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    Home » Recipes » APPETIZERS

    Sam TurnbullAuthor: Sam Turnbull Updated: November 4, 2024

    Olive & Sun-Dried Tomato Rustic Tapenade

    5 from 7 votes
    | 19 Comments
    Save Saved! Pin Comments ↓ Jump to Recipe

    Well hello Olive & Sun-Dried Tomato Rustic Tapenade. How are you on this fine day? Fabulous, I can tell.

    Olive-and-Sun-dried-tomato-rustic-tapenade



    Tapenades are usually a dark paste made of ground up olives. Now that's all fine and dandy, and there is nothing wrong with that, but gosh, why would you paste it all up when instead you can celebrate all of this gorgeous colour and texture? This is one fine toast topper. Hello perfect party appetizer. Make ahead, colourful, and gorgeous. The flavours of the salty and rich olives, the sweet chewy sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and a bright note of lemon throughout. It's an Italian party in my mouth. Hey mambo, mambo Italiano!

    Olive-and-Sun-dried-tomato-rustic-tapenade-3

    Serve up this bad boy with a baguette, some crackers, and maybe if you are feeling really fancy, this Homemade Vegan Cashew Ricotta.

    Olive-and-Sun-dried-tomato-rustic-tapenade5

    To make this recipe, first do a taste test of your olives. Different brands of olives can range hugely in saltiness. If you love the saltiness of your olives, then perfect you are good to go! If you find your olives too salty, then rinse them. If they are still too salty, then soak them in water for up to an hour, the salt will be pulled out into the water.

    Olive-and-Sun-dried-tomato-rustic-tapenade-4

    Now just chop up the olives, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, finely mince the garlic, zest and juice the lemon, and add it to a bowl.

    Olive-and-Sun-dried-tomato-rustic-tapenade-2

    Mix it all up, taste and add more lemon, and salt and pepper if desired.

    Olive-and-Sun-dried-tomato-rustic-tapenade-1

    5 from 7 votes
    (click stars to vote)

    Olive & Sun-Dried Tomato Rustic Tapenade

    Hello perfect party appetizer. Make ahead, colourful, and gorgeous. The flavours of the salty and rich olives, the sweet chewy sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and a bright note of lemon throughout. An Italian party in your mouth. 
    Prep: 15 minutes mins
    Total: 15 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 (makes about 1 ½ cups)
    PRINT PIN Save Saved! COMMENT

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup mixed pitted olives,, roughly chopped and pits removed
    • ¾ cup sun-dried tomatoes,, roughly chopped
    • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
    • 1 clove garlic,, minced
    • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions
     

    • Add everything to a bowl and mix well. Serve along with toast or crackers. This would also be lovely served with side Homemade Vegan Cashew Ricotta.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 384mg | Potassium: 480mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Vitamin C: 7.3mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1.4mg

    ⭐ Did You Make This Recipe?

    I’d love if you left a rating and comment, it helps others find the recipe and makes my day! 💕
    Author: Sam Turnbull
    Cuisine: Greek, Italian
    Course: Appetizer

    Featured Ingredient: Olives. 19 Recipes, 5 Days to go! (eek!)

    Bon Appetegan,

    Sam.

    « Vegan Cream of Celery Soup
    Tomato, Tapenade & Pine Nut Pasta »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beata says

      October 09, 2025 at 9:57 am

      5 stars
      Made this recipe specifically to make the Tomato, Tapenade & Pine Nut Pasta from Sam. Did not measure (probably made a bit more than this recipe makes); just combined the amounts that looked good to me haha, and quickly buzzed everything in my food processor, making sure I left nice chunks in the mix. The only thing I skipped was the lemon zest because I am lazy like that LOL. I used organic dry sundried tomatoes that are not as red as the regular ones (the red color comes from the sulfur preservatives), so my tapenade was not nearly as pretty, but it sure was SO DAMN GOOD, that I used the entire recipe in the aforementioned pasta dish, and the pasta dish was DEVOURED.

      Will definitely make this tapenade again, for the pasta dish, and as an appetizer. Thank you so much, Sam!!!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says

        October 10, 2025 at 11:12 am

        Hi Beata! Haha I love that, sounds like you nailed it! So happy the tapenade (and pasta!) were such a hit. Thanks for sharing how it went 💛

        Reply
    2. Nan says

      August 06, 2023 at 7:09 am

      5 stars
      Served this at the soft opening of a food stand yesterday & it was very well-received! On toasted baguette slices with a local soft sheep cheese and in dosas with a variety of other ingredients - just perfect! It’s made the short list of initial toppings for sure.

      Reply
      • Jess @ IDTLC Support says

        August 08, 2023 at 3:23 pm

        Glad it was a hit!

        Reply
    3. Jasson says

      December 10, 2022 at 3:50 pm

      5 stars
      Very nice recipe chef . I just made it and I enjoy it on top of a slices of bred that come out of the oven 20 minutes ago and a piece of your veg. cheese yammy and yammy. Thank you for your effort

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        December 11, 2022 at 11:34 am

        So happy you like it!

        Reply
    4. supplier chart says

      June 19, 2022 at 5:59 am

      Good Afternoon everyone ! can anyone recommend where I can buy CBD Lotion?

      Reply
    5. Emily says

      December 28, 2018 at 2:05 pm

      Do you recommend jarred sundried tomatoes, or just the dried ones not in oil? Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        January 03, 2019 at 10:41 am

        Either will work wonderfully here 🙂

        Reply
    6. Lori says

      June 30, 2017 at 1:29 pm

      Making this for a party how do you think some artichoke hearts would taste in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 02, 2017 at 12:24 pm

        That sounds like a great addition!

        Reply
    7. Diana L says

      December 02, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      I am absolutely drooling over this recipe. You've combined 2 of my favourite ingredients: olives and sun dried tomatoes, then slapped it on top of little bread rounds. Delicious!!

      Reply
      • Sam says

        December 03, 2015 at 9:20 am

        Haha! I love that! So happy I got you drooling 🙂

        Reply
        • Sabrina says

          February 16, 2020 at 9:55 am

          I just found your site, and I've been pinning recipes like crazy. You're so creative and I've bee n looking for new recipes to switch things up. You have so many good ideas.thank you!

        • Sam Turnbull says

          February 22, 2020 at 11:48 am

          Aww you're most welcome, Sabrina 🙂

    8. Meredith Youngson says

      June 13, 2015 at 7:57 pm

      OMG the flavours... the saltiness...best combo of things on a baguette!

      Reply
      • Sam says

        June 14, 2015 at 2:43 pm

        Haha! Agree. Also, most things on baguette are a good idea in my opinion! haha.

        Reply
    9. Kathy Sturr says

      June 08, 2015 at 9:06 am

      Yum! Love me a good baguette topper. This looks divine. I may have to invent a party just so I can make it!

      Reply
      • Sam says

        June 08, 2015 at 1:04 pm

        I love inventing parties around food!! haha

        Reply
    5 from 7 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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