Tapenade
History
Tapenade is an emblematic recipe of Provençal cuisine made from green or black olives, crushed in a mortar with olive oil, capers, anchovy fillets, garlic and Provençal herbs. It was invented in Marseille in 1880 by the chef Meynier of the La Maison dorée restaurant.
Varieties and Flavours
There are two types of tapenade: green and black. They obviously do not taste the same: the black tapenade is stronger and more bitter than the green one.
The Question on Everyone's Mind
Where does tapenade get its name?
The word 'tapenade' comes from the Provençal 'tapen', which means 'capers', the second most important ingredient in the original recipe.
How to Eat It
It can be found as an aperitif! It can be eaten on toast and can also be placed in ramekins and eaten with vegetable sticks. It is often used in Mediterranean cuisine, especially as a stuffing for poultry, in puff pastries or meat, pasta, omelettes...
A Recipe
Black Tapenade:
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Preparation time: 10 minutes Difficulty: Easy Cost: € |
Ingredients for 5 people: 200g pitted black olives |
1) Peel half a clove of garlic and put it in a blender with the 200g of pitted black olives.
2) Drain the capers and anchovies and add them to the blender.
3) Pour in a little lemon juice. Blend everything together.
4) Gradually add the equivalent of a tablespoon.
5) The texture should become thicker and thicker. Continue to blend, checking the thickness.
6) Add the lemon juice and season with a little pepper and a pinch of salt (be careful, the capers and anchovies are already salty).
7) Then enjoy the tapenade on toast.
With this simple and delicious recipe, you will impress your friends and family!
Where to Buy It
Every Provençal market has at least one olive and tapenade stall to offer. Try several and take your favourite home to extend your holiday!
Tapenade Events
Usually, many events are organised in Provence between the end of November and the end of January around the olive and the tapenade. For a comprehensive guide on olive trees, please see the following link: https://happydiyhome.com/olive-trees/
Due to the pandemic, some events may have been cancelled. Please contact the Tourist Office for information during your stay.
