Creamy Feta Dip.
I know what you’re thinking.
Boring title.
A bowl of white cheese.
Somewhat plain.
Kind of a snoozefest.
How crazy can this really be?
I was skeptical too. Trust me.
I didn’t make this recipe up. My cousin Lacy did. See… a restaurants in DC makes this stuff and calls it crazy feta. She was a huge fan. Then they started selling it at Whole Foods for an arm and a leg. And since she really likes her limbs, she checked out the ingredients and decided to try and make it herself. Best decision ever.
She first told me about it on one of our walks about a week before we headed to the beach. It sounded good. It didn’t knock my socks off, but I kept it in mind. I don’t love jalapenos, lemon or feta, let alone love it together. Then she talked about it more at the beach. And each time I got a little more intrigued.
By Sunday, it was the only thing on my mind. Monday morning I rushed to the grocery store to buy bricked feta, jalapenos and lemons. Because that is exactly where my priorities lie after a week away. Don’t even act like yours lie somewhere else.
I don’t even know where to start.
This is quite possible one of the best things I have ever tasted. The flavors – tangy feta, spicy jalapenos, bright lemon, caramely garlic – combine to create this delicious explosion of something or other in your mouth. It’s perfect. It has a little bite. It’s madly addicting. It’s fabulous on pita chips. Even better on warm bread. Can you even picture it? Fluffy, warm pita spread with crazy feta.
If that doesn’t sell you, I don’t know what will. You gotta promise me you’ll try this. Pleeeeeeeeease.
Creamy Feta Dip with Jalapenos
Ingredients
- 2 bricks of feta cheese, (8 ounces) each
- 3 whole jalapeno peppers
- 1/4 cup olive oil + 1 tablespoon
- 1 bulb garlic
- the juice of half a lemon
- the zest of half a lemon
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Chop the top off the garlic bulb and drizzle it with a teaspoon of olive oil. Wrap it in foil and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until garlic is golden in color. At the same time, brush the jalapenos with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Either grill or roast them – I stuck them in the oven with garlic and just watched until they were charred. Remove both from oven and let cool. Once jalapenos are cooled, remove skins, cut in half and discard the seeds. Chop into small pieces. Don’t touch your eyes!
- In a large bowl, crumble the feta bricks. [Crumbling the bricks yourself works best, but if you can only find crumbled feta that is fine.] Add chopped jalapenos, the zest of half a lemon, and the juice of half a lemon. Squeeze the roasted garlic out of the bulb directly into the feta. Add 1/4 cup of olive oil and mash with a fork. You want the feta to be a bit “wet” – I can best describe it as a cross between a spread and a dip. There is no right or wrong – make it however you’d like. Taste the feta and season with salt and pepper. Serve with pita chips, warm pita or naan, or spread it on sandwiches. Store it in the fridge for up to one week – I find that I like it best at room temperature, so allow it to sit out for about 30 minutes before serving. We also think it would be great with some kalamata olives.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
This is definitely my new party appetizer. Now you just need to invite me.
300 Comments on “Creamy Feta Dip.”
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How many servings does this recipe make? It looks delish!
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Ahhh… Cava.
Bless you and your sister for figuring out the recipe. Now to crack their harissa.
This one isn’t perfect but is close to the harissa. https://abusymomskitchen.com/2015/06/25/cava-style-harissa/
I am SO excited I found this recipe on your site. I love your blog. I cannot wait to try it out. I am making copycat CAVA bowls for dinner and the only thing missing was the “Crazy Feta”! Thank you!!!
OMG! I am so excited! I went to CAVA for the first time today and fell in love with the Crazy Feta…its all I have been able to think about since I left the restaurant! I decided I had to have more and took a chance that I would find someone like me who posted it on line…thank you XOXO will be making this as soon as I get home from the grocery store!
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Definitely enjoyed this recipe but didn’t taste like the one from CAVA in my opinion. A bit too much lemon for my taste.
Whipped Feta Cheese/ Extra-Virgin Olive Oil / Jalapeño Peppers / Onions / there is no lemon in CAVAs recipe.
Tastes just like Cava!
Does this do well if it is made ahead and frozen?
BEST. THING. EVER.
The lemon is very overwhelming. I’ll definitely make again but with less lemon. Also, I used jalapeño-infused olive oil for pouring over the feta and an extra jalapeño since I love spicy.
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So good! The closest recipe I’ve found to Cava’s crazy feta dip
Agree with the other comments – this is way too much lemon. I used two jalapenos because mine were quite large, but I can barely taste any spice. I wound up adding a few shakes of cayenne. Definitely use three, or even four if they’re not particularly big, peppers.
Omg! Can’t wait to try this Recipe! I love Feta cheese and often thought about a dip made with it. Lo and behold, it comes and bites me in the face! Thanks for posting! I’m counting on it being delish!!
Jessica! I have been making this dip since 2011 and it’s still one of my favorites!! I was looking for it on your site and I could have sworn it was called “crazy feta”. I think maybe you changed the name but I’m so glad I finally found it and made it again today. It was one of your first recipes I tried and I just wanted to let you know how much I still love it. Thanks again for this wonderful creation.