Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade
Sun-dried tomato tapenade is a flavourful Mediterranean starter or party spread made with sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, basil and pine nuts. The Thermomix TM7 chops and blends everything into a consistent, restaurant-quality paste in minutes. Ideal as an aperitif spread on crostini or as a savoury accompaniment to grilled vegetables and bread.
About this recipe
Sun-dried tomato tapenade Thermomix TM7 is the ultimate quick aperitif spread for anyone searching for an easy starter recipe with big Mediterranean flavour. Made with sun-dried tomatoes in oil, Parmesan, fresh basil, pine nuts and a hint of chilli, this tapenade delivers an intense, sweet-savoury taste with a silky, spreadable consistency that shop-bought versions rarely match. The all-in-one kitchen machine takes the effort out of preparation: garlic and pine nuts are chopped in seconds, and the olive oil emulsifies evenly so the spread never separates on the platter. Serve it at a drinks party with crostini, stir it through pasta for a speedy weeknight dinner sauce, or spoon it alongside grilled vegetables and antipasti. It keeps well in a sealed jar in the fridge, making it a reliable make-ahead option for festive gatherings, holiday tables or an effortless addition to your lunchbox routine.
Preparation tips
- For a coarser, more rustic tapenade, use the zeer hoge snelheid setting in short bursts rather than blending continuously, so the sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts keep a pleasant bite instead of turning into a puree.
- Taste before adding extra sea salt, because the sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan already bring plenty of savoury depth; a little extra ground pepper and chilli usually balances the flavours better than more salt.
- Store the tapenade in a sterilised jar covered with a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil; it keeps in the fridge for about a week and the basil flavour actually deepens after a day of resting.
Recipe variations
- Vegan version: simply leave out the Parmesan and add a tablespoon of nutritional yeast plus an extra pinch of sea salt; the pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes keep the tapenade rich and savoury without any dairy.
- Festive winter variant: replace the fresh basil with rosemary and add a few dried cranberries for a sweet-savoury twist that pairs beautifully with a cheese board at Christmas or New Year celebrations.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Precise chopping gives the garlic cloves an even fineness in seconds, so no harsh chunks disturb the silky tapenade texture. [Precision Control]
- The TM7 grinds the pine nuts to a coarse meal, releasing their buttery aroma before the tomatoes are added to the bowl. [Multi-Function]
- Weighing the olive oil directly in the mixing bowl guarantees the ideal ratio of oil to tomatoes for a spreadable, never greasy result. [Built-in Scale]
- Mixing at a controlled speed blends the basil and Parmesan evenly through the tomatoes into a uniform, restaurant-style paste. [Precision Control]
- Emulsifying power binds the olive oil stably into the sun-dried tomato mixture, keeping the tapenade from separating during storage. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- Parmesan cheese
- sun-dried tomatoes in oil
- fresh basil leaves
- pine nuts
- garlic cloves
- dried chilli flakes
- fine sea salt
- ground black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil