Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Bread Dip (Helpful Tips)

Olive oil and balsamic vinegar bread dip is a delicious dip made from only 2 ingredients and commonly eaten in Mediterranean countries. Though it becomes very trendy around the globe, particularly in the USA and Europe.

You can find both ingredients at grocery stores or order online. But did you know why dipping bread in olive oil and balsamic vinegar is good for you, which is the best olive oil and bread to use, how to make it, and much more.

Let’s take a look at some of the things you need to know about pairing up these two gourmet ingredients.

Is Dipping Bread in Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar Good for You?

Olive Oil Benefits

There are many reasons why an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip is healthy. The purest form of olive oil is extra virgin, and this contains large amounts of antioxidants that can prevent damage to your cells.

This damage is caused by free radicals which are actually waste substances produced by cells. The balance between antioxidants and free radicals in your body is necessary for proper physiological function.

Olive oil also contains nutrients like oleic acid and oleocanthal that can help the body fight inflammation. There have also been some scientific studies linking the consumption of olive oil with a reduced risk of strokes.

Extra virgin olive oil can also help your heart health. It reduces bad LDL cholesterol helping the blood vessels function.

There is also some suggestion that olive oil prevents many other health conditions. This includes things like Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer, though more research is needed to show a firm link. Read more about Kalamata olive oil health benefits.

Balsamic Vinegar Benefits

Balsamic vinegar also provides some health benefits. Balsamic vinegar also contains antioxidants that help reduce toxic cells in your body that increase your cholesterol. This could help reduce your risk of clogged arteries and help your cardiovascular system function.

Balsamic vinegar contains acetic acid that provides probiotic bacteria to aid digestion. This is a healthy way to improve your gut microbiome benefiting your immune system.

Some people claim that consuming this vinegar helps them feel full, making dieting easier. The reason for this could be the probiotic compounds contained in balsamic vinegar.

Best Olive Oil for Bread Dipping with Balsamic Vinegar

Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice and healthiest fat you can find. It contains more antioxidants and bioactive compounds making it healthier than other grades of olive oil.

Extra virgin olive oil is pure unprocessed olive oil. When olive oil is processed, the manufacturer will use chemicals to clean it, and it will also be heated. While this increases the shelf life of the oil, it can also remove some of the nutrients and flavor.

One of the best extra virgin olive oils is recognized Kalamata olive oil and is widely used across the globe. If you are interested to try highest quality extra virgin olive oil from Kalamata, try our Oliviada olive oil which is 100% pure unrefined certified olive oil produced by a local Greek family:

Best Bread for Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Dip

The best bread to use with your olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip is any that’s fresh, crusty and nutritious. Think of a whole grain or whole wheat bread which will promise all the nutrients of the wheat grain.

If you are not into whole-wheat thing and prefer a fluffy option, choose a French baguette, focaccia bread or other white bread variety, or even some crusty homemade bread freshly baked from the oven. The more natural ingredients the bread contains, the healthier it is.

Another option is to choose whole-wheat pita or chiabatta which are very common for olive oil and balsamic vinegar dipping.

Ideally, you are looking for bread that isn’t too dense so it can complement and absorb the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

How Do You Eat Bread with Olive Oil and Vinegar?

Prepare your olive oil and balsamic vinegar bread dip by first slicing up the bread and placing it on a platter. Take a small bowl or even a plate, pour in your olive oil, preferably extra virgin, then drizzle your balsamic vinegar over the olive oil.

Use an olive oil dispenser to store, preserve and serve olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It can work as a precise portion control mechanism and helps you pour in small quantities. Read more about the best olive oil dispenser here.

If you wish, you can garnish this with fresh basil, and then it is ready to dip your bread into. This can then be shared with guests as an appetizer before the main part of the meal.

How Do You Make Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Bread Dip?

There are many variations, and you can change the ingredients you use to suit your tastes. But the key to making a really great dip is the quality of your ingredients. Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice paired with fresh bread.

Your recipe could look something like this:

• A quarter cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• A minced garlic clove
• A tablespoon of dried basil
• A tablespoon of dried oregano
• A pinch of sea salt and ground black pepper

This will only take a few minutes to prepare and could serve 2 to 4 people.

Also, consider adding ingredients like parmesan cheese and thyme to your recipe to suit your tastes.

Should You Add Olive Oil or Vinegar First?

When creating your dip, you will want to use more oil than vinegar. And you should add the balsamic vinegar to the olive oil, and not the other way around. Part of the reason for this is because you will be using more olive oil than vinegar.
Also, the two don’t actually mix. This is thanks to the molecules being different types; oil being nonpolar and vinegar being polar. Vinegar is also denser, so it’s more likely to settle at the bottom of the bowl creating separate layers.

How Long Does Olive Oil and Vinegar Dip Last?

If you have purchased olive oil and balsamic vinegar bread dip from the store, it should give you a date for how long it will last. But what if you have made your own dip?

An olive oil dip, when stored correctly, can last for a very long time. This is thanks to the high levels of monounsaturated fat content contained in the oil.

Though in order to keep it fresh, you need to store it properly. To retain freshness, store it in a sealed container, and it needs to remain refrigerated. If you do this, it could stay good for up to a year.

If you have left the dip out overnight, it should still be good and can be stored in the refrigerator for later use.

Why Do Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Go So Well Together?

Olive oil contains high levels of fat, though this is monosaturated and healthy. This creates the base flavour, and when combined with the acidic vinegar that has been aged to create a sweet flavour, they suit each other very well.

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Final Thoughts

Literally you need only few minutes to prepare olive oil and balsamic vinegar bread dip, which can bring many joyful moments while snacking with your family members and friends before a dinner. For more flavour and colors, dont forget to serve Kalamata olives or stuffed green olives, sun dried tomatoes, cheese, and even proschiutto or smoked ham.

Also, you can find your favourite olive oil bread dipping combination through tasting and experimenting. Another common option is to use infused olive oil and mix it with vinegar, instead of adding fresh or dried herbs such as oregano, cilli peppers, basil. If you want to learn more about infused olive oil, check my posts about how to infuse olive oil at home and infused olive oil recipes.

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