Artichoke and Green Olive Tapenade
It's mid-August?
Hi, hello! I can’t begin to say how grateful I am/was to be included in ’ edit of Substack Reads last weekend. A warm welcome to you all of you new friends and thank you for joining me here. If you’re new, and are thinking, who is this woman and what have I signed up for?! You can read a bit me about me here. Jess’ newsletter The Love List is also wonderful and she is most generous of spirit.
Ok, let’s get to it. As most of you know and Dan have been visiting us this week in Nova Scotia. For those unfamiliar, Helen and Dan are our dearest friends/chosen family and often mentioned here. Helen launched her Substack over the weekend and I highly recommend you check it out. She’s been working on it during her time here and there is a lot of wonderful stuff coming up, which will included a special collaboration between the two of us.
Dan is a very good cook and I’m not going to lie, it’s been pretty great having someone take over for a few nights! We tried our hand at these potato noodles and they were delicious. Tonight we’re off to Rachel and Andy’s for family meal. I’m making a dip that will be included in my next book and Dan and I are playing around with a grilled oyster recipe that will include white wine, panko and pancetta. I’ll keep you posted…
If you’re looking for a good book, Laura van den Berg’s State of Paradise is absolutely brilliant. Her writing is direct, visceral and provoking. Highly recommend grabbing yourself a copy. I was ”in” after the first paragraph and that’s how I know I’m going to love a book. You? The lovely did an amazing newsletter a few weeks ago that included a ton of wonderful reading recs from Substackers, including yours truly. Check it and her out!
We’ve also been listening a lot to the Talking Heads Radio station on Spotify - it’s great.
I was scrolling through my phone of Augusts past and came across these beautiful market photos I took while on holiday in Provence - 8 years ago! It is one of my most favorite places to visit. That particular trip, we rented a house in Rognes with our friends Kevin and Tom for two weeks. We would visit wineries (Tom is also in the business) and find which markets were open when to shop for meals. I was astounded by the selection of tapenades they had available and we took many types home to snack on. After that trip I can home inspired to make my own and this recipe for Artichoke and Green Olive Tapenade and it hit the spot.
This ”dip” for lack of a better work is great to put out for cocktail hour. It also would work well alongside roast chicken, stirred into pastas, or brought on a picnic or to the beach. I use a bit of grapefruit juice to give it lift, but orange juice would also work well.
August is all about lackadaisical, snacking dinners and this recipe is just the ticket.
Artichoke and Green Olive Tapenade
This dip is inspired by Provence, a place I love deeply. For a few summers, I was lucky enough to be able to visit for a few weeks at a time. In my opinion, there is no joy greater than wandering the vast food markets and picking up ingredients for lunch and dinner. I was particularly full of awe for a stall that sold an incredible variety of different tapenades. Of course I tried as many as I could. I tried to recreate my own version here and you can use it as part of a snack board or as a dipping sauce or spread or stir it in pasta.
Time 10 minutes
Yields about 2 cups
INGREDIENTS
1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained
1 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives
1 clove garlic
¼ cup roughly chopped parsley
1 tablespoon freshly grapefruit or orange juice, plus more if needed
½ cup olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
METHOD
In a food processor or blender, pulse together the artichokes, olives, garlic, and the parsley, until they form a paste-like consistency.
Add the olive oil and pulse again until everything is emulsified.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl, stir in the orange juice and season with salt and pepper to taste, adding in a bit more citrus juice if needed. Serve with crackers and crudité.
Let me know if you make the tapenade and I hope you have a lovely rest of your week. I’m off to take a “dip” - one that involves water!
With love,
Colu xx
I’m making this recipe for sure!!
A book I just finished and loved was The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl. Next on my list Emilienne by Pamela Binnings Evens and then your recommendation especially because I so enjoyed The Sicilian Inheritances 👏
Haven't yet ever made green olive tapenade, so this is an exciting find. I appreciate you sharing, Colu. Hope your week is going well. Cheers, -Thalia