supermarkets. Buy pitted and unstuffed with red pimentos, or anything similar.
    Parsley. Use flat-leaf parsley, also called Italian parsley, because while the flavor is more pungent than curly parsley, the flat leaves are easier to clean, important since this dish is not cooked, and chops more smoothly allowing the tapenade to have a smoother texture.
    Capers. A very tiny amount is enough to provide the unami flavor that anchovies normally do. Rinse to soften the briny flavor
    Variations
    Olive oil. Add a light virgin olive oil to the food processor for a richer, smoother flavor. Oil is a fat that leaves a smoother aftertaste. Add 2 tablespoons of oil to this recipe as you process the other ingredients.
    Miso paste. You can boost the umami flavor by adding 1 tablespoon of white miso paste to the recipe while processing. You can either add it with the capers or leave the capers off the recipe for a less salty, but more umami flavor.
    Lower salt tapenade. To make a lower salt version of green olive tapenade, rinse both the capers and green olives with fresh filtered water. Then soak them both for up to two hours, rinse again and use in the recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 54kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 538mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 765IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword green olive tapenade, green olive tapenade without anchovies
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Healthy meals

    • pouring puffed quinoa in to a jar
      How to Make Puffed Quinoa (popped)
    • overhead of chickpea salad on a spoon
      Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Lemon Mint Dressing
    • Simple Skillet BBG Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches + Jackfruit Explainer
      BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches
    • Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms on a white plate.
      Italian Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Share
    • Twitter

    Detox Juices to Feel Great in 2023

    1. Apple Cider Vinegar Drink
    2. Ginger Shots
    3. Ginger Juice
    4. Celery Juice
    5. Turmeric Shots
    6. How to Make Ginger Tea

    Buy My Two Cookbooks

    My 4-Ingredient Healthy Dessert Cookbook My 4-Ingredient Detox Drink CookBook

    About GSG

    Welcome to GSG, a healthy food blog sharing plant based recipes for healthy desserts and recipes, making clean eating easy!

    About Dee

    Chocolate and ginger enthusiast. Animal lover, a nutritional juicing aficionado, and probably chopping chocolate in my Washington DC kitchen right now. Read about Dee โ†’ ยป

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. The Vegan 8

      January 03, 2018 at 8:02 pm

      Oh Dee, this has all of my favorite ingredients! I can just imagine how delicious and a wonderful salty bite this tapenade is and would be so incredible on sandwiches!

      Reply
      • Debbie

        January 06, 2018 at 10:23 pm

        Brandi, so you are another olive lover! I love them so much, though one of my daughters said she's prefer basil pesto, haha. Said this was too salty. Dee xx

        Reply
    2. Elavegan

      January 02, 2018 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      This looks sooo delicious! To be honest, I never heard of tapenade before but it sounds incredible. Will definitely give your recipe a try because I love green olives. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Debbie

        January 02, 2018 at 12:31 pm

        Hey Ela, that is great news! This recipe is quite easy and adds flavor to so many things! Have a great week, Dee xx

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    dee dine

    I'm Dee! Welcome to GSG! Eating healthier and lighter, with plenty of fruits and veggies, can be fun, especially when chocolate and desserts are involved. Here you'll find plant-based recipes that everyone will love. About Dee โ†’

    Fun Summer Recipes

    • a glass of watermelon juice with lime leaf
      How to Make Watermelon Juice
    • Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bar
      Healthy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars
    • fresh dragon fruit with a dragon fruit sliced
      Dragon Fruit: How to Cut & Eat
    • overnight oats with zucchini and other veggies on top
      Overnight Breakfast Oats (7 flavors)
    • Vanilla vegan cake sliced with cake in background.ound.
      Fluffy Vegan Vanilla Cake
    • stack of brownies with a yellow flower
      No Bake Chocolate Brownies

    Trending Recipes

    • a vegan vanilla cupcake on a white table with white frosting
      Soft Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes
    • chocolate frosted donuts on marble board.
      Healthy Chocolate Baked Donuts
    • a cup of ginger tea with lemon slices and ginger slices
      How to Make Ginger Tea (Powder & Fresh Root)
    • a slice of dairy free chocolate cake with chocolate icing and sprinkles
      Healthy Dairy Free Chocolate Cake
    logos of publications that shared green smoothie gourmet content

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • About the Author
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Newsletter
    • Cookbooks

    Follow

    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • Youtube

    an amazon associate member

    Copyright ยฉ 2023