By Luis and I sat on the porch after dinner. The evening was quiet. The desert sky went from pink to purple to dark. We held hands — briefly, the way we always hold hands, not dramatically but factually, the fact of two people who have been holding hands for thirty years and who hold because the holding is the marriage, not the ceremony. The porch. The sky. The hands. The enough.
That night on the porch, I wasn’t thinking about cooking — but before we sat down, I’d set out a bowl of this herb oil with a torn loaf, the way I do most evenings without really deciding to. It’s become the quiet gesture that signals the day is done: bread, oil, herbs, the two of us. Thirty years of dinners and it’s still the simplest things that feel most like home.
Herb Mix for Dipping Oil
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes | Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup good-quality extra-virgin olive oil (per serving plate)
- Crusty bread or baguette, for serving
Instructions
- Mix the herbs. Combine basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl or jar. Stir until evenly blended.
- Prepare the dipping plate. Pour about 1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil onto a shallow plate or wide bowl. Spoon 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of the herb mix into the center of the oil and let it bloom for 2 to 3 minutes before serving.
- Serve. Tear or slice crusty bread and arrange alongside the dipping plate. The oil will absorb the herb flavors as you eat — no stirring required.
- Store the herb mix. Transfer any unused herb mix to a small airtight jar. It keeps at room temperature for up to 3 months. Prepare fresh dipping plates as needed.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 125 | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Carbs: 1g | Fiber: 0g | Sodium: 75mg