Spicy feta dip (also known as tirokafteri), is an amazing Greek dip which is creamy and spicy and tangy! It’s wonderful as part of a Greek or Mediterranean meze spread, along with favorites like hummus and baba ghanoush. Or you can make it as a sauce for grilled meats and vegetables! Best of all, this yummy cheese dip only takes a few minutes in a food processor to whip up.
Hello all!
Spring is on its way here, and with that comes Easter and Memorial Day and summer bbqs. All reasons to get together, party, and eat yummy food. Which means you need to step up your party food game and I have just the dip for you.
Spicy Feta Dip
A while back I was in the mood to work on some Greek meze recipes and one of my ideas to try was a spicy Greek dip. I figured it would be easy – get some feta, olive oil, banana peppers, and garlic. Whir it all together and done! Not so much. 🙁
While the dip had potential, it was WAY too salty and not nearly spicy enough. What to do? Well, I looked back at my grilled Greek burgers with their awesome feta yogurt sauce, and thought that is the way to go. Add some proper HOT peppers (jalapenos!) and more feta and that would be the dip!
It turns out that the perfect dip has equal amounts of feta and yogurt to provide the balance of creamy, tangy, and salty; one pickled jalapeno plus some of the pickling juice for spice and extra tang; and a little garlic and olive oil to round things out.
With this recipe I have a dip I’m happy to put out at any party or just whip up at a moment’s notice for dinner! 🙂
How do you make spicy feta dip?
To make spicy feta dip combine Greek yogurt, feta, garlic, olive oil, and hot peppers in a food processor. Puree until smooth and whipped. Serve topped with crumbled feta, chopped hot peppers, and olive oil.
I usually have a lot to say about how to make the recipe and all sorts details to share so you can make it the best, but this feta cheese dip is just that easy! Add to processor, process, DONE. You can eat it now or keep it for a few days in the fridge. How great is that?
Okay, I do have a few thoughts to share…
Tips and Tricks for Making Greek Feta Dip
- Use whole milk Greek yogurt – while you can use fat free, you will not get the same creamy result
- Opt for higher quality feta – feta provides a lot of the flavor in the dip and a higher quality feta will give the dip a great sharp and tangy flavor
- Jalapenos provide the right amount of heat – you can use a milder pepper but with all the dairy you will need a lot more to be able to taste the pepper at all and that throws off the balance of the dip (and with a hotter pepper, it can be easy to overdo!)
- Use a little of the pepper pickling juice – the tang of the vinegar brightens up the flavor
How long does spicy feta dip keep?
You can make this feta cheese dip up to 3 days ahead. Put the dip into a sealed container and store in the refrigerator.
One note – The dip will become much stiffer when chilled. If you prefer a softer dip, let it stand out on the counter for about an hour before serving.
What do you serve with spicy feta dip?
- Raw vegetables: such as cucumber spears, carrots, sliced bell peppers, and radishes
- Pita bread: brush the pita with a little olive oil and toast in a skillet for a few minutes on each side then cut into wedges
- Grilled meats and vegetables: the dip also makes a great sauce for grilled foods such as kebabs
- Other meze: such as hummus, crispy Greek meatballs, falafel, and more
More Greek Meze Recipes
I have a variety of great recipes in my Greek recipe category, but here are some of my favorite Greek appetizers and quick bites.
If you try my recipe for Greek Spicy Feta Dip, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.
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– Happy Eating, Annemarie
Hot and spicy feta dip is a tasty party appetizer which is also quick and easy to make! This whipped, creamy dip is a perfect addition to a crudites platter or as a spread for grilled meats. Have it as part of a Greek or Mediterranean meal.
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, whole milk or 2%
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 medium clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1-2 tbsp pickled jalapeno slices sliced
Add all ingredients to the bowl of food processor. Sprinkle in a few drops of the jalapeno pickling juice.
Blend until dip is smooth. Taste and add more pepper or pickling juice as needed.
Serve with crudites or pita bread. If you wish, top the dip with some crumbled feta, olive oil, or chopped pickled jalapenos.
- Paprika: I added a little paprika to the top of the dip for color. Just a pinch sprinkled over the bowl is enough.
- Jalapenos: I used pickled, sliced jalapenos since I wanted the hot pepper plus the vinegar in the peppers to flavor the dip.
Trish Bozeman says
Oh man we adore pickled jalapenos in our house! We mainly use them on tacos, but I am loving this feta dip with just a bit of the pickle brine. Can I just eat this with some veggies as a meal for lunch today? LOL! I’m bookmarking this for the next time I need a great appetizer!
Marisa F. Stewart says
Our entire family loves feta and this dip would be a huge success at any of our gatherings. This type of dip is fantastic with vegetables and with pita chips. I know that this wouldn’t last any longer than a few minutes with our family.Guess I’ll have to make a double batch.
Charity says
Wow this looks phenomenal! I’ve a huge fan of the salty, pungency of feta. Haven’t tried turning it into a dip yet, but I know it’s going to be my new favorite dish!
Gloria says
I could eat this by the spoonful. LOVE feta. This would be great on burgers and sandwiches too. You can’t get this stuff in the store. Maybe you should sell it!!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! It is awesome on burgers. 🙂