Asian Tapenade

The perfect tapenade can make any cracker the star of the show. Usually rich and salty, this popular olive spread often accompanies Mediterranean cuisine. Ming’s Asian Tapenade turns the traditional recipe upside-down, blending jalapenos, red peppers, nicoise olives, and black beans. It’s used to make spicy Asian Mussel Pasta, and a magnificent, whole-roasted Tapenade Duck. Then, Ming pays a visit to Formaggio Kitchen, a gourmet food shop in Cambridge, MA, where storeowner Ishan Gurdal gives him a lesson in olive selection. Back in the studio, guest chef Mary Ann Esposito of PBS’s Ciao Italia creates Grilled Vegetable Panini using Ming’s master recipe- giving the Asian Tapenade her signature Italian twist.