Tuscany Bread Dipping Seasoning

Tuscany Bread Dipping Seasoning (pronounced "tuh-skuh-nee"), is also called bread dipping seasoning, bread dipping spices, or Tuscan bread dipping seasoning.
 

What is Bread Dipping Seasoning

Bread dipping seasoning is only one of three critical parts of creating the best bread dipping experience, with the other two being the choice of oil and bread. The best seasoning is one that’s heavy on garlic, has some salt and just a tiny bit of back of the throat heat. You do not want your bread dipping seasoning to overpower the oil or the bread.

Our bread dipping seasoning is inspired by the Tuscany region in Italy. This region is best known for its light cooking style and use of fresh local ingredients. This cuisine tends to be much healthier and less fatty than other Italian areas. This area has a reputation for wonderful fresh baked artisan bread, olive oils and of course wine.
 

History of Bread Dipping

There is a romantic notion that in Italy one might be served a bowl of olive oil and some bread to dip it in as you sit down at the table. For the most part that just does not happen. In Italy bread may not make an appearance at the table until the main course is served. Ann Reavis the author of the book Italian Food Rules tells us that the practice of dipping bread in olive oil, and maybe some balsamic vinegar and spices, is actually an American thing that started in the 1990s in San Francisco. Now there is some debate as to which restaurant did this first. One camp believes that it was the authentic Italian restaurant Il Fornaio while the second camp swears it was the seafood restaurant Farallon.

Now this does not mean that pairing bread and olive oil didn’t exist before 1990s San Francisco. Food historians tell of the Romans testing the quality of freshly pressed olive oil by smearing it on a piece of fire-toasted bread for tasting. This is now a common practice in all the major olive-oil producing regions of Italy. Historians also speculate that the oil-soaked bread was first rubbed with a clove of raw garlic as a way to enhance the flavors of the oil.
 

What Does Tuscany Bread Dipping Seasoning Taste Like

Upfront garlic, with an herbaceous background, and finishes with a final subtle splash of heat.
 

What Is the Best Olive Oil to Use for Bread Dipping

The key is choosing the right type of olive oil and making sure that it is fresh. When olive oil is fresh, it has a peppery, slightly grassy flavor and fruity aroma.

When choosing your olive oil, you'll want to look for the words "cold pressed" on the label. Cold pressing is when the olives have been crushed into olive paste without heat applied. Heat at the crushing stage alters the olive's delicate flavor and will cause flavor imperfections. Cold pressing is also considered the most hygienic because it is chemical free and does not expose the olive paste to air.

What surprises people is when they learn that color has little to do with the quality of an olive oil. Smell is a much better indicator. Olive Oil Sommeliers, who are trained experts at determining olive oil quality, look at three primary attributes when deciding quality measurement – fruitiness, pungency, and bitterness.
 

What Is the Best Bread to Use for Bread Dipping

The best bread for dipping is really a matter of preference. For choosing a dipping bread, look for something that is hearty enough to tear and soak up the olive oil and spices. Our top choice is a crusty ciabatta bread. Other types of bread that you can certainly consider - Focaccia, French bread, Italian bread, or Olive bread. And if you want to go a bit adventurous you could go with flatbread, naan or pita. There are no wrong choices here.

We like to let our bread sit in the oil for a minute or so to absorb more of this spectacular flavor.
 

How Do You Use Tuscany Bread Dipping Seasoning

To make a classic bread seasoning dip, mix 3 tablespoons Tuscany Bread Dipping Seasoning with 1/2 cup of your favorite olive oil. You can of course easily adjust this with more or less seasoning to suite your family's tastes. For best results mix it with oil and let the flavors marry for 20-30 minutes before serving.

We've also used this seasoning for a zesty vinegar and oil dressing for salads by simply adding 3 tablespoons of Tuscany Bread Dipping Seasoning with 2/3 cups olive oil and 1/3 cup red wine vinegar (we think that balsamic is a bit too overpowering to the seasoning blend in this particular case). This dressing can also be used as a quick, light marinade for chicken, fish or pork.

 

Hungry for More Information

Italian Spices
The World’s Healthiest Cuisines - Italy
Living the Mediterranean Diet
Deeper Into the Mediterranean Diet - Spain