Looking for a fast side dish to go with your dinner?  Wanting something healthy to put on your bread rather than butter or margarine?  Hoping to make your spaghetti and meatballs seem a little fancier? This easy Italian-inspired olive oil for dipping your bread is the perfect recipe!  

(Any information in the post is for general information purposes only and is NOT medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for individual medical and nutrition advice.)

This oil takes only a few minutes to make and makes a great side dish to serve with salads, spaghetti, or other Italian dishes.  It can be kept in a cool, dry, dark location for use another day. I like to dip some freshly-baked Italian bread or a crusty, whole-wheat baguette in this oil.  This is my favorite side dish to serve with entree-type salads, like a grilled chicken caesar salad.  Plus, substituting olive oil on your bread in place of butter can help to replace the unhealthy saturated fats in the butter with the heart-healthy monounsaturated fats in the olive oil.  

While you can use any olive oil in this recipe, I prefer to use extra-virgin olive oil for the added flavor.  I find other types of oil to be too bland.  In addition, the extra-virgin version will retain more vitamins and antioxidants than other olive oils, making it a slightly healthier option.  

You may be wondering, where is the salt in the recipe?  As a dietitian, I rarely use salt in any of my recipes, and this is no exception.  The seasonings add so much flavor by themselves, that salt is just not needed, and would only mask the natural flavor of the other ingredients.  While you can certainly add a little salt to this recipe, I recommend tasting the unsalted oil first.  Even if you are used to eating salt, you may be amazed at how delicious your food tastes without it!

Easy Italian-Inspired Olive Oil Recipe

Prep Time:  5 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 ounces extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
• freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Pour about 1/4 of the olive oil into a glass jar or other container, and gently swirl the oil to coat the sides
2. Add the garlic powder, basil, oregano, rosemary, and black pepper to the container, trying not to touch the sides
3. Add the rest of the olive oil to the jar
4. Seal the container and gently swirl all ingredients together until well mixed
5. When ready to eat, gently swirl the container to mix the oil and seasonings, then pour a little of the liquid onto a plate, and enjoy with your favorite bread!
6. To store any unused oil, seal the jar with an air-tight lid and store in a cool, dark, dry location

Time Saving Tip: Don’t want to make a large batch? Sprinkle a little of each dry ingredient on a plate, then top with olive oil for a single-use recipe.

*Nutrition Information per 1 Tablespoon serving (16 servings per recipe)

• 120 Calories
• 14 g Total Fat
• 2 g Saturated Fat
• 0 g Protein
• 0 mg Sodium
• 0 g Carbohydrate
• 0g Fiber

*Nutrition information is approximate and based on the products that I buy in my home. Information will vary based on the products purchased in your home.