Whipped feta dip with spicy honey Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Make Ahead

by: Anna Chwistek | Serving Dumplings

December8,2020

4.6

15 Ratings

  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Cook time 10 minutes
  • Serves 4

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

A whipped feta dip with spicy honey. Whether you’re looking for something special to serve with a drink or a starter, everyone will love this one. It’s fast, and super simple. The salty feta is whipped into a creamy, fluffy dip. The honey is swirled with chili flakes and garlic. Serve a big bowlful next to crispy pita bread, crackers or a platter of raw veggies for a funky appetizer.

Dips shouldn’t be complicated and this one surely isn’t. It’s nothing but feta, ricotta and sour cream blended together in a food processor, but what comes out of this combination is something truly special. Surprising and interesting enough to keep you coming back for another dip. The creamiest, dreamiest dip you’ve ever imagined. It’s drizzled with spicy honey and sprinkled with za’atar.
Any leftovers can be used as a sandwich spread or as a salad dressing. —Anna Chwistek | Serving Dumplings

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • whipped feta
  • 200 grams(7 oz) feta
  • 100 grams(3.5 oz) ricotta
  • 50 grams(1.7 oz) sour cream
  • salt and black pepper
  • pita chips, raw veggies, for serving
  • 1 teaspooneach: za'atar, sesame seeds, for serving
  • spicy honey
  • 5 tablespoonshoney
  • 1 tablespoonolive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tablespoonslemon juice
  • 1 teaspooncrushed red chili flakes, more for serving
  • salt and black pepper
Directions
  1. Feta, ricotta and sour cream should be at room temperature.Add feta, ricotta and sour cream to a food processor. Season with salt and pepper. Blend on high until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Taste, add salt and pepper if needed.
  2. In a saucepan, heat olive oil. Add garlic, sauté on very low heat until soft. Turn off the heat. Stir in honey, lemon juice and chili flakes. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Serve the whipped feta drizzled with spicy honey. Top with chives, za’atar, sesame seeds, some extra freshly ground black pepper and chili flakes. Enjoy with pita chips, naan or a veggie platter.

Tags:

  • European
  • Cheese
  • Make Ahead
  • Serves a Crowd
  • Vegetarian
  • Gluten-Free
  • Appetizer
  • Snack

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Anna Chwistek | Serving Dumplings

  • NXL

  • dtoddy80

  • sophieshaw

Popular on Food52

9 Reviews

NXL December 7, 2023

Sadly, I was disappointed by this dish. I think that the addition of lemon juice to the honey made it watery. I would use just the zest next time.

dtoddy80 April 15, 2023

Everyone loved it. I served it with marinated olives and tomato jam.Yummy

sophieshaw February 11, 2023

I've made this without a food processor -- just crumbled the feta well and then mixed it in a bowl vigorously -- and it still came out delicious!

maxib June 30, 2022

I made this recently and it was universally loved. I made it the day before because of time and kitchen limitations and stored the feta dip separate from the honey. I let both come up to room temperature before putting it together and garnished the top with homemade dukkah. It was SO good. I totally agree with a previous comment about serving in a wide shallow dish so you can get even more honey on top. Thank you for a new favorite trick up my sleeve.

Dawnk16 May 30, 2022

I made this for a party and it was a big hit. I doubled it and put it in a pie plate so there was a large surface area for the honey. There's not much taste to the feta mixture, it's really just a vehicle for the spicy honey. The only thing I would do differently is to mince the garlic much smaller. I thought my pieces were too big so I ended up straining them out and that worked fine also.

Mariana R. February 24, 2021

So easy to make and a definite crowd pleaser.

Dawnk16 May 29, 2022

Did you refrigerate it before serving it? And then put the warm honey on it?

Anna C. May 29, 2022

Hi, it's best when served at room temperature. Enjoy the recipe!

MamaBeasley December 21, 2020

I made this recipe for a little work get together! It was the perfect appetizer and super easy to make.

Whipped feta dip with spicy honey Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is spicy feta made of? ›

Here is the step-by-step process: Place feta cheese, Greek yogurt, roasted red bell peppers, garlic, lemon, and smoked paprika in the food processor or blender. Blend on medium speed until the ingredients start to combine. Turn the food processor on low and pour the olive oil onto the mixture and mix until smooth.

Why is my whipped feta grainy? ›

Whipped feta dip may be grainy due to the anti-caking agents in crumbled feta or under-mixing the dip. Use a block of fresh feta cheese and whisk the ingredients together vigorously for a smooth texture.

What is the difference between feta and Greek feta? ›

French Feta is made with Lacaune sheep's milk (if you remember, that's the sheep breed used for Roquefort production). It has a softer and creamier texture that Greek Feta and a milder, less tangy flavor (though it's sharper than Israeli Feta).

What are the three types of feta? ›

When cooking with feta, it is imperative to understand the differences between Greek, Bulgarian and French. Henderson defines the three as such: “A definitive similarity of these cheeses lies in the ripening process by which blocks of cheese are held in a saltwater brine.

Can you thicken whipped feta? ›

The dip can be made up to 5 days in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. It will thicken up after refrigeration; whip in additional Greek yogurt to loosen if necessary.

Is feta cheese a healthy fat? ›

Contains beneficial fatty acids

Feta cheese contains good amounts of a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Animal studies suggest this fatty acid appears to improve body composition by reducing body fat and increasing lean mass. Cheese made from sheep's milk has higher levels of CLA.

What happens when you heat up feta cheese? ›

Cooking: Feta melts well, turning soft, not gooey, and maintains its flavor when heated.

Where is spiced feta from? ›

Tirokafteri, sometimes called htipiti, is a spicy, creamy, tangy, and super bold mezze from northern Greece. This spicy feta dip takes only 10 minutes and is made to share.

What is feta and what is it made of? ›

Feta (Greek: φέτα, féta) is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep's milk or from a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. It is soft, with small or no holes, a compact touch, few cuts, and no skin.

What is the difference between feta and Persian feta? ›

Although it isn't the saltiest, Greek feta packs the most intense flavour. Persian feta gains its popularity due to soft, creamy lush buttery taste! Traditionally, feta has been produced in some capacity since the twelfth century, and was eventually named after the Italian word fetta meaning “slice”.

What exactly is feta cheese? ›

Feta is a white cheese typically made from sheep's milk or a combination of sheep's and goat's milk. The goat's milk is responsible for the firmness of the cheese. The more goat's milk it has, the firmer it gets.

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