Beautiful and oh-so-delicious, this flavorful olive oil bread dip spice blend makes a beautiful gift. Nobody will blame you if you keep it all to yourself though – it’s just that good!
This dry herb mix is perfect to serve with warm crusty bread for a delicious and elegant appetizer. Quick and easy to make, it’s also perfect for a thoughtful holiday gift.
One of my greatest weaknesses is bread and truly, there’s not much better to me than bread dipped in oil, with dipping spices. It’s my favorite accompaniment to any American or Italian meal and makes the easiest last minute appetizer for those gatherings with wine surrounded around the kitchen island.
We’ll occasionally even enjoy it as a little snack or in lieu of dinner paired with wine for a casual evening at home.
I keep a jar of this blend of bread dipping spices in our spice cabinet and sometimes add it to spaghetti for an effortless last minute meal as well. This year I decided it would make a great holiday gift idea for family and friends. A joy shared is a joy doubled.
Olive Oil Bread Dip and Dipping Spices
This dip is made with a combination of dried herbs and seasonings that come to life when mixed with a little olive oil.
Why You’ll Love It
The whole family loved this dipping spice. It was so good. Now I’m gifting friends with it.
zoya
This dry herb spice just needs to be added to a little olive oil for a fragrant and delicious bite. It’s perfect to serve with my homemade bread.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Garlic Powder
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Parsley
- Basil
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt and Pepper
- Olive Oil – Use a high quality extra virgin olive oil rather than olive oil. It is much richer in flavor and intended for dipping!
Variations
- Minced Garlic – I sometimes like to add a teaspoon of minced garlic when I serve for an extra hit of flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese – Finely grated parmesan is a delicious addition.
Tools to Use
How to Make this Bread Dip Mix
- Combine – Combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
- Store – Store the spice mix in an airtight container in a cupboard.
- Use – Spoon the mix over olive oil, stir to combine and dip!
Tips
- To make this a gift basket: Simply add a small jar of the dry herb mix in a basket with a plate and a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. Add a bottle of balsamic vinegar if you’d like, too. Perfect, elegant and effortless!
- Want to add something extra special? Provide this homemade artisan bread in the basket, or even some fresh homemade crostini.
- The Perfect Ratio: When it comes to the ratio of oil to spices, it’s entirely up to you! We like 2 tablespoons of olive oil to about 1 teaspoon of this spice blend.
- Make Sure Your Herbs Aren’t Stale: Herbs don’t ‘go stale’ as such, but they can lose their aromas and potency as time goes on. Rub a little of the herbs between your fingers, if the aroma is weak or not obvious then they should be discarded.
- Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!
Frequently Asked Questions
Olive oil has unsaturated fats (which are healthier than butter’s saturated fats). So while you should enjoy everything in moderation, olive oil is the healthier way to dip your bread, when compared to butter!
Italians don’t dip their olive oil like we do in the states, and they don’t use butter either. They drizzle their bread with olive oil, or enjoy it just as it is.
Serving Suggestions
This Italian inspired seasoning mix is perfect for dipping with olive oil, but it’s also great to use in lots of main dishes too.
- stir into pasta sauce
- stir into soup or stew
- use as a rub onto chicken
- coat fish before grilling or baking
- toss with warm olive oil and pasta
- toss veggies in olive oil and seasoning before grilling, sautéing or roasting
How to Store
- Room Temperature – Dried herbs can keep well for up to a year, so this is the ultimate make ahead food gift! Once you have made your mix, prolong it’s life by storing in a cool dark cupboard and out of direct sunlight in an airtight container.
Sources to Make this a Gift Basket
2.5 Ounce Jars
These are cute glass jars with fitted bamboo lids.
1.7 Ounce Weck Jars
These make gifting and storage so easy!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Choose your favorite, but a pretty bottle and label will present beautifully!
Balsamic Vinegar
Another fabulous and flavorful addition to this gift basket!
Small Wicker Baskets for Gifts
Grab two of these for $25.
There is so much flavor in every bite. Just add a teaspoon or two to a small plate of olive oil and enjoy! It’s hard not to!
More Spices
Bread Dipping Spices
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 1 tablespoon basil
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a glass jar or small dish.
- Store in an airtight container.
Julie’s Tips
Tips:
- Use dried whole or cracked herbs, vs ground herbs. Ground herbs are more potent and won’t package as beautifully.
- The Perfect Ratio: When it comes to the ratio of oil to spices, it’s entirely up to you! We like 2 tablespoons of olive oil to about 1 teaspoon of this spice blend.
Optional Add Ins
- Minced Garlic – I sometimes like to add a teaspoon of minced garlic when I serve for an extra hit of flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese – Finely grated parmesan is a delicious addition.
How to Store
- Room Temperature – Dried herbs can keep well for up to a year, so this is the ultimate make ahead food gift! Once you have made your mix, prolong it’s life by storing in a cool dark cupboard and out of direct sunlight in an airtight container.
Serving Suggestions
- spoon over olive oil and serve with bread
- add balsamic vinegar if you’d like
- stir into pasta sauce
- stir into soup or stew
- use as a rub onto chicken
- coat fish before grilling or baking
- toss with warm olive oil and pasta
- toss veggies with olive oil and seasoning before grilling, sautéing or baking
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
What are the amounts of spices, how much of each herb do I add???
See the full printable recipe card in the bottom of the post.
Awesome
What do you mean by whole dried herbs ? Are there different kinds of dried herbs ? And what brand did you use for the dried herbs ? That will be helpful to buy it .
Thanks
How much olive oil
As little or as much as you want – typically 1 tablespoon of the dip with 1/4 – 1/3 olive oil
Like to know if there is a link on amazon to order the cute gift containers for the bread dipping spices. Thank you
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for the reminder! We just updated this post for you with fresh links to sources and more detail.
I hope that helps, and I hope you enjoy!
Happy Holidays,
Julie