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Greek Spicy Feta Dip (Tirokafteri)

March 18, 2019 By justalittlebitofbacon 7 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Click here for details.

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Spicy feta dip (also known as tirokafteri), is an amazing Greek recipe which is creamy and spicy and tangy! It’s wonderful as part of a 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 delicious appetizer only takes a few minutes in a food processor to whip up.

Table set with a bowl of tirokafteri, spoon in the bowl, crudites and pita bread around.

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 recipe for you.

Greek Meze

A while back I was in the mood to work on some 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 the awesome sauce I made with them, and thought that is the way to go. Add some proper HOT peppers (jalapenos!) and more feta and that would be it!

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’m happy to put it out at any party or just whip some up at a moment’s notice for dinner!

Top view of a crudites platter with spicy feta dip in a bowl.

How to make this

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 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

  1. Use whole milk Greek yogurt – while you can use fat free, you will not get the same creamy result
  2. Opt for higher quality feta – The cheese provides a lot of the flavor in the dip and a higher quality one will give the dip a great sharp and tangy flavor
  3. 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, like habaneros, it can be easy to overdo!)
  4. Use a little of the pepper pickling juice – the tang of the vinegar brightens up the flavor

Step by step on how to make the recipe.

How long does it keep?

You can make it up to 3 days ahead. Put the dip into a sealed container and store in the refrigerator.

One note – It will become much stiffer when chilled. If you prefer it to be softer, let it stand out on the counter for about an hour before serving.

What do you serve along side?

  • 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

A hand dipping a cucumber spear into the dip, more vegetables and bread nearby.

More Meze Recipes

I have a variety of great recipes in my Greek recipe category, but here are some of my favorite Mediterranean appetizers and quick bites.

  • Zahav’s Silky Smooth Israeli Hummus
  • Greek Orzo Salad with Feta and Peas
  • Greek Yogurt Marinated Chicken Wings
  • Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip
  • Baba Ghanoush

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.

You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.

– 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. | justalittlebitofbacon.com #greekrecipes #diprecipes #gamedayfood #partyfood #greek #feta #dip
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Greek Spicy Feta Dip (Tirokafteri)

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.
Prep Time5 mins
Total Time5 mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Greek
Keyword: feta dip, spicy feta dip
Servings: 8
Calories: 75kcal
Author: justalittlebitofbacon

Ingredients

  • 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

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to the bowl of a 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.

Notes

  • Paprika: I added a little paprika to the top 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 jar as flavor.
Bowls of dip surrounded by veggies and bread with text overlay - Feta Dip.
Bowl of dip with pita bread with text overlay - Spicy Feta Dip.

Related Posts:

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  • Roasted Red Pepper and Feta DipRoasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip
  • Grilled Skirt Steak GyrosGrilled Skirt Steak Gyros
  • Garlic Herb Goat Cheese SpreadGarlic Herb Goat Cheese Spread
  • Baba GhanoushBaba Ghanoush
  • Spring Radish and Snap Pea Greek SaladSpring Radish and Snap Pea Greek Salad
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Filed Under: 10 ingredients or less, 15 minutes or less, 5 ingredients or less, gluten free, greek recipes, mediterranean recipes, recipe, savory bites, vegetarian Tagged With: feta, garlic, peppers, yogurt

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Comments

  1. Traci says

    May 6, 2019 at 6:40 pm

    5 stars
    Hi, I love the spicy feta dip. How long can I have it in my refrigerator in a container?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      May 6, 2019 at 8:43 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed it! You can keep the dip refrigerated for up to 4 days.

      Reply
  2. Trish Bozeman says

    March 27, 2019 at 12:04 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  3. Marisa F. Stewart says

    March 25, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
  4. Charity says

    March 24, 2019 at 11:54 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  5. Gloria says

    March 22, 2019 at 4:03 pm

    5 stars
    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!!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      March 22, 2019 at 8:40 pm

      Thanks! It is awesome on burgers. 🙂

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Annemarie

Welcome to my kitchen! I’m a Italian-American girl who loves fresh foods, local ingredients, and all sorts of comfort foods. Here you will find Mediterranean flavors and recipes from a New England perspective.

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