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.
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I appreciate you so much!
This is definitely my new party appetizer. Now you just need to invite me.
301 Comments on “Creamy Feta Dip.”
I’d love the crazy feta! This plus some pita could be a meal for me.
Want! Jalapenos can be a bit tricky to find in the UK but I bet it would be worth the effort to make this.
OMG I have been obsessed with feta lately! If I can keep it away from my fiance and in the house long enough I am so making this!!
Whoa. This looks crazy good, and yes, I do trust you. I am having a Mediterranean themed dinner party next Friday and this will be on the appetizer table. It’s only right to invite you since you introduced me to what I imagine will be my favorite party guest. Can you make it to Queens next Friday?
Now if I only ate cheese. Because I have about 4 jalapenos sitting in my fridge leftover from when I made salsa. I could ship them to you.
You are so invited! I LOVE feta, but like it enough plain, so I can imagine how amazing this is!
You have a open invitation to my parties, Jessica! :-)
This looks like the perfect party appetizer! I am SO making this today!
Have you ever tried baked feta? If not, I need to share my recipe with you…it is to die for, too!
No, I never have! Please share the recipe. :)
Baked feta? Oooooo yum. Please share this recipe you speak of…….
I am ALL.OVER.THIS!!! Love feta, especially kicked up a notch!
i want this. like immediately!
Check out my car cake–I bet your hubby will want one!
It looks amazing!!
I bet that is crazy good and I am not even a feta “lover”. Now, give me some pimento cheese dip with red peppers in it, or spinach and artichoke dip, and I am in heaven. But I totally take your word for it that your feta dip rocks…and parties, yes, they’re my middle name. You’re invited!
That was NOT what I was thinking at all! I love feta– so zesty!
You continue to amaze me with your creative recipes. Marry me!
Wow, this sounds like it might just give hummus some competition (and I’m a hummus addict!!!) Any excuse for me to use roasted garlic and I’m in!
Yum! Now all I have to do is buy some feta!! We have everything else!
Noooo, its not boring and definitely not plain. I make something similar with cottage cheese all the time. Pita bread, tortillas, and even plain old toasted bread goes wonderfully well with it. I am also guessing it would be a nutritional snack for serving with drinks.
I really believe the recipes that combine the simplest flavors are always the best! I <3 feta and I love the idea of adding a little spice to it
This sounds amazing! I love jalapenos and feta. So summery!
I must try this restaurant of which you speak. I must also try crazy feta. Feta makes it betta! (couldn’t resist)
Promised! Pinky Swear!
Mmmmm…this looks so yummy! I love Crazy Feta! <3
I wonder if this would be good with goat cheese instead of feta? What do you think?
I’m sure it would be good, but I don’t think it would taste nearly the same. Mostly because feta and goat have different tastes – also it would be much more like a “spread” with the goat cheese. But it’s always worth a shot. Let me know if you try it!
Hmmm maybe I will do both and have a side by side comparrison. One can next eat enough cheese right?! PS- Love your website, read it every day but this is my first comment :)
I sampled this at Whole Foods and looooved it. Thank you for the recipe, because I was not about to buy the teeny tiny tub for $10. I can’t wait to make it!!
My Greek mother in law is staying with us in July. Could there be a better appetizer??
Crazy feta is not boring at all girl! Looks fabulous & unstoppable once you dig in :)
I Love Feta! I need to try this ASAP!
Dips are dangerous!! I would have to bring this to a party or get-together, otherwise I’d probably eat the whole bowl in one sitting. Can’t wait to try this! :)
YUM feta is soooo good! Bacon crumbles need to find their way in there, however :)
Feta makes everything betta. OK, bad joke. But seriously, I LOVE feta. Adding lemon, roasted garlic and jalapenos would NOT suck.
seriously can’t wait to make this. 4th of july picnic?? perfect!
I promise I’ll be making this real soon! It would be a great spread in a wrap stuffed with cukes, tomatoes & black olives. I’m thinking a trip to the grocery store might be in order tonight after work :-)
I want that wrap for lunch!
I think this is definitely a dish that is worthy of planning a party just so that it can be served to friends…especially if I learned how to make pitas! Can’t wait to try it!
This + homemade pitas = perfection.
That looks tasty! I love that you made it spicy by adding the jalepenos.
Oh MAN oh MAN! Feta can NEVER be boring if you ask me! Being Greek, it’s literally at ALL of our family gatherings (I’ve been known to take a small block, plunk it into a small roll and chow down ;) ).
That bowl looks so amazingly yummy – I fully support that being your new party appetizer (as long as I’m invited! haha)
I am so jealous you’re Greek. I used to train a Greek woman who would bring me the MOST AMAZING FOOD EVER. Please come live with me.
I absolutely love feta! Can’t wait to try this crazy version. Oh, and you can bring this over to my house any time :)
We’re having friends over for dinner this weekend.. I think this may be our app.. delicious sounding!
Lucy is right – the crazy feta at Cava (along with everything else there) is absolutely amazing. I can eat that stuff with a spoon. I like it so much, that I am one of those suckers that buys it from
Whole Foods. This homemade version looks even better!
Who WOULDN’T invite you to their party if you’re making food like that!!
This is so unique! I love feta and I actually just had it in my eggs today…and posted it! Haha! :-)
We are always on the same page. ;)
I make a similar dip… I love how you roasted the mix-in’s!! Looks delicious :)
I would totally love me some crazy feta!
oh my gosh, this sounds AMAZING. Like, I need to make it right this second. I live for feta!!!
I’m infatuated with feta cheese. This looks delicious. I’ve always wondered how a baked feta would turn out. Gona have to try that soon.
Oh wow. The way you describe this makes me wish it were in front of my already.
another bookmarked recipe! I LOVE feta! I wonder if this would be good on pizza?
I think it would; I also think it would be amazing on a burger!
Oh my god. I’m jumping on this recipe as soon as possible. Bookmarking NOW. You’re a crazy genius. I’m qualified to say this, because I take cheese very seriously.
Cheese is a very serious thing.
I LOVE FETA! I am even making a pasta dish tonight for dinner that has loads of feta in it. I love it! And eating it by the spoonful, or chipful sounds perfect to me!
Girl you had me at feta! <3 I love random restaurant inspired dishes — especially when they are oh-so cheap to make at home and sometimes even fresher than the original! <3 ahhh I want this in my face!
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons
Feta with these additions can’t be anything but good. I’m all over it on the warm bread!
I LOVE FETA!!!