Classic Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Bread Dip
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This olive oil and balsamic vinegar bread dip is simple at its best. With just three ingredients—olive oil, balsamic reduction, and flaky salt—you can create a flavorful dip that lets the quality of the ingredients shine. If you’re feeling adventurous, I’ve included three seasoning variations to suit any taste.

Making an olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping bread should be easy. Not complicated. With this recipe, less is more. This means you don’t need a ton of spices. Instead, stick with high-quality olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of flaky salt. Isn’t that what good cooking is about? Simple ingredients create the best flavor when used in the correct ratios.
To ensure I wrote the best recipe, I tested many combinations. Over the years, I have found that a 3:1 ratio is perfect. 3 parts olive oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar glaze. I prefer the glaze for its sweetness vs. the tanginess of traditional balsamic vinegar. The glaze is thicker than traditional balsamic vinegar and will sink to the bottom. To balance this, always use a shallow bowl or small plate. This will let you dip the glaze and the olive oil on your bread.
This recipe takes as long as it takes to add two ingredients and a pinch of salt. This bread is perfect for dipping no-knead focaccia bread and my easy yeast bread recipe. Because it’s so easy, let’s get straight to it and skip the verbose blogging!
Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for Dipping Bread
At a Glance
EASE: Super Easy
COURSE: When Serving Bread
TIME: 2 Minutes
Why This Recipe Works
- Fast and easy balsamic and olive oil dip
- Simple, clean flavor
- This is a short and sweet post!
How to Choose the Best Ingredients
- Balsamic Vinegar – There are many high-quality balsamic vinegars, and some are very expensive. I prefer using a reduction, which is thicker and sweeter. You can buy it ready-made or easily reduce regular balsamic vinegar at home by simmering it until halved.
- Olive Oil – I recommend a cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil that is within your budget. You can find a good bottle at your grocery store for around ten dollars. While you can spend a lot more, I strongly believe in buying the best quality that fits comfortably into your budget.
- Salt – A coarse sea salt or flaky salt enhances the flavors in this recipe. I love using Maldon. It is the perfect salt that gives you pops of flavor!
See the recipe card for the complete ingredient list and measurements.
Personalize This Recipe
Want more flavor? Try one of these easy bread dipping recipe variations. The measurements below are based on a 3:1 ratio—three tablespoons of olive oil and one tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.

Sumac + Aleppo Pepper (Turkish)
A mix of fruity with a touch of spice. This one is my favorite!
- ½ teaspoon sumac
- ¼ teaspoon Aleppo pepper
Za’atar (Levantine)
Earthy and nutty, with a garlic kick.
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon za’atar – Sprinkle on top and stir to combine
Oregano, Parsley, Basil, and Garlic (Mediterranean)
All the flavors you love from Italy and Greece!
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil,
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
Perfect Pairings
If you tried this Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for Dipping Bread recipe or any other recipe on my blog leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below.

Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for Dipping Bread
Equipment
- 1 small shallow bowl
- 1 tablespoon measuring spoon
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar reduction
- 1 pinch flaky salt (Maldon)
Instructions
- In a small and shallow bowl, add olive oil and balsamic vinegar reduction. The oil and vinegar will naturally separate. Top with a pinch of flaky sea salt.Note you want the bowl to be shallow so you can get the balsamic vinegar when dipping your bread.
Notes
- ½ teaspoon sumac
- ¼ teaspoon Aleppo pepper
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon za’atar
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil,
- 1 small clove garlic, minced