Bread Dipping Oil

Have you ever been to an Italian-style restaurant only to find that instead of getting butter with your bread they place a bowl of herb-infused oil on the table? The bread dipping oil is a huge staple in these types of restaurants and it is one of my favorite combinations.

I'm a carb enthusiast and the herb-infused oil just adds that extra special flavor to crusty bread. Plus, the oil is a healthy alternative and is a delicious way to indulge.

When preparing bread dipping oil, it is always best to use extra virgin olive oil. It can be a little more expensive than virgin olive oil but the added flavor will only enhance the overall taste of the dipping oil.

Dipping oils are extremely easy to create and can be prepared in advance. Even though the main use of dipping oils is to serve with bread, this prepared oil is versatile enough to use in a variety of dishes such as pastas, salads, steamed vegetables and meats.

You can create your own flavor of oil by adding different blends of dried herbs and spices to the olive oil. Here is one of my favorite recipes:

Bread Dipping Oil

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Cracked peppercorn, to taste

Directions:

1. Pour all of the ingredients into an oil bottle and shake until the ingredients are completely mixed.
2. Drizzle onto a small plate of in a small bowl.
3. Serve with crusty, thick bread.

The most important thing to remember when creating dipping oils is to be creative. A variety of herbs and spices can be combined to create delicious dipping oils. Look through your cupboards and gather some spices, add about a tablespoon of each to 1/4 - 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil and serve with bread.

The following are ideas for other ingredients that can be used when creating bread dipping oil:

• Onion powder
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Paprika
• Dried basil
• Dried thyme
• Parmesan cheese (as a topping to sprinkle on the top of the oil after it is poured)

Bread dipping oil is fast and simple to prepare, a healthy alternative which is good for your heart and a hit when served to your family and friends.

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