Andy Montoya
Feta is a Greek cheese that is traditionally made from sheep's milk, though it is often cut with goat's milk. It is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to baked dishes and appetizers. Feta is a salty, tangy cheese with a crumbly texture, and it is often paired with vegetables, fruits, and other cheeses. Some common dishes that use feta include Greek salads, savory pies, and baked pasta. It can also be used as a topping for pizzas, tacos, and nachos, or as a filling for sandwiches and stuffed vegetables.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flavour | Salty, tangy, citrusy, lemony, sharp |
| Texture | Creamy, crumbly, grainy |
| Type | Greek, Bulgarian, French |
| Food pairings | Salads, soups, eggs, seafood, vegetables, fruits, bread, crackers, pasta, meat, pies |
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What You'll Learn
Salads
Feta is a crumbly, creamy, and briny Greek cheese that adds a salty, tangy, and creamy flavour to salads. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of salad combinations.
A traditional Greek salad consists of sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, green bell pepper, red onion, olives, and feta cheese. You can add a handful of mint leaves for a fresh finishing touch. Kalamata olives, which are commonly used in Greek cuisine, pair well with feta and crisp veggies. Cherry tomatoes are preferable to large tomatoes as they release less water into the salad. You can also seed the cucumber to avoid making the salad watery. Cut the ingredients into similar-sized pieces to ensure each bite is a tasty mix of veggies, olives, and cheese.
For a simple Greek salad recipe, arrange cucumber, green pepper, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, red onions, and olives on a large platter. Drizzle with a dressing made from olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, mustard, salt, and pepper, and gently toss. Sprinkle with oregano and top with mint leaves.
Feta also goes well with watermelon, as in a Watermelon Feta Salad. This salad can be served with sandwiches, wraps, and other cheeses for a picnic. It can also be paired with barbecue dishes like burgers, hot dogs, or grilled vegetable skewers. For a vegetarian option, serve it with vegetable kebabs, grilled portobello mushrooms, or a quinoa-stuffed bell pepper. It can also be accompanied by a side of couscous salad, quinoa salad, or a grain-based dish for a more filling meal.
Feta can be used in a variety of salad combinations, such as a spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts, or a lentil salad with apples. It can also be added to a Mediterranean lentil salad with chopped veggies and a light dressing, or a chickpea, beet, and feta salad with a lemon-garlic dressing.
For a quick Greek-inspired salad, combine tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta with arugula. Serve with whole-wheat pita and hummus for a filling and healthy lunch. Another option is a pasta salad with pesto and feta, or a simple summer side salad with hummus, cucumber, crispy pita chips, and fresh tomatoes.
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Appetizers
Feta is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of appetisers. Here are some ideas for appetisers featuring feta cheese:
Marinated Feta Appetiser
Marinate feta cheese in olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, and sun-dried tomatoes. Serve this with crackers or crusty bread. This is a simple and delicious appetiser that allows the feta to shine.
Feta and Vegetable Appetisers
Feta pairs well with a variety of vegetables, including spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant, and artichokes. Here are some appetiser ideas featuring feta and vegetables:
- Feta and Spinach Puffs: Bake puff pastry cups filled with a mixture of sautéed onion, garlic, spinach, cream cheese, and feta.
- Feta Walnut-Stuffed Mushrooms: An alternative option is to stuff mushrooms with a mixture of feta, walnuts, and herbs.
- Baked Feta and Vegetables: Bake feta with vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, or artichokes. Drizzle with olive oil for extra flavour.
Savoury Pies
Feta is commonly used in Greek savoury pies, such as spanakopita (spinach pie), tyropita (cheese pie), and hortopita (wild greens pie). These pies can be served as appetisers or as part of a larger meal.
Salads
Feta is a popular addition to salads, providing a salty, tangy flavour. Here are some salad appetiser ideas featuring feta:
- Beetroot and Feta Salad: This classic pairing combines salty feta with earthy beetroot, oak lettuce, and grapefruit.
- Portobello Mushroom Salad: This salad features smoky portobello mushrooms, micro greens, crunchy pistachios, and a lemon parsley vinaigrette.
- Watermelon Feta Salad: A refreshing and unexpected combination of flavours.
Other Appetiser Ideas
- Savoury Muffins: Bake savoury muffins with vegetables and feta cheese, then drizzle with honey.
- Feta and Strawberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich: A sweet and savoury combination of feta and strawberries grilled between two slices of bread.
- Greek-Style Nachos: Sprinkle feta on nacho chips along with sliced black olives and heat until the cheese softens.
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Baked dishes
Feta is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of baked dishes. Here are some ideas for baked dishes that use feta:
Baked Feta Pasta
This dish became famous on TikTok and for a good reason. It combines feta with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients like lemon and parsley, resulting in a flavourful and simple meal. You can also add your favourite ingredients, such as hard-boiled eggs or canned salmon, to make it a heartier dish.
Baked Feta Soup
Another option is to bake feta and use it as a base for a soup. This can be a great way to add flavour and creaminess to a soup while still keeping it light and healthy.
Baked Feta Eggs
For a tasty breakfast or brunch option, you can bake feta with eggs. This could be in the form of a frittata or a shakshuka-style dish, where the feta is baked with eggs, vegetables, and spices.
Savoury Bakes
Feta is a common ingredient in Greek savoury pies, such as spanakopita (spinach pie), tyropita (cheese pie), hortopita (wild greens pie), and prassopita (leek pie). You can also make savoury muffins with feta and various vegetables, drizzling them with honey after baking.
Baked Feta Bites
These bite-sized treats are perfect as appetizers or snacks. You can bake feta cubes or crumbles with various herbs and spices, such as oregano, thyme, or red pepper flakes, to create flavourful, crispy bites.
Baked Dips
Feta can be baked with other ingredients to create delicious dips. For example, you can bake feta with onion, garlic, spinach, and cream cheese, and serve it warm with pita chips or crudités.
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Savory pies
Feta is a popular cheese in Greek cuisine and is used in many of their savoury pies. The most famous Greek pie is the spanakopita (spinach pie), but the tyropita (cheese pie) is a close second. The cheese pie is made with thin filo pastry and a filling of feta, eggs, milk, yoghurt and olive oil.
Feta is a versatile cheese that can be used in many savoury pie recipes. For instance, a crustless cheese pie can be made with feta, Greek yoghurt, sesame seeds and olive oil. The pie has a soft, custardy texture, with the sesame seeds adding a slight crunch.
Feta is also used in the Greek Tiropita, a savoury pie made with layers of buttery phyllo pastry and a rich, salty cheese filling. The classic combination is feta and ricotta, with the feta providing saltiness and the ricotta providing creaminess. However, other cheeses can be added, such as Parmesan, mozzarella or goat cheese.
Feta is also added to meat pies, such as the Greek Savory Feta Pies, which are made with pastry circles filled with feta cheese and a seasoned ground beef mixture. The feta gives the pies a gourmet flavour.
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Sandwiches
Feta is a versatile cheese that can be used in sandwiches in many ways and combined with several other cheeses.
Greek Feta Grilled Cheese Sandwich
A Greek feta grilled cheese sandwich combines the traditional Greek salad with feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, and olives. To make this sandwich, layer feta cheese, tomato slices, onions, and olives on a slice of bread. You can also add oregano and bell peppers. Top it with another slice of bread and grill it in a pan with butter or olive oil until both sides are golden brown.
Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This sandwich combines feta cheese with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. The feta and cheddar cheeses melt together, creating a gooey texture. To make this sandwich, layer spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese on a slice of bread. Top it with another slice of bread and grill it in a pan with butter until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melty. You can also add oregano, chili flakes, and a drizzle of honey to enhance the flavor.
Middle Eastern-Style Grilled Feta Cheese Sandwich
This sandwich is filled with fresh spinach, sweet pomegranate, dates, mint, and a crispy za'atar spice mix. It is coated in olive oil and grilled until golden and crispy. To make this sandwich, spread spinach, mint, pomegranate, and dates on one slice of bread. On the other slice, add crumbled feta cheese and provolone cheese. Press the slices together and drizzle olive oil and za'atar on top. Grill the sandwich in a pan until golden and crispy.
Feta and Strawberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich
A unique combination of feta cheese and strawberries, this sandwich can be grilled for a warm and tasty treat.
Other Combinations
Feta cheese can also be combined with mozzarella, Havarti, Gouda, Monterey Jack, or Muenster cheese in sandwiches. Feta can be used as a substitute for Queso Fresco in Mexican or Spanish recipes, such as tacos, scrambled eggs, and Mexican-inspired salads. It also pairs well with vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, and olives, and can be used in a variety of salads, appetizers, and baked dishes.
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Frequently asked questions
Feta is a versatile cheese that can be paired with other cheeses such as cheddar, jack, or queso fresco. Feta can also be used as a substitute for queso fresco in Mexican or Spanish recipes.
Feta can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads, appetizers, baked dishes, and savoury pies. It can be crumbled or melted into recipes or used as a topping.
Some popular dishes that use feta include Greek salads, spinach pie (spanakopita), cheese pie (tyropita), and baked feta pasta. Feta can also be added to pizzas, sandwiches, scrambled eggs, and soups.
Feta pairs well with a variety of ingredients, including vegetables like spinach, zucchini, artichokes, and olives, as well as fruits like watermelon and strawberries. Feta also goes well with herbs, nuts, and spices like dill, mint, and cayenne pepper.
Yes, there are a few different types of feta, including Greek feta, which is the most traditional and flavourful, Bulgarian feta, which is the saltiest, and French feta, which is milder and softer.
