🫒 Italian Olive Oil Bread Dip (Restaurant-Style)
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
No cooking required!
⭐ Ingredients
Base
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil (the best quality you can get)
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional but recommended)
Herbs & Spices
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ tsp black pepper, freshly cracked
- ¼ tsp salt, or to taste
Fresh Add-ins (Optional but amazing)
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp fresh basil, chiffonade
- 1 tbsp grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
- ½–1 tsp lemon zest
🧑🍳 Instructions
1. Prep the Garlic
Finely mince or grate the garlic so it releases maximum flavor.
2. Mix All Base Ingredients
In a shallow bowl or small serving dish, combine:
- olive oil
- garlic
- balsamic vinegar
- oregano
- basil
- thyme
- red pepper flakes
- salt & black pepper
Stir gently.
3. Add Fresh Herbs & Cheese (Optional)
For the most flavorful version, add:
- parsley
- basil
- grated Parmesan
Stir together.
4. Let It Rest
Let sit 5–10 minutes so the flavors bloom.
5. Serve
Serve with:
- warm crusty Italian bread
- toasted ciabatta
- focaccia
- sourdough
Dip, savor, and try not to drink it. 😄
🌟 Tips for the BEST Olive Oil Dip
- Use HIGH-quality olive oil. It’s the main flavor.
- Using grated fresh garlic creates the restaurant “zing.”
- Add a bit more balsamic for sweeter depth.
- Add a splash of red wine vinegar for more tang.
- Add a pinch of Italian seasoning for simplicity.
🇮🇹 Variations to Try
1. Sicilian-Style
- Add lemon zest
- Add a few chopped olives
- Add pinch of fennel seed
2. Calabrian Chili Version
- Stir in 1 tsp Calabrian chili paste
- Extra olive oil on top
3. Sun-Dried Tomato & Herb
- Add 1 tbsp finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Add a pinch of smoked paprika
4. Parmesan Pepper Dip
- Use lots of fresh cracked pepper
- Add shaved Parmesan on top