Tapenade facts for kids
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| Type | Spread |
|---|---|
| Course | Hors d'œuvre |
| Place of origin | France |
| Region or state | Provence |
| Main ingredients | Olives, capers, anchovies |
Tapenade is a tasty spread from a region in France called Provence. It's made by mashing up olives, capers, and anchovies. The name "tapenade" comes from the Provençal word for capers, which is tapenas.
People in the south of France love to eat tapenade! They often spread it on bread as a snack or use it with fish and in salads. Sometimes, they even use it to stuff chicken or other poultry for a main meal.
The Story of Tapenade
Did you know that people have been making dishes with olives and anchovies for a very long time? Even ancient Roman cookbooks, written over a thousand years ago, have recipes like this! For example, a Roman writer named Cato the Elder wrote about a spread called epityrum. It was very similar to tapenade.
But the tapenade we know today, with its special ingredient capers, has a more recent story. A chef named Meynier created it in 1880. He worked at a restaurant called La Maison Dorée in Marseille, France. Chef Meynier made his tapenade by mixing equal amounts of capers and black olives. Then he added anchovy fillets and marinated tuna. He also added spices, pepper, olive oil, and even some brandy to make it extra flavorful!
How to Make Tapenade
The main ingredients for tapenade are olives and capers. Usually, black olives are used. First, the olives and capers are chopped very finely, crushed, or blended together. Then, olive oil is slowly added until the mixture becomes a smooth paste.
Sometimes, people add other ingredients to change the flavor. These can include garlic, different herbs, more anchovies, or even lemon juice.
How to Enjoy Tapenade
Tapenade is often served as an appetizer. You can spread it on crusty bread or use it as a dip for fresh vegetables like carrots or celery.
It can also be an ingredient in a salad. Look at the picture below to see a warm goat cheese salad with tapenade!
Tapenade is also used as a condiment or in preparing fish dishes.
See also
In Spanish: Tapenada para niños
