Black Olive Tapenade Crostini (Printable)

Mediterranean spread blending briny olives, capers, herbs, and anchovies atop crisp crostini.

# What Goes In:

→ Black Olive Tapenade

01 - 2 cups pitted black olives (Kalamata or Niçoise preferred)
02 - 2 tablespoons capers, drained
03 - 4 anchovy fillets in oil, drained (optional for vegetarian; omit for vegan)
04 - 2 cloves garlic, peeled
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 - 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
09 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Crostini

10 - 1 baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
11 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 1 garlic clove, halved (for rubbing)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Arrange baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush both sides lightly with olive oil.
03 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crisp. Remove from oven and rub tops with cut side of garlic. Set aside to cool.
04 - In a food processor, combine black olives, capers, anchovies if using, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, and thyme. Pulse several times until coarsely chopped.
05 - With the processor running, drizzle in olive oil slowly until mixture forms a coarse paste. Scrape sides as needed.
06 - Season with freshly ground black pepper and adjust lemon juice to taste.
07 - Transfer tapenade to a serving bowl and serve alongside crostini.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy and quick to prepare
  • Perfect for entertaining and sharing
02 -
  • For a vegan tapenade omit anchovies and add an extra 1 tablespoon capers plus 1 teaspoon miso paste or 12 teaspoon soy sauce for depth
  • Crostini can be prepared up to a day in advance and stored in an airtight container
03 -
  • Add a touch of orange zest for a citrusy twist
  • Pair with a crisp sparkling wine or dry rosé
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