Restaurant Style Bread and Oil Herb Dip

Bread, Bread, Oil, Bread

            Don’t even try to lie.  You look forward to the bread at a restaurant as much as you look forward to the main course.  And why shouldn’t you?  What could be more satisfying than a thick slice of crusty bread soaking up a pool of olive oil, spices and cheese?  This dish is so perfectly simple that it requires no cooking, no measuring spoons, and best of all, no waiting.  After all, who says you need to be sitting in a restaurant, impatiently waiting for this appetizer to arrive?  Bread, oil, and spices are all you need to have… well, just that.

Step One: Choose your favorite type of bread.  If you want your bread to be warm, wrap it in aluminum foil and put it in a 350-degree oven for five minutes.

Italian Loaf
French
Sourdough
Focaccia
Ciabatta

Step Two: Choose your mix-ins.  Because this is such a simple dish, be sure to use fresh, high-quality ingredients.  (Pick up to five.)

Chopped Oregano
Chopped Basil
Chopped Parsley
Thyme
Crushed Rosemary
Red Pepper Flakes
Lemon Juice
Minced Garlic
Balsamic Vinegar
Hot Sauce

Whisk each ingredient into the oil.

Taste the oil with every mix-in to achieve the perfect balance of flavor without letting the mixture become too overpowering.

You should be able to taste each one of your ingredients equally.  For added flavor, add salt and freshly ground pepper.

Step Three: Slice the bread or rip the loaf in chunks.  Dunk, eat, repeat.

By Elizabeth Nash