By Emily Malloy

Food and friends are a match made in heaven. Second to that combination is the coupling of bread and olive oil.

It is always a joy to host a gathering of friends. Breaking bread with those in our lives is a unique opportunity to foster and deepen friendship. As a host, making dishes that are simple and delicious eases the primary burden of entertaining: the preparations.

Bread dipping oil is an easy way to create an offering that is jaw-dropping without much fuss or cost. This dish is unbelievably simple and so often the favorite part of dining out at a restaurant. Oils infused with herbs with a crusty bread to showcase the flavors is a simple way to please a crowd. 

The possibilities are endless for flavor combinations, but today we are recreating two of Carrie's favorite bread dipping oil recipes: Honey Garlic Dipping Oil and a Sundried Herb Dipping Oil. The Honey Garlic version has a unique sweetness to it that is a consistent crowd pleaser. The Sundried Herb is wonderfully fresh and fragrant. 

These recipes are easy to create with ingredients that are often found in a pantry. The key to the Sundried Herb Dipping Oil recipe is the sundried tomato paste, which isn't always easy to source, but it is simple to make your own. If you don't already keep a jar of sundried tomatoes in the pantry, this is your sign to begin keeping it on-hand!

The Honey Garlic Dipping Oil can be varied with the use of truffle. Truffles have a unique flavor that bring an aromatic, sensory experience to any meal. This variation is reminiscent of a flavor combination taught to me by a cheesemonger in the famous Philadelphia Italian Market. (He said to combine a strong cheese with truffle oil and a touch of honey, a life-changing combination to revisit in another post). Adding the truffle oil or honey takes the simple and makes it luxuriously simple! 

Honey Garlic Dipping Oil (and optional truffle variation)
Yields: 6-8 servings
Time: 5-10 minutes

Ingredients: 
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 minced garlic cloves
Crusty loaf of bread, cut into pieces
Optional variation: add a truffle dimension by way of truffle olive oil or truffle honey substituted for the olive oil or honey above.

Directions: 
1. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Serve with cut bread. Enjoy!

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Sundried Herb Dipping Oil
Yields: 6-8 servings
Time: 5-10 minutes, + 1 hour marinade time

Ingredients: 
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sundried tomato paste *recipe below*
1/8 teaspoon each: dried basil, dried rosemary, dried thyme, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper
Crusty loaf of bread, cut into pieces 

Directions:
1. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Let rest up for about one hour for the flavors to infuse into the oil. Serve with cut bread. Enjoy!

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*Sundried Tomato Paste
Courtesy: Food.com
Yields: 10 ounces
Time: 3-5 minutes

Ingredients:
8 ounce jar sun-dried tomatoes, drained of oil and soaked in warm water for 2-3 minutes
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
10 garlic cloves, minced

Directions:
1. Drain the sundried tomatoes from the warm water after they have plumped slightly and discard the water. Combine the tomatoes with remaining ingredients in a food processor until well-combined. 

2. Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.