Swap out Butter for These Savory Dipping Sauces That Require No Cooking

Good olive oil and balsamic vinegar blended with an assortment of other flavorful ingredients is so much more interesting than butter.

Creative olive oil combinations have taken the place of butter as an accompaniment to bread. Dreamstime/TNS

Today you can find artisan bread available from high-end bakeries in stores like Trader Joe’s. Seeded loaves, flattened focaccia rectangles, walnut, sourdough and brioche are just a few of the amazing array of fresh breads available today. Butter is traditionally served alongside bread, but things have changed. The Italian influence of serving olive oil instead of butter with bread has caught on in the states, where it is often served instead of butter.

I prefer the fruity flavor of olive oil with bread. The simplest mix is a small bowl filled with olive oil and then balsamic vinegar is poured in the center. Even more delicious are blending different flavors together, as in the recipes below.