Sizzling Italian Dipping Oil for Bread

Sizzling hot, full of fresh herbs and garlic with a little drizzle of sweet balsamic vinegar…the most irresistible dipping oil for bread. It soaks into the bread just a little and is the perfect appetizer or side dish for any meal.

Years ago when I was in college I was dating a boy that enjoyed cooking and baking. We had a lot of fun trying new recipes and because we were dating, my parents gave me a fancy set of oil and different seasonings for bread for one of my Christmas gifts. The relationship didn’t last but my love for bread and dipping oil totally did! Haha!

Take 10 minutes to make this dipping oil recipe, pull a fresh loaf of focaccia bread or a crusty artisan bread loaf out of the oven, and you have an elegant start to your authentic Italian bolognese dinner! You’ll feel like you’re sitting at a fancy Italian restaurant!

What Goes into Italian Dipping Oil?

Here are the ingredients you will need for this recipe:

• Olive Oil – extra virgin, make sure it is good quality (from Italy or California is the best), extra virgin olive oil has a deeper and richer flavor
• Garlic – fresh, not from a jar
• Fresh herbs – parsley, oregano (or marjoram), rosemary and basil all minced really fine
  • PRO TIP: We love this combinations of fresh herbs, but you could use any combination you love! It’s so versatile! Add some thyme, omit the parsley…seriously whatever your family enjoys!
  • If you need to use dried herbs, double all the measurements for each herb.
• Red Pepper Flakes – feel free to add more if you like more heat
• Kosher Salt – adds flavor
• Balsamic Vinegar – adds the most lovely hint of sweetness and acid to cut through the oil
• Bread – I have been known to dip just about any bread into this oil. Heck, I’d dip a slice of white Wonderbread! See section below for specific suggestions.

The measurements for each ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

What Type of Olive Oil is Best for Dipping Oil?

You want a top quality, extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. Extra virgin olive oil will hold up the best to all the flavors of the fresh herbs. Look for EVOO that is from Italy or California. EVOO can be expensive, but you only need 1/3 cup for this recipe, so buying the best is recommended and will last for a long time.

Can Other Types of Oil Be Used?

No, I would definitely not recommend using any other type of oil for making a dipping oil for bread. Other types of oil just don’t have the same rich flavor that you get from olive oil. Olive oil is also one of the healthiest types

Garlic Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Fingerling potatoes brushed with garlic butter, seasoned with fresh herbs and roasted to golden perfection! This is a tried and true potato side dish in our house!

I adore fingerling potatoes, especially these rosemary and thyme fingerlings. They are creamy unlike Russet potatoes that are more starchy.  I love how tender they are and while it doesn’t really do anything to the flavor, I also happen to love how little they are. They are just perfect for a delicious side dish.

What is a Fingerling Potato?

A fingerling potato is a small, stubby, finger-shaped type of potato. They are fully mature when harvested and should not to be confused with new potatoes.

Because they are low in starch, they are extra creamy inside. They have a very thin skin that doesn’t need to be peeled before cooking them, and they come in a variety of colors.

Can You Roast Fingerling Potatoes?

Fingerling potatoes are ideal for roasting. Their small size means they will roast up quickly and evenly.

Ingredients for Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

You only need a few ingredients to make this potato recipe. Here is what you will need:

• Fingerling Potatoes: You can buy multicolored fingerlings or all one color.
• Olive Oil: used to roast the potatoes and make the outside crispy
• Butter: also helps with the crispiness and adds flavor
• Rosemary: strip the needles from the main twigs and finely chop the needles
• Thyme: grab a twig of thyme by one end and then pinch the twig between your thumb and index finger and run your fingers in the opposite direction that the little leaves are growing and the leaves will pop right off
• Garlic: the reason for garlic is always flavor, flavor, flavor
• Kosher Salt: adds flavor

This is meant to just be an overview of the ingredients used in the recipe. The measurements of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Roasted Fingerlings

Fingerling potatoes look like the potatoes you would get at a fancy restaurant, so they must be difficult to make, right? Wrong! They are so simple and here is an overview of the

1. Prep the oven and potatoes.
2. Melt the butter, then add the olive oil, herbs and salt and stir together.
3. Add the potatoes and stir until well coated.
4. Place the potatoes cut side down on a baking sheet and roast in the oven.
5. Flip the potatoes over part way through baking.
6. Remove the potatoes from the oven and top with the rest of the herbs.

Scroll down for the detailed instructions in the recipe card. You can also print and save the recipe there.

Tips for the Best Roasted Fingerlings

Try to keep the size of the potatoes the same so that they

Fresh Tabbouleh Recipe

Tabbouleh is a light and fresh Mediterranean salad made with fresh parsley, bulgur wheat, green onions, mint, and tomatoes tossed in a lemon dressing.

Tabbouleh (pronounced tuh-boo-lee), also know as tabouli salad, is a parsley heavy salad commonly found in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. While I have seen many Americanized versions where they include way more bulgur wheat so it is more grain-focused, I love it when the star of the show is the parsley just as it was in Israel! It’s a healthy and herbaceous side dish for any meal!

Having tabbouleh in Israel at Magdala’s changed my life. The freshness of the dish was one of the moments that I just sat back and felt the reality of where I was, the simplicity of food and life ya know. I’ll never forget it!

What is Bulgur Wheat?

Bulgur wheat is an edible cereal grain made from parboiled cracked wheat that is dried before packaging. It has a nutty or earth taste and has a texture similar to couscous or quinoa. It is quick and easy to cook and versatile in how it can be used.

What is in Tabbouleh?

For the Dressing

• Olive Oil: the base of the dressing
• Lemon Zest and Juice: adds acidity and bright flavor to the dressing
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Salt and Pepper: adds flavor

For the Tabbouleh

• Fine Bulgur: You’ll find it on the same row as the grains or the pasta at the grocery store. If you have a hard time finding it, you should be able to find it at any health food store.
• Flat Leaf and Curly Leaf Parsley: I love the combination of the two for this salad. I use the Italian (flat leaf) parsley which has more flavor but that smooth look and texture mellows it out. While the curly is more mild but I love the texture it adds.
• Green Onions: The green onions add flavor, you can also use chives
• Mint Leaves: You will definitely want fresh mint for this recipe!
• Grape Tomatoes: I like to half or quarter them so they are easier (and less messy) to eat.

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe at the end of the post.

Substitutions and Additions in Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh in it’s authentic form is just parsley, green onions, mint, tomatoes and bulgur with olive oil and lemon juice. You can see that we have taken a few liberties with our version here. It’s really a versatile salad, so feel free to add or omit items as desired. Here are some ideas:

Additions

• Cucumber
• Pomegranates
• Chickpeas
• Feta
• Sliced Grilled Chicken

Substitutes

• Bulgur Wheat – couscous or quinoa

Important Tips

1. Chop everything small. It is meant to all blend together. You can do it by hand with a knife or use a food processor or small blender. Jus