This Italian bread dipping oil is made with crunchy seeds, flaky salt, and anise-scented herbs. It’s finished with fresh garlic and peppery olive oil, and begs for a hunk of crusty bread!
Growing up, my mom was always on the hunt for the perfect bread dipping oil. One summer on vacation, we found the most deliciously amazing dip at a farmers market. We brought it home, poured it into shallow bowls with rich olive oil, added a few splashes of aged balsamic, and dove in with lots of crusty bread. We were obsessed, but could never find or recreate anything like it again.
Thinking back to that struggle, I’m so grateful now for the internet! For the plethora of recipes and ideas floating around that we can access whenever we need some inspiration.
And as I’ve taken a deep dive into sourdough baking and Italian food, it felt like the perfect time to make our own olive oil dip. This final version tastes a lot like that perfect spice blend from my childhood, but I added a bit more texture and savory notes to keep us coming back for more.
I used lots of crunchy little seeds, a variety of dried herbs, and a touch of grated parmesan for a cheesy backbone. Fennel and anise seed give it that unmistakable Italian edge, echoed by basil and tarragon. And there's a subtle, but very present, layer of heat. Because I have to!
The dry mix lives in a jar in our pantry. When I want bread dip for an impromptu dinner or a glass of rosé on the patio, I spoon some into a bowl, grate in fresh garlic and parmesan, and pour in my best olive oil. If you ever get your hands on bright green nuovo oil, this is exactly the place for it.
Serve it up with a big hunk of country Italian bread or a few crunchy grissini breadsticks. Sometimes I add a few more Italian dips to round out our platter, like whipped ricotta or a creamy white bean dip. Dig in!
how to make this bread dipping oil:
Toast the seeds. Stir together with the dried herbs, onion powder, chili flakes, flaky salt, and black pepper.
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the herb mixture into a shallow bowl. Grate in the garlic and add the parmesan.
Pour in the olive oil and stir until everything mixed. Enjoy!
a few recipe tips:
- Toast the seeds first. It deepens the flavor and keeps the dipping oil from tasting flat. Cool completely before mixing.
- Use good olive oil. The best olive oil for dipping bread is fresh and slightly peppery. This recipe lets it shine.
- Grate the garlic very fine. It should melt into the oil, not sit in chunks.
- Taste after adding oil. Parmesan and salt levels vary. Adjust once everything is combined.
Italian Bread Dipping Oil (Crunchy, Herby)
Italian bread dipping oil is made with crunchy seeds, flake salt, and lots of herbs. Finish with fresh garlic, olive oil, and crusty bread!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup
- Category: Dip
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- ½ tsp fennel seeds
- ½ tsp anise seeds
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp dried tarragon
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp red chili flakes (plus more to taste)
- 1 ½ tsp flaky salt
- 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 tbsp finely grated parmesan
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Crusty bread, grissini, and crackers, for serving
Instructions
- Combine sesame seeds, fennel, and anise seeds in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until spices begin to smell fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a small jar or bowl.
- Add basil, parsley, tarragon, oregano, onion powder, chili flakes, flaky salt, and pepper. Stir until well mixed.
- Scoop 2 tablespoons of herby seed mixture into a shallow bowl. Add garlic, parmesan and olive oil. Stir to combine. Serve with crusty bread, grissini, and crackers.
- Save the extra mix in the pantry for up to 6 months.
Notes
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tbsp olive oil dip
- Calories: 92
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 2mg
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