If you’re wondering how to make olive dip that’s easy and flavorful, consider your search complete. This recipe is a crowd favorite and perfect for olive lovers looking for an appetizer that works as well for a tailgate as it does a holiday cocktail party.
And did we mention that the combination of fresh herbs, garlic, red pepper flakes, cheese, and olives makes it taste like a grown-up garlic bread dip?
As a California-born professional chef who grew up eating farm-to-table, I love creating effortless, elegant recipes like this olive dip. It focuses on fresh, simple ingredients with bold flavors. It’s versatile, quick to make, and can be endlessly personalized. Here are the ingredients for this easy appetizer, how to make it, and my favorite way to serve it.
Why You’ll Like This Olive Dip Recipe
This easy dip recipe takes minutes to prepare. Here are a few reasons you’ll want to make it:
- Lighter yet flavorful: While many olive dips are creamy and made with a base of sour cream or full-fat cream cheese, this recipe uses olive oil, fresh garlic, fresh herbs, and salty olives for a refreshing change.
- Minimal effort: This appetizer comes together quickly, with only a few steps and essential ingredients like garlic cloves, pitted olives, herbs, and cheese.
- Customizable: You can change the herbs, adjust the spice level, or add in some capers or more California Ripe Olives, to match your taste buds.
- Versatile: Have leftover dip? No problem! Mix it with balsamic vinegar to make a quick vinaigrette, use it as is for a sandwich spread, or remove the cheese to use as a marinade
Ingredients to Make This Recipe
This easy olive dip recipe only requires a few essential ingredients, making it an excellent option for last-minute entertaining. And, since so many ingredients are always on hand in my pantry or refrigerator, I can make it a moment’s notice. Here’s the complete ingredient list:
- Extra virgin olive oil for richness and a smooth texture.
- Fresh garlic cloves give the dip a bold, aromatic base.
- Fresh rosemary infuses the oil with a fragrant, woodsy flavor.
- Red pepper flakes or ground red pepper like paprika or Piment d’Espelette bring some heat.
- Fennel seeds add a subtle anise flavor.
- California ripe olives (black olives or green olives) are the star of the dip, providing that briney olive flavor you love.
- Fresh Italian parsley brightens the dip with a fresh herbal note.
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese adds a salty, nutty flavor.
How to Make This Recipe
Here are the four steps to make this delicious olive dip:
- Infuse the oil: Combine the olive oil, grated garlic, and fresh rosemary sprigs in a large frying pan and heat until the mixture simmers.
- Add spices: Remove from the heat and stir in the red pepper flakes, fennel seeds (if using), and salt. Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Prepare the olive mix: Using a food processor or hand, finely chop the ripe olives and combine them with the finely chopped parsley and grated cheese in a serving dish.
- Combine and serve: Discard the rosemary, then pour the infused oil over the olive mixture. Stir well, taste, and adjust with more salt and black pepper if needed. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for later use.
California Ripe Olives Are Key
We created this recipe in partnership with our friends at California Ripe Olives. These culinary gems are grown primarily in the inland valleys of California, from San Diego Country to north of Sacramento. California produces 95% of the U.S. supply of ripe olives, mostly from family-owned farms, some operating for generations.
Two main varieties—Manzanillo and Sevillano—are cultivated in the Golden State, offering olives in sizes from tiny to colossal. The olives are hand-picked in the early fall and cured through a multi-step process that gives them distinctive flavor and smooth texture.
What sets California Ripe Olives apart is the unique curing method developed in California, resulting in their deep, rich color and mild, nutty flavor. Whether used in a classic tapenade, as a pizza topping, or incorporated into a flavorful dip, California Ripe Olives add a burst of flavor with minimal effort.
What to Serve With This Olive Dip
This olive dip is versatile and can be used in various ways. Here are a few serving suggestions:
- Fresh bread: Crusty baguettes, focaccia, or your favorite artisan loaf.
- Pita chips, potato chips, or your favorite crackers: Ideal for easy dipping.
- Fresh vegetables: Think sliced fennel, cucumber, carrots, or radishes for a refreshing contrast.
- Charcuterie boards: This olive dip is an excellent addition to any cheese or meat platter.
Variations on This Recipe
Feel free to customize this based on your taste and what you have on hand:
- Olive Oil: Use this homemade infused lemon olive oil to bring a citrusy note to the dip
- Spicy Olive Dip: Add more chile flakes or even some pickled peppers or stir in chili crunch
- Herb Swap: If you like fresh herbs, try combining 1 part mint with two parts cilantro or parsley. Or, use all fresh oregano. If you’re out of fresh herbs, substitute 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of dried herbs such as thyme, oregano, or Italian seasoning.
- Olive Combination: Experiment with different olives, such as black olives and green olives. Even a combination of green olives with black olives works well.
Even More Olive Recipes
Here are a few more recipes where you can use California Ripe Olives:
- Traditional Tapenade Recipe: A black olive spread with anchovies, capers, and garlic.
- Classic Greek Olive Salad Recipe: This classic recipe is given a California twist with the addition of smashed, infused olives and some avocado
- Green Olive Bruschetta Recipe: This is our go-to bruschetta recipe, though you can serve it deconstructed with the burrata, green olives, and toasts all put on a serving platter for an easy appetizer.
Herby Garlicky Olive Dip Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 medium garlic cloves peeled and grated
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or ground red pepper like paprika or Piment d'espelette
- pinch fennel seeds (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup canned California ripe olives drained and finely chopped
- 1 handful fresh Italian parsley finely chopped
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Instructions
- Combine the olive oil, garlic, and rosemary in a medium frying pan and heat over low heat until the mixture simmers about 4 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, remove the pan from the stove, and add red pepper flakes or ground red pepper, fennel seeds, and salt. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly
- Mix the grated cheese, parsley, and olives in a flat-rimmed serving dish. Discard the rosemary, pour the olive oil into the serving dish, and mix to combine evenly. Taste and add additional salt and pepper as desired. Serve with focaccia, bread, or freshly cut vegetables like fennel, cucumber, carrots, and radishes.
