$14.95
Tapenade is one of those quietly ancient preparations that has survived centuries because it is simply and completely right. A Provençal tradition born from the word for caper, tapenas, it has sat at the heart of Mediterranean tables for generations as a spread, a dip, a sauce, and a pantry essential that turns almost any occasion into something that feels considered. Pukara Estate’s Black Olive Tapenade brings that tradition into a Hunter Valley jar, built on a majority of whole olives and rounded out with caper berries, anchovies, Dijon mustard, garlic, and herbs into a deeply savoury, complex spread that earns its permanent place in the pantry. Grandma’s Pantry carries it because some products make every other thing they are served alongside taste better, and this is one of them.
Rich, deeply savoury, and beautifully briny with the bold, complex character of black olives front and centre. The caper berries add a tangy brightness and slight floral note that lifts the whole blend, while the anchovies melt into the background contributing a quiet umami depth that you would notice immediately if it were absent. Dijon mustard brings a gentle warmth and emulsifying richness, the garlic adds backbone, and the herbs weave a soft, herbal thread through everything. The overall impression is intensely Mediterranean, concentrated and complex without being sharp, and enormously versatile across applications both simple and involved.
Spread generously over toasted sourdough, ciabatta, or crackers as an instant antipasto or pre-dinner bite that requires nothing else. Use as a base spread on a cheese and charcuterie board in place of or alongside whole olives for a more cohesive, spreadable option that guests come back to repeatedly. Whisk a spoonful through a vinaigrette for a little richness and depth that elevates even the simplest salad. Push it under the skin of a whole chicken breast before pan-roasting and serve with roasted potatoes for a deeply flavoured quick dinner that sounds far more involved than it is. Stir through warm pasta with a little extra olive oil and parmesan, spread on a pizza base in place of tomato sauce, use as a sandwich layer with good cheese and roasted capsicum, or dollop alongside grilled lamb cutlets as an instant sauce.
Tapenade on Toasted Ciabatta with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a crack of black pepper is the kind of antipasto that costs almost nothing to prepare and makes every guest feel immediately at ease. Spread under the skin of a Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast it infuses the whole bird with a deep, savoury Mediterranean character that pairs beautifully with roasted kipfler potatoes and wilted greens. Whisked into a simple Tapenade Vinaigrette with a little lemon juice and good olive oil it turns a plain green salad or a tomato salad into something with genuine depth. Spooned alongside a Lamb Backstrap rested after a hot pan sear it functions as a sauce, a condiment, and a flavour bridge in one. And used as the base on a Tapenade and Brie Flatbread with fresh thyme and a drizzle of honey, it makes a sharing plate that disappears faster than anything else on the table.
Made by Pukara Estate, Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Contains fish. Manufactured on equipment that processes nuts. Not suitable for those avoiding fish or nut traces. Please refer to product packaging for full allergen information.
Ingredients: Olives (54%), Olive Oil, Caper Berries, Garlic, Dijon Mustard [Water, Mustard Seed (20%), Sugar, Salt, Acetic Acid, Turmeric], Anchovies, Herbs, Pepper.
Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Refrigerate after opening.
