Green Olive “Paste” Canapé
Canapé de Pasta de Aceituna VerdeThis olive paste is a versatile spread that's perfect on a piece of bread or as a condiment to enhance other dishes like meatballs and salads. The ingredients are quintessentially Spanish, featuring olives, capers, anchovies, almonds, and garlic.
Ingredients
Makes about 12 tapas
- 40 pitted green olives preferably Spanish, coarsely chopped
- 1 teaspoon capers nonpareil preferred, rinsed and drained
- 4 canned or jarred anchovy fillets coarsely chopped
- 1 teaspoon finely ground blanched almonds
- 1 garlic clove mashed in a garlic press or mortar
- ¼ cup fruity extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground sweet paprika such as Spanish smoked
- 1 ½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 12 thin slices of long-loaf baguette bread
- Jarred or canned piquillo peppers or pimientos for garnish
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients, except the bread and piquillo peppers, in a food processor.
- Process the mixture until it’s as finely chopped as possible.
- Then, transfer it to a mortar and mash it.
- This can be prepared ahead of time.
- Spread a thin layer of the olive paste on each bread slice and garnish with the piquillo peppers.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Serve your Green Olive “Paste” Canapé at room temperature and enjoy the delicious, quintessentially Spanish flavors.
This canapé is a delightful combination of Mediterranean flavors, with the richness of olives, the brininess of capers and anchovies, and the nuttiness of almonds. It’s a versatile addition to your tapas menu and enhances the taste of various dishes.