Bread for dipping in olive oil or soup

Bread for dipping in olive oil or soup recipe videos

This is a simple yet essential culinary staple, most commonly a rustic crusty bread like a baguette, ciabatta, or sourdough, served alongside high-quality extra virgin olive oil for dipping or alongside a hearty soup. The dish typically consists of just two core ingredients: freshly baked bread and olive oil, sometimes with optional additions like balsamic vinegar, herbs, or spices for the oil. It is a foundational element of Mediterranean cuisine, particularly in countries like Italy, Greece, and Spain.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

The bread is primarily a source of carbohydrates, providing energy, while the olive oil adds heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. A typical serving offers a good amount of dietary fiber and some B vitamins from the bread, with the oil contributing vitamin E and antioxidants. A rough calorie estimate for a serving is around 250-300 kcal, depending on the bread type and oil quantity.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	280 kcal
Protein	5 g
Carbs	32 g
Fat	15 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	2 g
Sodium	350 mg
Iron	2.5 mg
Magnesium	30 mg
Phosphorus	70 mg
Thiamin (B1)	0.3 mg
Niacin (B3)	3.5 mg
Vitamin E	2.0 mg
Vitamin K	8.0 mcg
Manganese	1.5 mg

Per 2 slices of crusty bread (120 g) with 1 tablespoon (14 g) of extra virgin olive oil · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, this dish represents the Mediterranean diet's emphasis on simple, high-quality ingredients and communal eating. Nutritionally, the combination is unique because the fat from the olive oil can help increase the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (like vitamin E) from the oil itself and any other foods consumed in the meal.