"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention."
Sometimes recipes come
along that seriously slap you upside the head with their
deliciousness. This beyond-simple Greek feta dip is just such a one.
I’m not kidding
when I say that it is the most amazing appetizer in the universe.
You’d better sit down, though, because not only is it killer in
the taste department but it only takes 8 1/2 minutes to put together
(less if you have mad chopping skills). Could there be better news?
Yummy and fast? I think not.
I’ve seen this
recipe floating around Pinterest
for years. And subsequently have spent hours in self-imposed time out
for not trying it out sooner. Do not be like me. The simple
combination of creamy feta, fresh tomatoes, a touch of spicy green
onions or chives, and flavorful Greek seasoning needs to be in your
life whether you know it or not.
Throw the heavenly
mixture on top of soft baguette slices and you can see my breakfast,
lunch and dinner dreams for the next month.
Speaking of feta, let’s
talk for a second. Having experienced both sides of the feta crumble,
if you will, there is no comparison between using precrumbled feta
and feta cheese that comes in a block. You’ve gotta go with the
block of feta. Trust me on this. It is a million times creamier and
softer and makes a world of difference for this appetizer recipe.
Since I’ve made
this dip an embarrassing number of times over the past couple weeks,
I’ve easily found blocks of feta at Trader Joe’s and at
my everyday grocery store in the specialty cheese case (although it’s
a great deal cheaper at TJ’s).
And since one of my
main talents is giving advice, let me offer another tidbit besides
the feta: using a baguette or loaf of bread that’s slightly on
the soft side (instead of the kind that may or may not have a crust
that hacks mercilessly into the top of your mouth whilst chewing) is
key to looking like a complete rock star with this dish.
(This homemade
Rustic Crusty bread formed into thinner
loaves/baguettes would do the trick and earn you about a bazillion of
those rock star points, FYI).
I’ve also
included some notes below the recipe title about Greek seasoning, the
details of which I won’t bore you with right this very second
but if you are interested in an MSG-free version, check out that
section.
Mostly, I just want you
to know, friend-to-friend, that this may be the only thing I will
ever bring to your party if/when you invite me from now until
forevermore.
Amazing and Simple Greek Feta Dip Yield: Serves 6-ish
I've made this dip at
different times with the precrumbled feta cheese and again with a
block of feta cheese and there's no comparison — the block of
feta cheese is soft and creamy and perfect while the precrumbled
cheese is much, much more dry.
If you can get your
hands on a block of feta cheese, use it. I found mine at Trader Joe's
and also in the specialty cheese case at my very everyday grocery
store.
Cavender's Greek
seasoning is a popular store-bought brand. I've used it a time or two
in this recipe but for inquiring minds, it does contain MSG.
Lately, I've used a
simple homemade Greek seasoning that I keep in a repurposed spice jar
in my pantry. This dip is so delicious, it's worth keeping the
homemade Greek seasoning around. I use this
basic recipe on allrecipes.com, omitting the
cornstarch, dialing down the cinnamon a bit (probably a heaping 1/2
teaspoon) and I don't blend it — I just combine in the jar.
Ingredients
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
3-4 (about 1 1/2 cups) Roma tomatoes, chopped
2 green onions or a bunch of chives, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
8 ounces feta cheese (see note above)
2 teaspoons Greek seasoning (see note above)
White or regular balsamic vinegar (optional)
Sliced baguette for serving
Directions
Drizzle the olive oil over a plate
or platter. Add the tomatoes and green onions or chives and crumble
the feta cheese over the top. Sprinkle on the Greek seasoning and
toss lightly to combine. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, if using
(just a teaspoon or so to start — add more to taste).
Serve the dip with soft, sliced
baguettes (pita chips are delicious, too).
Melanie Gunnell is a food-loving, chocolate-obsessed mom who has a desperate need to share
her favorite tried-and-true recipes with the world. In a past life she graduated from Brigham
Young University with a degree in public health, but for the past ten years, stay-at-home
motherhood has been her job along with blogging-from-home for the past five.
She resides in the brilliantly cold tundra of Northern Minnesota with her husband and their brood
of five children: four boys and one tiny, bossy girl. Dark chocolate (particularly the act of
shoving chocolate chips in her mouth whilst hiding in the pantry) is her coping skill of choice for
both the never-ending winters and the never-ending wrestling matches in her front room.