Italian Olive Oil Bread Dip

I attempted a bunch of various blends, and this one? Arms-down my favourite. The combo of spices, contemporary garlic, and that sizzling oil pour-over trick hits excellent. Everybody who’s tried it says the identical. It’s ridiculously straightforward to make at house, and actually? Blows any restaurant model out of the water.

Pair this scrumptious dip with our Sourdough Bread or Rustic Garlic Artisan Bread.

Why My Recipe

The proper mix of spices, herbs, contemporary garlic, vinegar, and oil.
A taste-tested, confirmed recipe for a profitable mixture.
Heating the olive oil is the key, infusing so far more taste!

Olive Oil Bread Dip on a cutting board with fresh bread pieces around.

I examined an entire lineup of herb and spice blends, tweaking one factor at a time like a complete kitchen nerd. I attempted heating the oil, and I attempted skipping it. Because it seems, that additional step is 100% price it. Only a few minutes makes the flavour far more intense. I additionally went head-to-head with contemporary garlic vs powdered, and contemporary garlic received by a mile when it’s steeped in that sizzling olive oil. This model proper right here? It’s the one which got here out on prime. Candy, peppery, tangy, with simply the suitable little kick.

Ingredient Notes

Additional Virgin Olive Oil: Use a high-quality olive oil for this recipe. The flavour is extra necessary as you’ll be tasting it instantly in your bread, somewhat than cooking with it.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is most popular, adopted by frozen, then dehydrated or granulated minced garlic.
Crushed Crimson Pepper Flakes: Provides only a trace of warmth. Double it if you wish to carry extra warmth, or go away it out completely if you happen to aren’t into spicy.
Paprika: Provides colour and a refined sweetness.
Salt: I like to recommend utilizing a rough salt like kosher, sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, or a flaky salt for its gentle, crunchy texture.
Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper is used for its spicy and pungent taste.
Balsamic Vinegar: Provides acidity that balances the richness of the oil.

Recent vs Dried Garlic

Recent: On this recipe, I exploit contemporary minced garlic, which I extremely advocate! The contemporary garlic infuses a lot taste into the olive oil, particularly when heated. Jarred garlic may work and is tremendous handy, however typically has a extra bitter taste.

Frozen: Not everybody needs to peel garlic and mince it each time they cook dinner, so a detailed second to contemporary garlic is frozen. You’ll be able to simply discover these little trays of pre-portioned frozen garlic at your grocery retailer, or you can also make your individual! I like to recommend you employ a meals processor, then fill a resealable plastic bag with the minced garlic and part into teaspoon-sized blocks utilizing a knife or bench scraper.

Dried: I do know you don’t all the time have contemporary garlic available or might not have the time! On this case, granulated or dehydrated minced garlic is massively most popular! The flavour is far more pungent than powdered, with a refined sweetness and a slight chunk. Powdered garlic has a milder taste and is extra finely milled, making it clump extra simply when blended within the oil.

A hand dipping a piece of bread into a bowl of Olive Oil Bread Dip on a cutting board.

Heating the Oil

You won’t consider it, however heating your oil makes an enormous distinction and solely takes an additional 5 minutes! You could possibly merely combine the spices and garlic with the oil and let it sit, however heating the oil first aids within the infusion course of, permitting for the spices to launch a a lot stronger taste.