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This Mediterranean Dip is the easiest no-cook appetizer that tastes like a bright, briny trip to the coast, with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and parsley, black olives, parmesan, and good olive oil all stirred together in one bowl. I bring it to every summer get-together and it disappears before the main dish is even out. If you love easy dips, you have to try our creamy whipped feta dip too.
Just chop, stir, and serve, this Mediterranean dip comes together in 10 minutes with no cooking at all.
Mediterranean Dip Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 10 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 6 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 178kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Briny, herby, tangy, and savory
- ✋ Difficulty: Very easy, as simple as our 10-minute olive tapenade
Quick Answer
This Mediterranean dip is a no-cook mix of hydrated sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and parsley, chopped black olives, grated parmesan, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic. Everything is stirred together in one bowl, tasted for seasoning, and served with bread, toast, or crackers. The whole Mediterranean dip takes about 10 minutes to make.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- No cooking, no fuss. Everything is simply chopped and stirred together, so this Mediterranean dip is ready in 10 minutes flat.
- Sun-dried tomatoes add deep flavor. They bring a sweet, tangy, concentrated tomato flavor that anchors the whole dip.
- Fresh herbs keep it bright. Basil and parsley add a fresh, garden flavor that balances the briny olives and rich oil.
- It is endlessly versatile. Serve it as a dip, a crostini topping, a pasta toss, or a spread, this Mediterranean dip does it all.
- It gets better as it sits. Made ahead, the flavors meld and deepen, so it is perfect for entertaining.
- One bowl, no special equipment. There is nothing to blend or heat, just a knife, a cutting board, and a bowl, which makes cleanup as easy as the recipe itself.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It comes together in one bowl in just 10 minutes with zero cooking.
- Briny olives, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs make it incredibly flavorful.
- It is the perfect make-ahead party appetizer, right alongside our cucumber tomato feta salad.
Key Ingredients
Here is what goes into this Mediterranean dip. Each ingredient adds a layer of bright, savory flavor.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Hydrated and chopped, they bring sweet, tangy, concentrated tomato flavor.
- Fresh basil and parsley: Loads of chopped herbs keep the dip fresh and garden-bright.
- Black olives: Briny and savory, they give the dip its Mediterranean backbone.
- Parmesan cheese: Grated in for a salty, nutty richness.
- Olive oil and balsamic: They bring everything together with richness and a touch of tang.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This Mediterranean dip is easy to make your own. Try these swaps and add-ins.
- Add feta: Crumble in feta or stir in our whipped feta for an even creamier dip.
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or chopped pepperoncini.
- Add capers or artichokes: For even more briny, Mediterranean flavor.
- Turn it into a pasta: Toss the dip with warm pasta for a quick no-cook sauce.
- Swap the herbs: Use fresh oregano or mint in place of some of the parsley.
How to Make Mediterranean Dip
- Add the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, olives, parmesan, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and minced garlic to a large bowl.
- Stir everything together, taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve the Mediterranean dip in a bowl with bread, toast, or crackers.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Hydrate the sun-dried tomatoes if they are dry, soak them in warm water until soft, then chop, for the best texture.
- Use good olive oil, it is a main flavor here, so a quality extra-virgin oil really shines.
- Make it ahead, this Mediterranean dip tastes even better after the flavors meld for an hour or two.
- Chop everything finely so you get a little of each ingredient in every scoop.
- Serve it lots of ways with crostini, crackers, or alongside our caprese chicken wraps.
- Bring it to room temperature before serving so the olive oil is loose and the flavors are at their fullest.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This Mediterranean dip is endlessly versatile. Serve it as a classic dip with toasted baguette, pita chips, or crackers, or spoon it over crostini for an easy party appetizer. It is right at home on a mezze board next to our olive tapenade and whipped feta.
Beyond dipping, try it spooned over grilled chicken or fish, tossed with warm pasta, or piled onto a sandwich or wrap. The bright, briny flavor dresses up almost anything.
For a full Mediterranean spread, pair it with our marinated green bean salad and plenty of warm bread. Leftovers keep beautifully and only taste better the next day.
Mediterranean Dip FAQs
Yes, it is a great make-ahead appetizer. The flavors in this Mediterranean dip actually deepen as it sits, so make it a few hours or up to a day in advance and store it covered in the fridge.
Serve Mediterranean dip with toasted baguette, crostini, pita chips, crackers, or fresh-cut vegetables like cucumber and bell pepper. It is also delicious spooned over grilled chicken or fish, tossed with warm pasta as a quick no-cook sauce, piled onto a sandwich or wrap, or added to a mezze board with hummus and tapenade. It is one of those versatile recipes you will reach for again and again.
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this Mediterranean dip lasts 4 to 5 days. Give it a quick stir and bring it to room temperature before serving.
If your sun-dried tomatoes are oil-packed they are ready to use. Dry-packed ones should be soaked in warm water until soft, then chopped, so they are tender in the Mediterranean dip.
Yes. Stir in crumbled feta, whipped feta, or a few spoonfuls of cream cheese or Greek yogurt to turn this Mediterranean dip into a creamy spread.
It is made from whole, simple ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, olives, and heart-healthy olive oil, so this Mediterranean dip fits beautifully into a Mediterranean-style way of eating. Serve it with vegetables instead of bread to keep it light, or enjoy it as part of a balanced mezze spread.
Need more easy appetizers? Try our creamy whipped feta dip next for another crowd-pleasing party favorite.
Round out a Mediterranean spread with our roasted red pepper hummus.
Round out the grazing board with our whipped ricotta dip.
Make it a Mediterranean night with our greek chicken bowls as the main.
Our garlic butter Christmas tree pull apart bread is the festive dipper this spread deserves.
For another crowd pleasing starter, try our whipped Goat Cheese Bruschetta.
Scoop this dip alongside our chicken pitas for a full Mediterranean spread.
Add a bowl of my warm rosemary roasted cashews to the spread too.
My whipped cranberry dip is the sweet cousin made for fruit and graham crackers.
Add a warm, flaky bite to the spread with our goat cheese pinwheels.
Mediterranean Dip
Ingredients
- 1 cup hydrated chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/3 cup chopped black olives
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup Olive oil
- 1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, olives, parmesan, olive oil, balsamic, and garlic.1 cup hydrated, 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/3 cup chopped black olives, 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup Olive oil, 1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 clove garlic
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve in a plate or bowl and accompany it with bread, toast, and crackers.
Notes
- Use Good-Quality Ingredients: Fresh herbs and high-quality extra virgin olive oil make a big difference in flavor.
- Adjust to Taste: Feel free to tweak the amounts of garlic, vinegar, and herbs to suit your preferences.
- Serve at Room Temperature: Let the dip sit out for about 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to shine.
- Hydrate Sun-Dried Tomatoes Properly: Follow the package instructions to ensure they’re soft and blend well.
- Chop Ingredients Evenly: For the best texture, make sure all ingredients are chopped to a similar size.
- Presentation Matters: Garnish with a sprig of fresh parsley or basil to make it look extra appealing.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You are 100% correct
It sounds delicious!
However saying use good quality ingredients, is s little of putting. I am sure we would if we could however sometimes we have to make do with what we can get or what we can afford….