Meyer Lemon Olive Tapenade

Last Updated August 7th, 2022 at 10:55 pm by Lisa

Calling all you olive lovers! This delightfully fresh Meyer Lemon Olive Tapenade is an anchovy free recipe and the perfect addition to cheese boards with crackers and golden crostini toasts.

Once you make your own tapenade, it will become a favorite way to entertain with appetizers...

Green Olive Tapenade Recipe

Many of us are not a fan of anchovy, anchovy fillets, or anchovy paste as one of the main ingredients in dishes. The strong flavor they add can overwhelm a recipe. But those little anchovies are classically used in a French Tapenade. This is a vegetarian and vegan version that tastes just as good as the ones you will find in the outdoor markets of France!

These staple ingredients are always in my pantry which makes this a snap to put together.

• 1 cup green olives pitted and drained
• 1 cup Kalamata olives pitted and drained
• ¼ cup capers drained
• ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves chopped
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 Meyer lemon - lemon zest and lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Olives: Use different types of olives. Green or black olives are great choices, and kalamata olives all work very well. If you can find niçoise olives from Southern France, those would be ideal for a traditional tapenade.

Take a look at an olive bar at your local gourmet grocery store, and combine olives. Be sure to use an olive pitter to remove any pits before chopping. Castelvetrano olives are another good option and are a Sicilian green olive, irresistible buttery-sweet flavor, and crisp, meaty texture.

Capers: Are pickled green flower buds that have a lemony tang, and echo a green olive flavor with some tartness. They bring a bold salty, savory flavor and just 1 tablespoon of capers will pack a flavor punch dishes like chicken piccata.

Olive Oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. You can use a flavored one like garlic or lemon. Drizzle a little extra olive oil on top of the bowl to add additional flavor.

Meyer Lemons: For best results use fresh lemon juice from Meyer lemons as they are not as tart and sweeter. You can use regular Eureka lemons too.

Garlic: Fresh garlic can overpower the tapenade, garlic powder is just right. If you use garlic cloves, be sure to crush them well into a thick paste and mix well. You can smash on a board or use a mortar and pestle.

Variations: A great addition would be to add some ribbons of fresh basil or fresh mint. Fresh thyme would also be perfect!

How To Mix Tapenade

1. Remove any pits from olives. In a small food processor (see below how to chop by hand), add kalamata and green olives, capers, and fresh parsley. Pulse 8 times, or until it is chunky.
2. Next, add olive oil, scrape down the bowl, and pulse 4 more times.
3. Then pour this mixture into a bowl. Add the Meyer lemon juice and zest, black pepper, and garlic powder.
4. Mix the tapenade ingredients well.
5. NOTE: If making tapenade the simple way by hand, finely chop green and kalamata olives, capers, and parsley on a cutting board. Then add to a bowl and add the extra virgin olive oil, Meyer lemon juice and zest, pepper, and garlic powder.
6. Stores well in a mason jar or an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

How To Eat Tapenade

Homemade olive tapenade will hold up in hot weather and can be served outdoors for a picnic or garden party. We all love an easy recipe to serve at room temperature in the summer months!

What To Serve With Olive Tapenade?

• assorted crackers
• plain or flavored pita chips
• pickled vegetables
• cheesy crouton shards
• mini bell pepper halves (keto/low carb light option)
• baguette slices
• wide variety of cheeses
• crostini toasts
• breadsticks
• sliced crusty bread

What are Meyer Lemons?

Meyer lemons are orangy yellow and rounder than a regular lemon. The skin is thin, not thick and they have a sweet fragrance.  

Meyer lemon fruits have a sweeter, less acidic flavor than the more common Lisbon or Eureka supermarket lemon varieties.

My Dad always said Meyer lemons were the best. And I believe he was right. I have a Meyer lemon tree in my garden and it always reminds me of my Dad.

Tapenade FAQ

Easy Olive Tapenade Recipe Uses

Tapenade is a flavoring ingredient and has many other uses in your cooking should you have leftovers. Here are some creative delicious recipes to use this versatile olive condiment to try...

A couple of easy recipes that use tapenade to pack in flavor are these Tuna Salad wraps and bell pepper bowls. This is no regular tuna salad and is a perfect way to use up tapenade.

Picnic Pressed Sandwiches are a delicious recipe for summertime. They are so easy to make a day ahead, then toss into a cooler, and off to the beach you go!

• toss into Greek salads
• scoop up with different flavored pita chips
• sprinkle as a homemade pizza garnish topping
• add to pasta red sauce for a delicious sauce
• on busy weeknights, toss into hot spaghetti
• a topping for deviled eggs
• roasted green beans and top with tapenade
• make easy green olive tapenade stuffed French bread
• top thick tomato slices with feta, tapenade, and mint
• put into compound herb butter for use on fish
• baked into bread loaves for olive bread
• mix into a big batch of great tasting pasta salads
• mix with mayo, for a tapenade mayo for a sandwich spread
• spread goat cheese on crostini top with a spoonful of tapenade and top with a little bit of red pepper flakes
• an olive spread to serve on crostini
• stir little tapenade into hummus for a dip
• mix into chicken or tuna salad the best flavor
• bake fish in parchment paper with a spoonful over the top for easy dinner parties
• put some on morning avocado toast for a perfect addition
• toss tapenade into main dishes like hot pasta sauce
• make tomato tapenade, mix roasted tomatoes, olive tapenade, and fresh herbs with olive oil

Appetizer Party Ideas

For a happy hour or a family gathering put out a great spread. Load a charcuterie board with pita bread triangles, a nice whole olive mix, various cheeses, nuts, fresh crisp green beans, roasted red bell peppers, and your favorite crackers.

perfect recipe

Lidy Baars of French Garden House and I put together this Autumn Entertaining Series with this gorgeous appetizer display.

And let me just say, we sure had fun creating this party appetizer series for you! We might have just giggled and nibbled our way through this entire photoshoot...

Lidy set this table with her FABULOUS styling talent, I just love how she makes it look so easy. All the food was served down the center of a beautiful table, all within reach. It makes entertaining so elegant and easy. You can read all about how she pulls this look together on her blog post, Autumn Entertaining | How To Design A Stunning Appetizer Display.

We served a gorgeous Hibiscus Tea Cocktail that is on the “healthy” side and might just be your go-to holiday cocktail choice as it has low sugar, 3-ingredient Brie and Bacon Palmiers, and Spicy Candied Pecans will be a favorite in festive Holiday salads and on cheese boards.

Lidy pulled this gorgeous table together so effortlessly and shares how to get this look for Autumn Entertaining on her blog.  We hope this inspires you to entertain outdoors and relax with friends and family.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes