Olive Oil Bread Dip is my favorite simple appetizer and so easy to make at home! What better way to eat bread than dipping it into infused olive oil filled with garlic, oregano, basil, and rosemary?
Kyle and I have been having our date nights at home recently, and this Olive Oil Bread Dip has been featured at most of them. I mean, what else are we supposed to do with our date nights these days, other than eat?
Back in the day when we used to go out for dinner – you know, less than a year ago – we had 2 Italian restaurants that we’d frequent on a regular basis. Both of them served a dip like this one with warm and delicious crusty bread to start with on the table. If the rest of the food at these places wasn’t so good, these bread dips would have been the star of the meal!
And since this bread dipping oil recipe came across my radar earlier in the year, I haven’t been able to stop making it! So much so, that we’ve made Italian charcuterie night a semi-regular dinner in our rotation! Filled with Italian herbs and fruity extra virgin olive oil, this dip is insanely easy to make and goes perfectly with a crusty loaf.
Ingredients
This is a basic shopping list for the best garlic infused olive oil for dipping, but the full list of ingredients is in the recipe card below so be sure to keep scrolling down to check it out!
- Oregano
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Garlic
- Olive oil — you want a high quality oil for this infused olive oil recipe.
How to Make Infused Olive Oil
Here are the steps for how to make infused olive oil. The full instruction list is in the recipe card below, so be sure to keep scrolling down to the card.
STEP 1: First, mix the herbs, salt, pepper, red pepper, and garlic together on an appetizer plate or in a small bowl.
STEP 2: Then, drizzle quality olive oil over the herbs and garlic. You can stop here or add a drizzle of balsamic glaze to the plate.
That’s it! You can always swap out the herbs for your favorites, but I personally love this homemade Italian seasoning blend.
Which Olive Oil is Best for Dipping?
When it comes to cooking, I’ll always reach for a cheaper olive oil. But when the oil is the star of the show, I want a high quality oil that tastes great all on its own.
The best olive oil for dipping bread is extra virgin olive oil. Since it’s never been processed, it’s got a darker color than most and is usually more flavorful.
The freshest olive oil will have a fresh, peppery, and even slightly grassy flavor. And since it’s made from olives, it should have a fruity aroma when it’s fresh from the bottle.
When you’re shopping for a olive oil that you’re going to dip with, aim for the best you can afford. You don’t want the cheapest olive oil in the store, but you can likely do without the top shelf options.
If you LOVE olive oil, visit a gourmet grocery store or olive oil store to find tons of varieties and turn it into a taste test date night!
Is Dipping Bread in Olive Oil Healthy?
Say it with me: Everything is ok in moderation! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy indulging in some delectable and less-than-healthy dishes for special occasions and holidays without shaming myself.
And you would think that an oil dip would be completely sinful but olive oil is one of the “cleanest” oils you can eat! It’s rich in good monounsaturated fats that can help reduce inflammation and has tons of powerful antioxidants!
But just because the oil itself is a good choice, I always need to remember to moderate what I’m dipping into it. Too much bread tends to leave me feeling falsely full.
So I like to add some cheese for protein and veggies like roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes to round this appetizer out a little more.
What to Serve with Olive Oil Bread Dip
You can dip almost any bread in garlic infused olive oil! I prefer to dip a crusty ciabatta bread or a soft and seeded Italian bread with my infused olive oil dips. They’re both super absorbent and full of big, fluffy holes to soak up more oil.
But I’m also a big fan of this Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread for my favorite garlicky bread app, which also pairs really well with this garlicky olive oil dip.
If you’re making your own charcuterie board, don’t forget the sun-dried tomato pesto, fresh basil leaves, and fresh marinated mozzarella for a build-your-own Caprese treat! You could also add some eggplant caponta to your board to really ramp up the flavors and variety of dipping options.
If you’re going for a classic Italian date night, try this Eggplant Parmesan for the main dish!
Or if you’re throwing an Italian-themed dinner party, start the night off with a tray of chicken parm meatballs or vegetarian eggplant meatballs to munch on between dips.
You basically can never go wrong with serving this bread dip. People go nuts over it – it’s always such a huge hit!
Olive Oil Bread Dip
Olive oil bread dip is easily one of the most simple and delicious appetizer dips you could ever make. It's an infused olive oil with garlic and Italian herbs that will have you dipping away to your heart's content! This bread dipping oil makes the perfect anchor dip for a charcuterie board or as a quick starter for your next Italian night at home.
Ingredients
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp chopped fresh rosemary
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt (or to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 small pinch red pepper flakes
- 3 small cloves fresh garlic, minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Drizzle of balsamic glaze (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the herbs, salt, a couple cranks of black pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic together in a small serving bowl (I used an appetizer plate).
- Drizzle the oil over the garlic-herb mixture. Swirl a drizzle of the balsamic glaze into the herb dip, if desired. Serve with bread, crackers, charcuterie, etc.
Notes
Do Ahead: You can mix the ingredients in Step 1 together up to 2 hours in advance of serving (leave covered at room temperature) and then add the oil when you plan to serve the oil dip.
adapted from My Baking Addiction
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