Elies Spastes - ‘Broken’ Olive Tapenade
The briny, bright flavors of the various Greek olives in this flavorful condiment highlight their fruity nature beautifully, while the sweet tang of the Florini peppers pairs with the luxurious mouthfeel of the roasted eggplant for a slightly different, yet perfectly balanced bite every time!
Makes about 4 cups
Ingredients
1 baby eggplant or ½-1 cup of roasted eggplant puree
½ cup of Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
½ cup of Agriniou olives, pitted and chopped
½ cup of Volou olives, pitted and chopped
½ cup of Amfissa olives, pitted and chopped
½ cup of Sparta olives, pitted and chopped
½-1 cup of roasted Florini peppers, chopped
1 tablespoon olive tapenade (optional)
5-6 sprigs of flat leaf parsley, chopped (with stems)
3-4 tablespoons of Greek extra virgin olive oil
Ground pepper, to taste
Directions
Heat a grill or a grill pan on a stovetop to medium-high heat. Grill the whole eggplant until softened and slightly charred, approximately 10 to 15 minutes, rotating until evenly softened and charred. Alternatively, you can roast the whole eggplant by placing on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until softened.
As soon as you remove from the heat source, place the grilled or roasted eggplant in a glass bowl sealed with plastic wrap, or in a Ziploc bag. Let the eggplant steam and rest for 10 minutes.
While the eggplant is resting, in a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients, mixing to fully combine. (If using eggplant puree, skip to THIS step.)
Once the eggplant is ready, chop with the skin on, and add to the bowl; stir to fully combine with the rest of the ingredients.
Serve with your favorite bread and/or crackers, or use as a condiment for your favorite proteins like grilled chicken breasts or salmon, pasta, over soup, or combine with hummus and chickpeas for a new dip!
Chef’s Note:
You can serve immediately after making, but for a better dining experience place the mixture in a container with a lid, and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to marry – you can taste the difference!