Dipping oil.

[Longhorn]

I bought a bottle of dipping oil and a round loaf of sourdough bread to serve at a little get-together this weekend but how do I serve it? Do I warm the oil? Should I slice the bread or tear it into serving pieces?

Thanks for your suggestions!

[NMDemDist2]

1. I would "chunk" the bread into big hunks people can grab and pull into

smaller pieces

be sure the oil is in a very shallow bowl or a plate. If it's in a bottle maybe just give each guest a bread plate they can pour the oil into and dip

no I wouldn't heat the oil, it changes the characteristics of the flavor

[Longhorn]

4. I like that idea, too.

Just wondered if it would dry out too fast. But even if it dries a little, the oil will moisten it.

Thanks! :D

[Stinky The Clown]

2. As AZDD6 says, don't heat the oil

And keep the bread of a size such that no one is tempted to double dip!

[Longhorn]

5. Right! No double-dipping!

Good idea! :D

[trotsky]

3. Also have some balsamic vinegar and a bowl of parmesan cheese.

So yummy.

[Longhorn]

6. That DOES sound good!

And it would have been a little less expensive than the $7.00 bottle of dipping oil!

Thanks! :D

[trotsky]

10. Yeah we just use regular olive oil.

What we usually do is take a plate, pour olive oil on one half, balsamic vinegar on the other, and then have a bowl of parmesan next to it. Of course this is just for my wife & me so we don't worry about double-dipping or anything. You dip the bread where the oil & vinegar meet, then dip it in the cheese. Yumm.

[Frogtutor]

7. There's an Italian restaraunt here that pours the oil over

shredded up roasted garlic...mmmmmm

The garlic is a little chewy and gets stuck in your teeth, but if you like garlic, you'll love the flavor.

[BikeWriter]

16. You'd better hush up now! You're making me hungry!

:-)

[bergamot]

8. Butter

You could also provide a plate of butter for people with traditional cullinary values.

[Shakespeare]

9. "traditional" all depends on where you're from, I guess...

I imagine some of our Italian-American posters might be smiling at the suggestion that butter is somehow more traditional a mate with bread than olive oil. ;-)

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I'm one of those for whom butter is imitation olive oil!

Olive oil IS a traditional value for me! :)

By the way, for dipping oil ....... we often add chopped fresh herbs and chopped garlic, salt and papper to our oil. But just plain olive oil with some salt and pepper is great!

[thedailyshow]

11. I like to chop up some garlic and roast them in olive oil

in a small saucepan over medium heat until they get golden brown, then I pour the garlic out with the olive oil into a small bowl. I like to add some chopped oregano/basil and chopped red pepper flakes. Sooo......good!

[Frogtutor]

13. This is not exactly related, but I thought it was interesting...

I heard here while back that a study was done where some people ate a piece of bread dipped in olive oil, and others ate a piece of bread with butter before eating dinner. Apparently, the people who ate the bread with the olive oil ate less food (became satisfied sooner).

Just another one of the benefits of olive oil!

[Longhorn]

14. Dipping bread in oil is actually recommended in the South Beach Diet

book -- better for you than the bread alone as the combination of the fat and carbs slows down digestion, IIRC.

Whole grain bread is supposed to be the best and sourdough bread is better than white bread because the acid in it also slows down digestion. Who wants plain ole white bread, anyway? :)

[Mandate My Ass]

17. Yes, I was searching for a menu on an Italian web site

and the woman whose site it was said she follows the Italian tradition of eating a small piece of bread with olive oil, or just taking a spoonful of olive oil before sitting down to a big meal. I can attest that this works, and it's delicious.

[Longhorn]

15. Thanks for the dipping oil suggestions!

I had my little get-together tonight and the dipping oil was quite a hit! I have these vintage rectangular glass plates and cups that belonged to my grandmother -- from the fifties, I think. Anyway, I used the plates for all the snacks and the cups, which are pretty small, were perfect for ladeling the dipping oil. We were drinking margaritas or wine, so no need for the cups for drinks.

I also served queso and chips, King's Hawaiian bread and spinach dip, green and red grapes, strawberries with powdered sugar, and homemade brownies. My gal pals were very impressed. Wish I had taken a picture, like Bearfan, cause the table looked great! :D