This olive oil and balsamic vinegar bread dip recipe is an easy appetizer that takes minutes to throw together. It's loaded with tons of flavor and goes perfectly with warm bread.
Why You'll Love it
You are going to be obsessed with this olive oil and balsamic vinegar bread dip - trust me!
It's made with high quality olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, sun dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese and lots of fragrant fresh herbs and spices.
The best thing about this dipping oil (besides having a ton of flavor!) is that is is super easy to throw together! And if you're throwing a dinner party, you can leave this simple dip sitting out while you entertain.
Since this balsamic vinegar bread dip recipe has tons of flavorful ingredients, it'll be hard not to lick the bowl clean. But since that's frowned down upon, it's best to serve it with some fresh bread.
I recommend serving this balsamic vinegar dip with a warm crusty bread of your choice. Some of my favorites are fluffy focaccia bread, some airy ciabatta bread, a fresh baguette or some sliced sourdough bread. But honestly, the best bread to serve it with is your favorite bread! You do you!
And although it's made with simple ingredients with little effort, this loaded balsamic vinegar and oil recipe is so impressive. It'll be just like you're sitting at your favorite italian restaurant with a glass of red wine and a some warm crusty bread. So let's get to it, shall we?!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A good quality extra virgin olive oil is key to making this simple olive oil dip. If you use a low quality olive oil, it won't be as delicious since it doesn't have the same fruity taste. A high quality kind of olive oil makes the big difference, so it's vital to use the best ingredients to take this balsamic oil recipe to the next level.
- Aged Balsamic Vinegar: To get the best flavor, try to use an aged balsamic vinegar that's thick and syrupy. If you cant find high quality aged version, you could definitely swap it for a reduced balsamic glaze.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes: I love these. They're thinly sliced and marinated in italian seasoning and dried herbs. You could also use thinly chopped cherry tomatoes for a fresh spin.
- Fresh Garlic Cloves: Grating fresh cloves of garlic works best for this simple balsamic vinegar bread dip recipe. But if you're turned off by the strong flavor, use half of the amount or swap it for some garlic powder or some italian seasoning.
- Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese is optional but it adds so much umami goodness. You could swap it for another aged Italian cheese like pecorino or asiago.
- Red Pepper Flakes: This adds just a hint of spice but you could leave it out if you're not into it.
- Fresh Basil: I think fresh basil is perfect with this recipe but you could use any fresh herbs or dried italian herbs of your choice. Whatever makes you happy!
- Salt: Feel free to use kosher salt or sea salt in this flavored oil recipe.
- Pepper: Fresh ground pepper works best but you could leave it out if you don't like pepper.
- Optional Add-ins: The good news is that you can load this simple olive oil dip with your favorite things to give it your own spin. Try using some dried italian seasoning, fresh rosemary (or dried rosemary!), or dried oregano (or fresh oregano!). You could also add lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice to make it more summery.
How to make it
Making this balsamic vinegar bread dip is beyond easy. Literally my toddler could make it. If this is your first time making it, you can follow the easy steps below or just measure with your heart.
It starts by grabbing a small bowl or shallow bowl.
Then you'll add extra virgin olive oil followed by a few swirls of aged balsamic vinegar.
Next, roughly chop the sun dried tomatoes and add them on top. Grate two small fresh garlic cloves and then stir it into the sun dried tomatoes.
Now grate parmesan cheese all over the top and finish with some red pepper flakes, a pinch of salt, a little bit fresh cracked pepper, fresh basil leaves or dried italian herbs.
Serve at room temperature with a french baguette or another delicious bread of your choice. Just make sure it's a whole loaf of bread because people will be obsessed!
And since it has fresh garlic, you'll want to store it in an airtight container or mason jar and keep in the fridge.
What to serve with it
Besides a bread basket full of italian bread and a bottle of good italian wine, here are some of my favorite Italian appetizers and pasta dish recipes to serve with it:
- 4 Ingredient Creamy Tomato Pasta Recipe with Sausage & Boursin Cheese
- Creamy Penne Alfredo Pasta Recipe (with cream cheese!)
- Spicy Vodka Rigatoni - The Most Addicting Pasta Ever!
- Easy Italian Grinder Salad Recipe (Viral on Tiktok!)
- Burrata Caprese
- My Favorite Ciabatta Caprese Sandwich
Recipe
Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar Bread Dip - The Best Recipe!
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoon Aged Balsamic Vinegar
- 3 tablespoon Sun Dried Tomatoes in Oil roughly chopped
- 2 small cloves Garlic freshly grated
- 3 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese grated
- 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 pinch Kosher Salt or sea salt
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Basil Leaves roughly chopped
- Fresh Cracked Pepper
Instructions
- Add extra virgin olive oil to a small or shallow bowl. Drizzle a few swirls of aged balsamic vinegar on top.
- Roughly chop the sun dried tomatoes and add them to the middle of the bowl. Grate two small fresh garlic cloves and then stir it into the sun dried tomatoes to evenly distribute.
- Grate parmesan cheese all over the top and finish with some red pepper flakes, a pinch of salt, a little bit fresh cracked pepper, and fresh basil leaves.
- Serve at room temperature with a french baguette or another delicious bread of your choice. Just make sure it's a whole loaf of bread because people will be obsessed!
