Spirited and Then Some

A food blog with hundreds of delicious gluten-free and dairy-free recipes.

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Photography Resources
    • Spirited Learning
  • Blog
  • RSS
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Appetizers and Snacks Recipes

Olive Tapenade {Vegan + Paleo}

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Enjoy this vegan and paleo Black Olive Tapenade appetizer with seafood, burgers, and vegetables! A family favorite, this briny, Mediterranean-flavored recipe is made with olives, capers, garlic, thyme, and parsley! {Vegan + Paleo}

Black Olive Tapenade in a white porcelain dish on a slate charcuterie board with almond flour crackers, sprigs of thyme, pomegranate arils, and grape tomatoes.

Oh, friends, looks can be deceiving. So so deceiving. Because while this Black Olive Tapenade looks suspect, it is, in fact, tantalizing. I’m salivating at the mere thought of it. Black olives + capers + garlic + herbs = COUNT ME IN. And you might as well count the rest of my family in, too. Also a few neighbors. Because once people get over how Black Olive Tapenade looks, they fall in love with how it tastes. And if you like briny, Mediterranean flavors, I think you’ll fall in love with it, too!

Black Olive Tapenade in a white porcelain dish on a slate charcuterie board with almond flour crackers, sprigs of thyme, pomegranate arils, and grape tomatoes.

Hand to God, we have family members who request this recipe whenever we get together. And we’ve had neighbors who, at first glance, gave Black Olive Tapenade the side eye. But once we explained what was in it, and they took an apprehensive yet daring bite, they fell in love with the flavors.

This gluten-free appetizer spread is, in a word, surprising. It looks awkward yet tastes incredible, appears textured yet tastes creamy, and looks unique yet is easy to prepare. In fact, Black Olive Tapenade pairs so well with other foods, we created an entire section below dedicated to countless options for you to explore.

So if you’re in the mood to get daring, let’s make a batch! You’re tastebuds will be thrilled!

Black olives, dried parsley, capers, and olive oil in a Vitamix.

BLACK OLIVE TAPENADE INGREDIENTS:

Below are the ingredients to make your own Black Olive Tapenade. This is a flexible recipe, so work with fresh or dried herbs and as many or as few garlic cloves as you desire!

  • Olive oil. About a fourth a cup. You may need to add more during blending if you desire a thinner consistency.
  • Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. These ingredients not only help emulsify the tapenade, but they also intensify the flavor!
  • Black olives. Some recipes call for a cup, but I’m in no mood to store three remaining olives! 😂 So I dump the whole can in the blender, and I’m not the least bit sad about that. The brand I use Lindsay Naturals. Make sure to drain the juice before adding the olives to the blender.
  • Garlic cloves. In my family, we are perpetually ready for vampires any day of the week, what with our love of garlic. Usually, we add 1-2 cloves. For best results, mince or press the garlic before adding to the blender or food processor. This prevents the cloves from getting stuck under the blades and you getting a mouthful of garlic in one bite.
  • Capers. These little buds are the star of the recipe, enhancing  the briny flavor that tapenade is well known for. I often find them in the pickle/olive section of the grocery store. But you might also find them near the salad dressing section, too. Psst! If you’re new to capers and want to learn more then check out The Spruce Eats’ post, What Are Capers?
  • Fresh parsley and dried thyme. A combination of fresh and dried herbs taste wonderful in tapenade! If you only have dried parsley on hand, that’s fine! In that case, use 1-2 tablespoons dried parsley with the 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme.
  • Sea salt and pepper. I sprinkle in a little sea salt and pepper to taste.
Blended black olives, capers, dried parsley, dried thyme, and olive oil in a Vitamix.

HOW TO MAKE BLACK OLIVE TAPENADE:

Below are the ingredients to make Black Olive Tapenade. This recipe works best in a high speed blender or a food processor. But a regular blender with a pulse option or a little food chopper (if prepared in small batches) will work, too!

  1. Combine all ingredients in the order listed in a high speed blender or food processor. Blend on either a LOW setting or a pulse/chop setting for several seconds until the ingredients are combined with the olive oil. If you’d like a thinner consistency, then add more olive oil.
  2. Serve immediately or store covered in the refrigerator for about 1-2 days. If refrigerating, contents may settle. Stir briskly before serving. 

DOUBLE BATCH: If your high speed blender or food processor is large enough, then you may be able to make a double batch. In this case, consider splitting the olive oil so that there is some on the bottom of the blender and some on the top of the ingredients. As you blend or chop, the oils will envelope the ingredients for more evenly blending or pulsing.

Black Olive Tapenade in a white porcelain dish on a slate charcuterie board with almond flour crackers, sprigs of thyme, pomegranate arils, and grape tomatoes.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH TAPENADE:

Tapenade recipes are versatile and easy to pair with a variety of foods. Here are a few tasty options!

  • Burgers, steak, and chicken. Not only is Black Olive Tapenade a toothsome appetizer, but it is also a piquant spread with which to top savory proteins. Although we haven’t tried it with toasted tofu (thank you, food allergies), we suspect it would be delicious!
  • Vegetables and savory fruits. Because Black Olive Tapenade has a briny, citrusy flavor, it pairs well with earthy vegetables. We pair it as a dip with raw carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, and tomatoes. In fact, this is one of my favorite ways to enjoy raw vegetables!
  • Seafood. Like burgers, steak, and chicken, you can spread fresh tapenade on any seafood dish. However you can also enjoy it like you do vegetables and serve it as a dip. We like to dip shrimp in our tapenade. This combo is one of our favorite date night in treats!
  • Chips and crackers. Grains flavored with sea salt will taste great with tapenade.
Black Olive Tapenade in a white porcelain dish on a slate charcuterie board with almond flour crackers, sprigs of thyme, pomegranate arils, and grape tomatoes.

And if you can’t decide on just one option, then pair your Black Olive Tapenade with several options on a charcuterie board! It works just as easily for a small party as it does for larger holiday gatherings! 

Black Olive Tapenade is the perfect gluten-free, grain-free appetizer for parties! | via spiritedandthensome.com
An older iteration of this splendid recipe!

If briny, citrusy flavors are what you seek, then check out these mouthwatering recipes, too!

  • Marinated Greek Olives
  • Avocado Pesto
  • Lemon Avocado Dip

Stay safe and be well, friends! I’m glad you’re here. ❤️

Print

Black Olive Tapenade {Vegan + Paleo}

Print Recipe

Enjoy this vegan and paleo Black Olive Tapenade appetizer with seafood, burgers, and vegetables. A family favorite, this briny Mediterranean-flavored recipe is made with olives, capers, garlic, thyme, and parsley! {Vegan + Paleo}

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Appetizers and Snacks
  • Method: Blender
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 16-ounce can black olives, drained and pitted
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice, fresh or bottled
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1–2 cloves fresh garlic, pressed or minced
  • 3 tablespoons capers
  • 3 tablespoons fresh parsley (dried will also do – you may only need about 1–2 tablespoons)
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Sprinkle of sea salt
  • Coarse black pepper for garnishing, optional

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in the order listed in a high speed blender or food processor. Blend on either a LOW setting or a pulse/chop setting for several seconds until the ingredients are combined with the olive oil. If you’d like a thinner consistency, then add more olive oil.
  2. Serve immediately or store covered in the refrigerator for about 1-2 days. If refrigerating, contents may settle. Stir briskly before serving.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @SpiritedMorgan on Instagram and hashtag it #SpiritedRecipes

    You May Also Enjoy These Posts...

    Gluten-Free Hamburger Salad
    Dairy-Free Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
    Bacon Cauliflower Soup
    Loaded Shrimp Tacos {Grain-free!}

    Appetizers and Snacks Recipes


    3 Comments

    About Spirited and then Some

    I'm Morgan. A spirited, social chatterbox, small biz owner, and teacher. Lover of all things food. Think dip. Lover of all things family. Think K-Hubs, Toodlebug, and Twinkleberry. I'm so glad you found our spirited community.... Click Here to Read More

    « How to Use a Macro Lens for Food Photography
    Cinnamon Roasted Pecans »

    Comments

    1. Heather @Gluten-Free Cat says

      August 3, 2016 at 4:10 pm

      Morgan, this most definitely needs to be slathered on a pizza! Thanks for a great recipe and a fun read.

      Reply
      • Spirited and then Some says

        August 4, 2016 at 11:45 am

        Agreed. And if you try it on a pizza, let me know what you think! Happy Day!

        Reply
        • Spirited and then Some says

          September 28, 2016 at 1:47 pm

          Thankyou!

          Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Greetings!

    I'm Morgan. A spirited, social chatterbox, small biz owner, and teacher. Lover of all things food. Think dip. Lover of all things family. Think K-Hubs, Toodlebug, and Twinkleberry. I'm so glad you found our spirited community. Learn more…

    Take a Stroll

    my foodgawker gallery  my finding vegan gallery  
    View my Tasty Kitchen Profile

    Recent Posts

    • Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea
    • Spicy Avocado Scrambled Eggs {Paleo}
    • Fresh Mixed Berry Salad
    • Sweet Crunchy Granola
    • Triple Berry Power Smoothie
    • Gluten-Free Catalina Dressing

    Categories

    As Seen On

    Pure Wow logo
    Red Tricycle Logo
    Yahoo! Lifestyle logo
    Mom and daughters in front of Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas! | spiritedandthensome.com

    Family

    How to make 3-ingredient Fluffy Slime without borax! | spiritedandthensome.com

    Kids’ Activities

    Spirited Learning

    • About Us
    • Blog
    • Recipes
    • Family
    • Kids’ Activities
    • Resources
    • Photography Tips
    • Blogging Tips
    • Free Course
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT