Name: Garlic-Parmesan Dipping Oil
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup); 2 garlic cloves, minced to paste; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon dried oregano; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes; ¼ teaspoon pepper; 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted an easy, bold dipping oil for bread, reminiscent of the ones that restaurants serve tableside. To prepare it, we combined olive oil with Parmesan cheese and fresh minced garlic and then sprinkled on dried oregano and red pepper flakes for an extra kick. A finishing drizzle of balsamic added a lively brightness, but it is optional.

Before You Begin

For a more nuanced version of this dipping oil, you can substitute an equal amount of garlic confit oil and six mashed whole cloves of garlic confit for the extra-virgin olive oil and raw garlic cloves called for here. Serve with focaccia, crusty bread, or breadsticks.

Instructions

Combine ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, ½ cup grated Parmesan, 2 garlic cloves minced to paste, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt in shallow serving bowl. Using fork, mash and stir ingredients until evenly combined. Sprinkle oil mixture evenly with ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon pepper flakes, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, if using. Serve.