Ingredients: capers, garlic, oregano, red chili, black pepper, olives (black or green), olive oil

Spreads for bread, like tapenade, are common all across Italy, Greece, Turkey, and other Mediterranean cultures. They often contain capers, buds of perennial plants that are picked before they're ripe, then cured in brine. Because they can't be dried, capers weren't widely traded along spice routes; their use in a tapenade is indicative of regional flavor. You can also try adding herbs like basil, thyme, dill, and tarragon, as well as dried tomatoes, a squeeze of lemon juice, or bit of fennel.

< previous | close window | next >