Bread Dipping, Old World Hors D’oeuvres
Old World Mediterranean cuisine has long been loved by people from many different cultures. One Old World Mediterranean favorite is bread dipping. This simple, yet satisfying tradition has been making a come-back over the past few years not only because of its health value but also because of its flavor.
For years, hosts and hostesses have been serving chips & dip, cheese & crackers, vegetable & deli trays, and other common party foods to their guests. These hors d’oeuvres get eaten of course, but why not try something new? Imagine how satisfied party guests would be if they were served a slice of warm bread along with their choice of a variety of delicious olive oil bread dipping sauces.
The average host or hostess may think that this sounds too good to be true. Surprisingly, though, this appetizer is quite simple to prepare and, when you consider the price of quality potato chips, pre-cut vegetables, and other party foods, it is not very costly, either. Depending on the size of your party, all that you will need is two or three of the baguette loaves that you can purchase fresh at most grocery stores, a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, and some Italian herbs and spices. When you are shopping for your ingredients, remember that the quality of the olive oil you choose will make or break your bread dip. The higher the quality of your olive oil and other ingredients, the better your hors d’oeuvres will be.
To prepare your bread dip the first thing that you will need to do is re-hydrate any dried herbs and spices that you will use in the recipe. To do this, just soak them in a shallow plate of water for about 15 minutes. This will bring back their flavor and they will taste as if they were still fresh. Once the herbs and spices are done rehydrating, drain the water and add them to some extra virgin olive oil. For a unique flair, you can also add other ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes, grated parmesan cheese, flavored vinegars, or lemon juice. If you use the time that your spices are re-hydrating to slice or cube the bread, then in less than half an hour you will have a mouth-watering appetizer that most guests will love.
Food presentation also plays a significant role in a fun and successful party. The use of a bread dipping dish instead of a plate or serving platter will provide a good foundation for the arrangement of your bread dips. Also, if you are using balsamic vinegar in any of the dips, you can create designs in the dip instead of just mixing them together. The breads can be either cubed or sliced and served on a platter that complements the bread dipping dish. If you wish to slice the bread, be sure to slice it at an angle for an attractive detail.
For some variety, you can serve a veggie tray along with your bread slices. Fresh, steamed, and grilled vegetables all go great with olive oil bread dips. Guests will also appreciate a variety of breads to choose form. Focaccia, sourdough, Italian, French, and other fresh-baked breads all work well for bread dipping. Another variation is to use the bread dips at dinner parties. They can be used as salad dressings, they can be drizzled over vegetable and pasta dishes, or they can also be used to marinade meats.
Make your guests happy by bringing a taste of the Old World to your next party. Bread dipping is healthy, fast, and appetizing so it is sure to please a wide array of guests.
bread dipping, bread dipping appetizer
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September 23rd, 2008 17:02
Quite a number of individuals are resorting to the Mediterranean Diet due to society’s ever-increasing fixation on being healthy. The Mediterranean Diet is rapidly becoming popular because it allows one to follow a proper diet all while still being able to enjoy tasteful food. Bread dipping appetizers, which originate from Italy, are delicious and perfectly conform to the Mediterranean diet. To create a bread dipping appetizer, all that is needed is bread, olive oil, vinegar, and a bread dipping dish.