There’s nothing better than tearing into a warm loaf of crusty bread and dipping it into a bowl of flavorful olive oil loaded with fresh herbs, juicy tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and briny olives. This Rustic Bread Dipping Oil is inspired by the simple flavors of the Italian countryside, and comes together in just minutes using fresh ingredients, and a high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
Whether you’re entertaining guests, building a charcuterie board, or simply enjoying an appetizer before dinner, this easy bread dipping oil is guaranteed to disappear fast.
Why You Will Love This Bread Dipping Oil Recipe
- Fresh Mediterranean Flavors: Every bite of this rustic bread dipping oil is packed with fresh tomatoes, basil, parsley, garlic, olives, and balsamic vinegar.
- Ready in Minutes: No cooking required; simply chop, grate, mix, and serve.
- Perfect for Entertaining: A beautiful, easy Italian-inspired appetizer for holidays, dinner parties, wine nights, or casual gatherings.
- Restaurant-Worthy Presentation: Served on a shallow platter, this dipping oil looks just as impressive as it tastes.
- Great Beyond Bread: Spoon leftovers over grilled chicken, fish, pasta, or fresh mozzarella.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Use the best quality olive oil you can find since it’s the base of the recipe.
- Castelvetrano Olives: Kalamata or green olives make a delicious substitute.
- Roma Tomato: Any firm, ripe tomato works well.
- Fresh Basil: Fresh oregano or additional parsley can be substituted.
- Red Onion: Shallots provide a milder flavor.
- Balsamic Vinegar: White balsamic offers a lighter, slightly sweeter finish.
How to Prepare Rustic Bread Dipping Oil
- Pour the extra virgin olive oil into a shallow serving bowl or small platter.
- Add the balsamic vinegar.
- Using a grating plate or fine grater, grate the garlic directly into the oil mixture.
- Finely dice the Roma tomato and add it to the bowl.
- Grate the remaining portion of the tomato over the grating plate or box grater, allowing all of the flavorful tomato juice and pulp to fall into the oil.
- Add the chopped Castelvetrano olives, diced red onion, fresh parsley, basil, salt, black pepper, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Stir everything together until well combined.
- Taste and adjust the salt, if needed.
- Serve immediately with warm crusty bread for dipping.
How to Serve and Store
- Serve this rustic bread dipping oil as an appetizer with warm artisan bread, sourdough, or homemade focaccia.
- Pair with a charcuterie or antipasto board.
- Spoon over grilled chicken, steak, or seafood.
- Drizzle over burrata or fresh mozzarella.
- Toss with warm pasta for a quick Mediterranean-inspired side, or enjoy alongside your favorite Italian dinner.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving and stir well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can prepare it several hours in advance and refrigerate it. Before serving, allow it to come to room temperature and give it a good stir since olive oil naturally solidifies when chilled.
Castelvetrano olives are mild Sicilian green olives known for their buttery texture and slightly sweet flavor. They’re less salty than many other olives, making them perfect for this recipe.
No. A grating plate works beautifully because it creates a smooth garlic paste and extracts all of the flavorful tomato pulp and juice. If you don’t have one, use a garlic press or finely mince the garlic. For the tomato, grate it on a box grater or simply squeeze the remaining juice and pulp into the bowl after dicing.
Made with rich extra virgin olive oil, tangy balsamic vinegar, fresh tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and buttery Castelvetrano olives, every bite of this Rustic Bread Dipping Oil is packed with fresh Mediterranean flavor. Serve it with warm crusty bread for an easy appetizer that comes together in minutes, and is guaranteed to impress family and friends.
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Rustic Bread Dipping Oil
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
Description
This Rustic Bread Dipping Oil combines extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh tomatoes, garlic, Castelvetrano olives, basil, and herbs for an easy Italian-inspired appetizer perfect with warm crusty bread.
Ingredients
- ½ cup good-quality extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 Roma tomato
- ¼ cup Castelvetrano olives, chopped
- 1 tablespoon finely diced red onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 5 fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
For Serving:
- Warm crusty Italian bread
- Ciabatta
- French bread
- Sourdough
- Focaccia
Instructions
- Pour the extra virgin olive oil into a shallow serving bowl or small platter.
- Add the balsamic vinegar.
- Using a grating plate or fine grater, grate the garlic directly into the oil mixture.
- Finely dice the Roma tomato and add it to the bowl.
- Grate the remaining portion of the tomato over the grating plate or box grater, allowing all of the flavorful tomato juice and pulp to fall into the oil.
- Add the chopped Castelvetrano olives, diced red onion, fresh parsley, basil, salt, black pepper, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Stir everything together until well combined.
- Taste and adjust the salt, if needed.
- Serve immediately with warm crusty bread for dipping.
- ENJOY!
Notes
- Use a premium extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- A shallow serving dish allows every bite of bread to scoop up the herbs, tomatoes, and olives.
- Let the mixture rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving so the flavors can meld together.
- Serve the bread warm for the ultimate appetizer.
- Fresh, ripe tomatoes make all the difference in this recipe.
- Finish with flaky sea salt just before serving for an extra layer of flavor.
- This recipe is equally delicious served over grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or mixed into cooked pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dip
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: American/Italian
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WELCOME! My name is Melissa Latin aka. Charlotte Fashion Plate. Happy to meet you! I am more than just recipes. I love fashion and style too! Most importantly, I love my Family (my Hubby and my Fur Babies). My Husband (aka my “Kitchen Bitch”) means the world to me. He’s pretty damn cool too. Not only is he one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, he also has had a lengthy career in professional hockey. Not only winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early ’90’s, but most recently winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers, amongst many other accolades. If you live in Charlotte and play hockey, or have a family member who plays, be sure to contact him!
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