44 olive dip recipes

Fried batilgian is egg-dipped eggplant fried in olive and vegetable oil until crisp outside and creamy inside. Just five ingredients for a classic Middle Eastern side.

Vegetarian stuffed grape leaves (dolmades) with rice, pine nuts, raisins, tomato, and cinnamon. Slow-simmered in olive oil and lemon, served chilled with yogurt-mint dipping sauce.

Howard Karten's salsa is a Mediterranean-leaning chunky tomato dip: peeled tomatoes, red onion, black olives, cumin, garlic, oregano, and red wine vinegar. No chiles, no cilantro, all flavor.

Sweet-tangy mustard vinaigrette with dry mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, and a touch of sugar whisked into olive oil. A simple, sharp dipping sauce for whole cooked artichokes.

Salsa wheel layers a creamy avocado-cream cheese base with salsa, shredded lettuce, tomato, olives, scallions, and cheddar on a round platter. A no-cook Mexican party dip.

Greek taramasalata-style pate of smoked cod roe whipped with olive oil, lemon, garlic, and a fold of cream into a silky pale-pink dip, served cool with warm pita.

Greek-style roasted whole chickens with lemon, oregano, and olive oil alongside thick-sliced baked potatoes: crispy-skinned birds basted in pan juices, served with toasted bread for dipping.

Htipiti, a Macedonian beaten feta spread with roasted peppers, oregano, olive oil, and lemon juice. A tangy, creamy Greek-style dip that gets sharper the longer you beat it.

Polvo frito is a classic Portuguese dish of tender precooked octopus dipped in a parsley-flecked egg batter and shallow-fried in olive oil until golden. Simple, briny, and crisp at the edges.

Thick, creamy tzatziki sauce with strained yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. A cool, tangy Greek dip that works beautifully on wraps, tortillas, grilled meats, and pita.

Flank steak burritos layer juicy poached-then-julienned steak with red onion, jalapeño, tomatoes, and olives, rolled in flour tortillas and served with avocado dip. A party-ready Mexican classic.

Roasted eggplant and yogurt spread, garlic-studded and perfumed with thyme and oregano, blended creamy with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. A tangy, herby Mediterranean dip for pita, crackers, or toasted bread.