Andy Montoya
Feta cheese has long been regarded as a salad cheese, but its versatility has made it a popular choice for cooks to experiment with. Feta has a fresh, lemony tang and a brine-infused saltiness that makes it a perfect pairing for sweeter tomato sauces and traditional pizza seasonings like garlic, basil, and oregano. Its crumbly yet moist texture adds a unique bite to pizzas, and it is lower in calories and saturated fat than many other cheeses, making it a healthier option. Feta is a staple in Greek cuisine and is commonly used in Greek pizzas, paired with ingredients like spinach, olives, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. It is also used in dessert pizzas, providing a sweet-salty dynamic that complements toppings like cream cheese, blueberries, and strawberries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | Sweet-salty dynamic, tangy, bold, lemony tang, brine-infused saltiness |
| Texture | Crumbly yet moist, does not melt |
| Nutrition | Lower in calories and saturated fat than many cheeses |
| Common Toppings | Spinach, red onions, garlic, olives, oregano, cherry tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, sugar cookie dough, cream cheese, blueberries, strawberries |
| Common Types | Reduced-fat, fat-free, basil & tomato, garlic & herb, peppercorn, Mediterranean |
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What You'll Learn
- Feta cheese's tangy, salty taste complements the sweetness of pizza toppings such as onions, cherry tomatoes, and blueberries
- Feta is lower in calories and saturated fat than many cheeses, making it a popular choice for health-conscious diners
- Feta doesn't melt, so it's often paired with mozzarella to achieve a classic, creamy pizza texture
- Feta is a good choice for dessert pizzas, as its salty flavour combines well with sweeter toppings
- Greek pizza with feta is inspired by Greek salad, featuring toppings like spinach, olives, and oregano
Feta cheese's tangy, salty taste complements the sweetness of pizza toppings such as onions, cherry tomatoes, and blueberries
Feta cheese has a unique tangy, salty taste that can complement the sweetness of other ingredients. This dynamic makes feta an excellent pairing with fruits or vegetables that have a natural sweetness, such as onions, cherry tomatoes, and blueberries.
The salty and tangy feta cheese can balance the sweetness of onions, enhancing the flavour of both ingredients. Onions are a versatile ingredient that can be used in various forms, from raw to cooked, and they add not only flavour but also texture and colour to a dish.
Cherry tomatoes, with their natural sweetness and juicy burst of flavour, pair exceptionally well with feta cheese. When baked together, the tomatoes release their sweetness, balancing the salty feta, and creating a creamy, flavourful combination. This dynamic is evident in dishes like baked feta with cherry tomatoes, where the two ingredients create a harmonious blend.
Blueberries, known for their sweetness and juicy freshness, also pair surprisingly well with feta cheese. In a blueberry feta salad, the salty and tangy feta complement the blueberries, creating a dynamic flavour profile that is both sweet and savoury. The addition of other ingredients, such as almonds and a lemon poppy seed vinaigrette dressing, further enhances the overall taste experience.
The combination of feta cheese with sweet toppings like onions, cherry tomatoes, and blueberries, offers a delightful interplay of flavours that can elevate a pizza or any other dish. The salty and tangy notes of feta provide a pleasing contrast to the sweetness of these toppings, making for a delicious and dynamic culinary experience.
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Feta is lower in calories and saturated fat than many cheeses, making it a popular choice for health-conscious diners
Feta cheese is a popular choice for health-conscious pizza lovers due to its relatively low calorie and saturated fat content compared to other cheeses. Feta is a Greek curd cheese made from sheep's milk or a mixture of sheep and goat's milk, known for its tangy, bold flavour and crumbly yet moist texture.
While feta is lower in fat and calories than some other cheeses, it is still a cheese and therefore not necessarily a low-calorie or low-fat food. However, its unique flavour and texture make it a popular choice for those looking for a healthier option without sacrificing taste.
Feta cheese pairs well with traditional pizza seasonings such as garlic, basil, and oregano, and its brine-infused saltiness balances out sweeter tomato sauces. It can be used as the primary cheese on a pizza or as a complement to stretchy mozzarella, adding a new texture to the bite.
In addition to its health benefits, feta cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of pizza recipes. It is a key component in Greek-inspired pizzas, pairing well with ingredients such as spinach, red onions, olives, and cherry tomatoes. Feta also works well with dessert pizzas, where its sweet-salty dynamic makes it a prime choice for pairing with sugar cookie dough, cream cheese, and fruit toppings.
Overall, feta cheese is a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional pizza cheeses, offering a unique flavour and texture that can elevate a simple pizza into something innovative and special.
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Feta doesn't melt, so it's often paired with mozzarella to achieve a classic, creamy pizza texture
Feta cheese has a unique texture and flavour profile that sets it apart from other cheeses commonly used on pizzas. While it adds a tangy, bold flavour to pizzas, it does not melt in the same way as other cheeses. This is why it is often paired with mozzarella, a classic pizza cheese known for its stretchiness and creamy texture.
Mozzarella melts beautifully, providing the familiar, comforting texture that many people associate with pizza. By combining feta with mozzarella, pizza chefs can benefit from the best of both worlds. The feta adds a distinctive salty, tangy flavour, while the mozzarella provides the classic, creamy texture that pizza lovers know and adore.
Feta's inability to melt is due to its composition. It is traditionally made from sheep's milk or a combination of sheep's and goat's milk, resulting in a crumbly yet moist texture. This composition gives feta its distinctive flavour and texture, making it a popular choice for those seeking a unique twist on traditional pizza.
When used together, feta and mozzarella create a dynamic duo that enhances the overall taste and mouthfeel of the pizza. The creamy mozzarella provides a smooth base, while the crumbly feta adds pockets of salty, tangy flavour. This combination creates a multi-dimensional sensory experience that has garnered a dedicated following.
In addition to its flavour and texture, feta cheese is also lower in calories and saturated fat compared to many other cheeses. This makes it an appealing option for health-conscious consumers who want to indulge in a delicious pizza while maintaining their dietary preferences. By pairing feta with mozzarella, pizza enthusiasts can enjoy a classic pizza experience with a novel twist, satisfying both their taste buds and their nutritional considerations.
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Feta is a good choice for dessert pizzas, as its salty flavour combines well with sweeter toppings
Feta cheese has long been regarded as a salad cheese, best served among crisp vegetables. However, its versatility has led to its increasing popularity in other dishes, including pizza.
Feta is a good choice for dessert pizzas due to its salty flavour, which combines well with sweeter toppings. For instance, a sugar cookie dough crust topped with cream cheese, feta, blueberries, and strawberries creates an enticing sweet-salty treat. The saltiness of feta also pairs well with sweeter tomato sauces and traditional seasonings like garlic, basil, and oregano.
Feta's unique texture and fresh, tangy taste bring a different dynamic to pizzas. Its crumbly yet moist consistency, along with its brine-infused saltiness, adds a new dimension to the bite. This salty characteristic of feta is especially complementary to sweeter ingredients, making it an innovative choice for dessert pizzas.
When used as a primary cheese or in combination with stretchy mozzarella, feta lends a distinctive twist to traditional pizzas. Its ability to enhance the flavours of accompanying toppings makes it a versatile and intriguing ingredient.
Feta is also lower in calories and saturated fat compared to many other cheeses, making it a preferred option for health-conscious individuals without compromising on taste. Its salty-sweet interplay makes feta a unique and delectable choice for those seeking creative dessert pizzas.
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Greek pizza with feta is inspired by Greek salad, featuring toppings like spinach, olives, and oregano
Feta cheese has long been regarded as a salad cheese, but its versatility has made it a popular choice for pizza toppings. Its fresh, lemony tang and brine-infused saltiness bring the perfect balance to sweeter tomato sauces, and it pairs well with conventional seasonings such as garlic, basil and oregano. Its unique melt and consistency compared to other cheeses like mozzarella also add a new texture to the bite.
A Greek pizza with feta is a creative way to enjoy the flavours of a Greek salad. It is a vegetarian pizza loaded with toppings inspired by Greek salad ingredients. The pizza typically starts with a store-bought fresh pizza dough that gets proofed and topped with feta, cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, red onion, and olives. The tomatoes are gently cooked down on the stove before layering onto the pie, creating a rustic sauce for binding. Spinach is added for freshness, and feta, red onion, and olives are added for a zingy bite.
For a more elaborate version, you can add extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, wilted spinach leaves, and marinated artichoke hearts. You can also use Kalamata olives for their strong, fruity flavour and meaty texture. To prepare the dough, stretch it gently into a rectangular shape, then top with mozzarella, roasted veggies, olives, and oregano. Spray with extra virgin olive oil and bake in the oven until golden and crusty.
For an extra-fancy touch, you can add diced fresh cucumber, banana peppers, and oregano right before serving. The Greek pizza with feta is a delicious and creative way to enjoy the flavours of a Greek salad, offering a unique blend of crisp vegetables and savoury Mediterranean flavours.
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Frequently asked questions
Feta cheese is a popular choice for pizza due to its tangy, salty flavour and crumbly yet moist texture. It is also lower in fat and calories than other cheeses.
Feta is commonly used on Greek-style pizzas, which also feature ingredients such as spinach, olives, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and oregano.
Feta doesn't melt, so it is often paired with mozzarella, which provides a creamy texture and a more classic "pizza" flavour.
One recipe for a Greek-style pizza involves roasting vegetables (tomatoes, onions, and peppers) with olive oil, salt, and oregano, before baking them on a pizza base with feta and mozzarella. Another recipe for a spinach and feta white pizza involves sautéing spinach, onions, and garlic, before baking them on a pizza base with feta and mozzarella.
Feta is a versatile cheese that can add a tangy, salty flavour to both savoury and dessert pizzas. It is also lower in fat and calories than other cheeses, making it a popular choice for health-conscious consumers.
