43 olive dip recipes

Layers of seasoned refried beans, cubed SPAM, chili beans, cheddar, and Monterey Jack baked until bubbly, then topped with sour cream and olives. This hot layered dip feeds a crowd with tortilla chips.

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.

Melitzanosalata, a Greek roasted eggplant dip with garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Smoky, tangy, and rustic, served cold with bread or grilled meats.

Traditional Portuguese snails simmered for two hours with oregano, bay leaf, garlic, and olive oil. Served warm in saucers with bread for dipping in the aromatic broth.

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.

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.

Garlic aioli dipping sauce made with egg yolks, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and fresh lemon juice. The classic Mediterranean condiment for fried squid, grilled fish, and crudités.

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.

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.

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.

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.