Description
This garlic herb olive oil dip is a quick and flavorful appetizer perfect for beginner cooks. Bursting with fresh garlic, herbs, parmesan, and a touch of heat, it’s a restaurant-style dip ready in under 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1–2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup high-quality extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or basil (for garnish)
- Sliced bread such as focaccia or baguette, for serving
Instructions
- Combine the base ingredients: In a shallow dish or bowl, add the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and dried oregano. This will allow the flavors to begin mingling as they wait for the oil.
- Add the cheese and oil: Grate the parmesan cheese directly into the bowl over the herbs and garlic. Slowly pour the olive oil on top, allowing it to coat everything evenly.
- Mix and season: Stir gently with a spoon until all ingredients are well combined. The parmesan will begin to melt slightly into the oil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste.
- Garnish and serve: Top the dip with chopped fresh parsley or basil just before serving. This adds brightness and color. Serve with warm bread slices for dipping and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- If your garlic feels too pungent, let it soak in the olive oil for 5–10 minutes before mixing the rest of the ingredients. For a vegan version, replace the parmesan with nutritional yeast. Store any leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container and bring to room temperature before serving again. This dip also doubles as a great sandwich spread or salad drizzle.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 147
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 135 mg
- Fat: 15.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.6 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 1.8 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg