SERVING SUGGESTIONS: I highly recommend soft, fresh focaccia to serve with this oil – my super easy no-knead focaccia is perfect. This fragrant rosemary parmesan bread is also wonderful. Any leftovers are fab dolloped onto grilled chicken, roast chicken, steak or salmon, and also make a fabulous dressing. Toss through a crunchy salad, spoon on top of poached or scrambled eggs, mix through pasta to make a quick sauce or use as the dressing in a pasta salad.

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS: The oil will keep well for at least a week in the fridge, stored in an airtight container.

INGREDIENT NOTES: You can make this recipe your own, based on what you have to hand. Switch out the olives and sundried tomatoes for jarred artichokes or red peppers, mix up your spices (za’atar or dukkah is wonderful) or play around with the herbs (dried work well too).

VARIATIONS

Loaded Mediterranean dipping oil: Mix ¾ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, 2 tablespoons sundried tomatoes, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon Kalamata olives, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon rosemary, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, 3 garlic cloves, crushed, 2 teaspoons chilli flakes, 1 teaspoon sumac, zest of 1 lemon and 1 teaspoon of flaky sea salt.

Zingy basil pesto: Mix 2 tablespoons of basil pesto with 1/2 a cup of olive oil, a handful of chopped basil leaves, the zest and juice of 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon of toasted chopped cashews (or pinenuts) and a pinch of salt. This is an even EASIER version because there’s less chopping involved!

Hot honey and lemon: Mix 1/2 a cup of olive oil with the zest and juice of 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon of honey, 2 teaspoons of chilli flakes, a handful of fresh thyme leaves and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Pizza bread dipping oil: Mix 1/2 cup olive oil with 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 3 crushed garlic cloves, 1/2 cup of grated parmesan, a handful of chopped fresh basil, 1 teaspoon of chilli flakes, 1 teaspoon of salt and a good grind of black pepper.

Spicy sweet chilli bread dipping oil:  Mix 1/4 cup olive oil with 1/4 cup chilli oil, 2 tablespoons sweet chilli jam, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon crushed toasted peanuts and a good handful of chopped cilantro (coriander) leaves. A little lime juice to finish things off is great too!

Triple garlic bread dipping oil: Mix 1/2 cup olive oil with 8 confit garlic cloves, 3 crushed garlic cloves, 3 chopped smoked garlic cloves, 1/4 cup grated parmesan, 2 sprigs of finely chopped rosemary and 1 teaspoon of flaky salt. Keep things even easier by just using raw garlic if you like.

Greek-inspired bread dipping oil: Mix 1/2 cup of olive oil with 1/3 cup chopped oregano, 1/4 cup chopped mint, 1/4 cup chopped thyme (or use dried herbs), 1/2 cup crumbled feta, 1/2 cup chopped olives, the zest and juice of 1 lemon and 1 tablespoon of honey. 

Sundried tomato pesto bread dipping oil: Mix 1/2 cup of olive oil with 1/4 cup sundried tomato pesto, a handful of fresh thyme and oregano leaves, the juice of 1 lemon and 1 tablespoon of chopped roasted almonds.