The dip of all dips. Bold claim, but one this roasted garlic and olive dip earns entirely.
The base is a blend of sour cream and Greek yogurt — light and tangy, with just enough body to carry everything that comes after it. What sets it apart is the deeply-caramelised depth of roasted garlic, which folds into the dip with a quiet, lingering complexity that’s impossible to put your finger on but impossible to stop reaching for.
It’s very good on its own. It’s even better crowned with a toasted olive and pistachio crumble — the crunch and saltiness cutting through the creaminess in exactly the way you’d want.
This is a dip I make often for friends, the kind that disappears before anything else on the table does. Most recently, it made an appearance at my Sip & Script — my monthly-themed gathering for April — and as always, it needed no introduction.
Serve it with warm flatbread, crudités, or honestly, a spoon.
How To Make The Roasted Garlic & Olive Dip
It’s fairly simple.
Roast the garlic:
You could roast the garlic in the oven or on the stove-top.
- On the stove: In a small pot, heat oil and add peeled garlic cloves (with just enough oil to cover them). Let the garlic cook slowly until it turns soft and golden-brown. Strain and set aside — save that infused oil for later!
- In the oven: You could also roast the garlic in an oven – slice off the tip. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pop it in a pre-heated oven at 180C until caramelized and golden.
Make the olive topping:
In a pan, heat a splash of olive oil (or the garlic oil from earlier). Add diced olives, peppers, and scallions, seasoning with oregano and chilli flakes. Once fragrant, stir in chopped coriander, toasted almonds, and pistachios. Mix until everything’s lightly golden and aromatic. Set aside.
Make the base dip:
Mash the roasted garlic until smooth and creamy. Add to a bowl with sour cream, yogurt, and a spoonful of mayo or cream cheese for extra richness. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in your choice of add-ins — think scallions, parsley, or diced jalapeños. Measure with your soul!
Assemble and serve:
Spoon the olive-nut mixture generously over the roasted garlic dip. Serve it with crackers, sourdough, or even veggie sticks for a festive appetiser that disappears fast.
Creamy, nutty, garlicky, and deeply satisfying — this dip is guaranteed to steal the spotlight. DIVE IN!
Roasted Garlic and Olive Dip
Ingredients
For the roasted garlic
- 1 head of garlic
- olive oil/ oil & salt (as required) (for roasting)
For the olive topping
- small splash olive oil
- ⅓-½ cup olives diced
- ¼-⅓ cup peppers diced
- ¼ cup scallions chopped
- oregano to taste
- chilli flakes to taste
- ¼ cup coriander chopped
- ⅓ cup toasted almonds diced
- ⅓ cup toasted pistachios diced
For the roasted garlic base dip
- roasted garlic cloves mashed until smooth and creamy
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 2-3 tbsp mayo or cream cheese optional, for extra creaminess
- salt & pepper to taste
- chopped scallions or parsley to taste
- 2-3 tbsp diced jalapeños optional, to taste
Instructions
Roast the garlic:
- Preheat oven to 180C. Slice the tip of a whole head of garlic. Drizzle olive oil and salt and pop it in the oven until the garlic is golden and caramelised. Once cooled down, squeeze out the garlic clove and use them as required below.
- Alternatively (if you don't wish to use an oven), heat a small pot with oil and add ¼-⅓ cup of peeled garlic cloves (the oil should just about cover the garlic). Let the garlic cook to a soft golden-brown perfection. Strain and set aside.
Prepare the olive topping:
- In a pan, heat a small splash of olive oil.
- Add diced olives, peppers, scallions, oregano, and chilli flakes. Stir until fragrant.
- Add coriander, toasted almonds, and pistachios. Mix until the olives turn lightly golden. Remove and set aside.
Make the roasted garlic dip:
- Mash roasted garlic until smooth and creamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine with sour cream, yogurt, and mayo or cream cheese (if using).
- Season with salt and pepper, then stir in scallions, parsley, and jalapeños.
- (Feel free to add any of your favourite mix-ins — go with your soul!)
Assemble:
- Spoon the roasted garlic dip into a serving bowl.
- Top generously with the olive mixture.
- Serve with bread, crackers, or pita — and DIVE IN!
Video
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