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Vegetarian, South and mountains

Pasta with black olive tapenade and roasted cherry tomatoes

This tapenade pasta is a dish of black olives, roasted cherry tomatoes, and parmesan, serving 4 people in 25 minutes. It's a very easy recipe, costing about €2.40 per serving. The key to success is saving some pasta water to loosen the tapenade and coat every strand.

Here's a last minute dish, pasta with black olive tapenade, roasted cherry tomatoes, and parmesan.

Pasta with black olive tapenade and roasted cherry tomatoes
Total time
25 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€2.40
Calories per person
680 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Black olive tapenade brings a salty, bold olive flavor that's a nice change from classic tomato sauces. Roasted cherry tomatoes add sweetness and softness that balance that strong taste. Shaved parmesan and fresh basil finish the dish with a mellow, fragrant touch, keeping things simple but full of character.

This is the kind of weeknight dinner you make when the fridge is nearly empty, as long as you have a jar of tapenade and a box of tomatoes. Kids generally love the pasta and parmesan part, and often come around to tapenade more easily once it's mixed through like this. Mon Chou turns to it on busy evenings, without giving up on flavor.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Spaghettioften in the pantry 400 g
  • Black olive tapenade 120 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Cherry tomatoes 300 g
  • Basil 8 sprigs
  • Garlic 2 cloves

Dairy

  • Parmesan 60 g

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Fish

The step by step recipe

  1. Halve the cherry tomatoes, spread them on a baking sheet with the garlic, olive oil, and salt, then roast at 180°C. 20 min

    Cut side up, they roast down without losing their juice.

  2. Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted water. 10 min

    Plenty of water and a generous pinch of salt give the pasta real flavor.

  3. Mix the tapenade with a ladle of pasta cooking water in a large bowl.

    This keeps the tapenade from clumping onto the pasta.

  4. Drain the pasta, toss it with the tapenade, then add the roasted tomatoes and basil.

    Serve right away, the pasta keeps soaking up the sauce.

  5. Finish with parmesan shavings and a turn of the pepper mill.

    A vegetable peeler makes thin, even shavings.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a good quality tapenade, since it carries most of the dish's flavor, so make sure it tastes great on its own.
  • Let the tomatoes roast until the skins wrinkle slightly, that's the sign they've released their sweet juices.
  • Mix the tapenade with the pasta water before adding the hot pasta, never the other way around, for a smooth sauce.

The variations

  • Swap the black tapenade for green tapenade, the flavor is milder with a slight anise note.
  • Add anchovy fillets or capers for an extra salty, Mediterranean kick.
  • For kids, serve the tapenade on the side so everyone can add as much as they like to their own pasta.

What to serve it with

  • A green salad with lemon
  • Garlic toast
  • A glass of white grape juice

Storage

Store the pasta in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water or olive oil so it doesn't dry out. This dish doesn't freeze well, the pasta turns mushy once thawed.

Questions about this dish

Can you use a different pasta shape instead of spaghetti?

Yes, linguine, fusilli, or penne all work well. Pick a shape that holds onto the tapenade, long or twisted pasta is ideal.

Can you roast the tomatoes ahead of time?

Yes, you can roast them the day before and keep them in the fridge in a sealed container. Warm them up briefly in the oven or use them at room temperature with the pasta.

How do you make the tapenade milder for kids?

Use a bit less tapenade than the recipe calls for and add more olive oil to balance it. You can also serve the tapenade on the side so everyone adjusts the amount themselves.

Can you use sun-dried tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes?

Yes, but the result will taste more concentrated and less juicy. In that case, chop them and add them directly without roasting.

How long does it take to make a pasta with black olive tapenade and roasted cherry tomatoes?

Count 25 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a pasta with black olive tapenade and roasted cherry tomatoes?

About 680 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a pasta with black olive tapenade and roasted cherry tomatoes cost?

About €2.40 per serving, or €9.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, fish. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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