TAPENADE COOKIES
Join me in a celebration of taste with my homemade and easy-peasy tapenade cookies : perfect for any summer occasion!
A Summertime Tradition: Tapenade Cookies
As summer unfolds, a particular anticipation builds for me, especially as I return to my house in my cherished south of France. There, amidst the everyday sun-and the gentle hum of the Mediterranean, I engage in a culinary tradition: making tapenade cookies. These are not just any cookies, ha no; they are an exquisite blend of savoury flavours that, once tasted, are quite impossible to forget.
The Joy of Sharing
Each year, when I receive my friends and family, I begin the process of making these cookies. The star, of course, is my homemade Provencal tapenade, a rich, olive-based spread that is a staple in southern French cuisine. The olives, capers, and anchovies meld into a complex taste that transform a basic cookie into quiet something else!
There is a unique joy in preparing these cookies. Perhaps it is the rhythmic chopping of olives and garlic that fills the kitchen, but the true pleasure comes from sharing these little marvels with friends and family. Watching someone’s eyes light up as they bite into my tapenade cookie, their senses greeting the inimitable taste, is a moment of pure satisfaction…
A Nod to Historical Roots
Tapenade’s journey begins in the annals of ancient Roman and Greek cuisines. A dish resembling what we know today as tapenade was first documented by Roman statesman Cato the Elder in the 1st century AD. His treatise “On Agriculture” includes a recipe for an olive-based paste, hinting at the longstanding tradition of this savoury spread.
The term “tapenade” derives from the Provençal word “tapenas,” which means capers. Initially, capers were a principal component, often preserved in olive oil which imbued them with a distinctive olive hint. Through the ages, the recipe underwent a transformation, with olives gradually becoming the dominant ingredient, supplemented by capers and other flavour-enhancing ingredients like anchovies and garlic.
The modern iteration of tapenade that we relish today is widely considered to have originated and refined in Marseille, in 1880. A chef named Meynier at La Maison Dorée restaurant crafted a blend that has become synonymous with Provençal cuisine. This concoction of olives, capers, anchovies, and olive oil gained prominence when it was featured in a Provençal cookbook in 1897, cementing tapenade’s status in culinary history.
Perfect Pairing: Coteaux de Narbonne
When it comes to enhancing these tapenade cookies, a glass of Coteaux de Narbonne rosé proves to be the perfect companion.
Situated in my stunning southern France, specifically around the historic city of Narbonne, lies the IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) wine region known as Coteaux de Narbonne. This region, part of my beautiful and beloved Languedoc-Roussillon area, boasts vineyards that stretch east from Narbonne along the Mediterranean coast, past the La Clape massif, and along the Aude river up to the picturesque Canal du Midi.
The Unique Appeal of Coteaux de Narbonne
Coteaux de Narbonne is celebrated for its light, refreshing rosé wines, distinguished by their delicate pale pink color. These wines are typically made from traditional grape varieties, including the unique Caladoc grape : a cross between Malbec and Grenache, which adds to the wine’s lovely hue. The rosés here capture the taste of red fruit like strawberry, currant, and cranberry, mingled with a hint of spice and the aromatic garrigue, a local herb blend featuring rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender, and other Mediterranean herbs.
A Rich Cultural and Natural Heritage
The region’s rich cultural and natural heritage is integral to its identity. Iconic landmarks such as the Narbonne Cathedral, chosen as the emblem for their wines, as it dominates the landscape, visible across the plain. Narbonne itself, founded in 118 BC as the “first daughter” of Rome, has a storied history deeply intertwined with viticulture. The wines of Narbonne have been treasured and exported across Europe since ancient times, benefiting from an exceptional climate and a limestone-clay terroir that has nurtured vineyards for centuries.
A Tradition Rooted in History
The modern Coteaux de Narbonne wines draw on a winemaking tradition dating back to the Roman era. This long history reflects the deep connection between the local culture and viticulture. The region’s natural landscapes, including the historic city of Narbonne, the La Clape massif, and the Canal du Midi, contribute profoundly to the character and distinctiveness of the wines produced here.
In fine
So, as the summer sun casts long shadows and the evenings stretch lazily before us, I find myself returning to the kitchen to whip up another batch of these tapenade cookies. They are a ritual, a way to reconnect with my roots and bring a piece of southern France to wherever I am. And while the recipe for these cookies was unwritten here, the invitation to explore, to taste, and to enjoy remains open now!
A Summer Essential
Yes, you may wish to discover some new recipes with the iconic Provençal spread!
What about a chilled melon soup with tapenade or some moreish pasta with truffle and tapenade ?
Do not forget to leave a comment and let me know how it turned out! And if you have any variation of this recipe that you would like to share, I would love to hear it. Be sure to check out my other easy-peasy recipes on the blog for more culinary inspiration!
Happy cooking and bonne dégustation!
Sixtine ;)
TAPENADE COOKIES
Ingredients
- FOR 10 COOKIES
- 130 g green olives tapenade
- 100 g butter melted
- 100 g Philadelphia cheese
- 200 g self-rising flour
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the butter with the Philadelphia.
- Add the flour and the tapenade. Stir well.
- Put the preparation in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 180 °C.
- Form 10 little balls and dispose them on a lined baking tray.
- Press on them slightly with your palms.
- Put in the oven for 15 minutes.
Notes
