This simple Italian Olive Oil Bread Dip with Balsamic Vinegar is a delicious and pretty aperitivo that looks fancy but only takes a few minutes to prepare. It has been going viral on TikTok lately as the perfect easy entertaining appetizer. It’s made with just a few ingredients – classic flavors of fresh parsley, chopped olives, antipasto, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Works for literally any occasion—fancy cheese board night, lazy lunch, or surprise guests
- Super easy to scale up or down—make a little for yourself or a big batch for a party
- Tastes even better after it sits for a bit—so you can prep it ahead and forget about it
- Naturally vegan and gluten-free (just pick the right bread), so it suits everyone at the table
Ingredients You’ll Need
I like to keep the list simple so I can easily tweak it based on what I’ve got in the fridge. You can swap things around and make it your own. The exact measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but just to make things easier, here’s the full list of ingredients you’ll need:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar (or balsamic glaze if you like it sweeter)
- Fresh parsley
- Olives
- Marinated artichokes
- Garlic
- Sumac
- Dried oregano
- Salt
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
Follow along with this step-by-step guide to make your Bread Dipping Oil with Olives. You’ll find all the exact measurements in the recipe card at the very bottom of this post.
Step One: In a small bowl (or shallow dish), combine the olive oil and balsamic vinegar (or glaze). Add in the fresh parsley and give it a stir until it’s all mixed together.
Step Two: Finely chop your olives, artichokes, and garlic. Toss them into the oil mixture and stir until everything is well combined.
Step Three: Add the sumac, oregano, salt, and red pepper flakes. Taste it and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Step Four: Let it sit for a few minutes, then dip in some crusty bread and enjoy!
Substitutions & Variations
- If you don’t have olives on hand, no worries—capers or sun-dried tomatoes will give you that same salty, tangy vibe, though the flavor will shift a bit. I’ve also swapped marinated artichokes for roasted red peppers or even some pickled veggies when I’ve run out, and it’s just as tasty.
- For the garlic, you can easily go with shallots or use garlic infused extra virgin olive oil.
- If you’re fresh out of parsley, try switching it up with basil or oregano—both add their own fresh twist to the mix.
- And if you’re looking for a gluten-free option, just pair it with some gluten-free bread.
Storage
Bread dipping oil is best enjoyed fresh. The colour of the parsley will fade and turn limp quite quickly.
Expert Tips
If you’re short on time, use pre-chopped jarred olives and marinated artichokes—it’ll save you a few minutes without sacrificing flavor! Also, giving it a little rest time before serving lets the flavors really shine, so don’t skip that step!
FAQ
No worries! Fresh basil, oregano, or even a mix of herbs works great as a swap. Honestly, I like to change up the herbs depending on the season or what’s in my fridge.
Definitely. Feel free to throw in some chopped roasted red peppers or caramelized onions. It’s one of those recipes that’s really flexible, so you can customize it with whatever you’ve got on hand.
No problem. If you don’t have sumac, a little lemon zest or cracked pepper will work.
Serving Suggestions and More Recipes
This dip is perfect on its own with crusty bread, if you’re ready to get into baking your own then check out my Beginner’s Sourdough recipe.
Hope this recipe brings a little extra joy to your table. If you make it, I’d love to hear how it goes! Leave a review below or tag me on Instagram @glowdiaries___ so I can see your versions!
Italian Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Bread Dip
Ingredients
- ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive oil
- ¼ cup Balsamic Vinegar (or balsamic glaze for a sweeter version)
- ¼ cup Fresh Parsley finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Olives finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Marinated Artichokes finely chopped
- 1 clove Garlic minced
- ¼ tsp Sumac
- ¼ tsp Dried Oregano
- Salt pinch
- Red pepper flakes pinch
- Crusty sliced bread to serve
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or shallow dish.
- Stir well and let sit for a few minutes to let the flavors blend.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve with crusty bread for dipping.
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