Tapenade

Tapenade is another of my favourite flavour boosters, although admittedly not much of a looker! Like romesco sauce and salsa verde, it is something I make to keep in my fridge to add instant jazz hands to a simple meal. These flavour-bombe sauces make the job of cooking dinner so much easier as so much of the flavour work has been done.

Tapenade is a full of salty, umami flavour. It is made with anchovies, olives and capers – all ingredients that add real guts to a meal. You can buy a jar. However, because it is easy to make and brings so much flavour to this dish, you can make your own using the recipe below.

You can use tapenade as a topping for baked fish or chicken, as a topping for crostini, stirred through pasta or boiled potatoes or spread on a sandwich. I love it dotted on tomatoes too. The saltiness makes it the perfect thing to dip into alongside a glass of rosé before dinner.