Ingredients
Scale
For the Dip:
- 8 oz block feta cheese (preferably Greek)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1-2 lemons (about ¼ cup)
- Zest of 1 lemon (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh herbs (dill, parsley, mint, or basil)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
- Optional: 1 teaspoon honey for sweetness
For Serving:
- Extra olive oil for drizzling
- Fresh herbs for garnish
- Lemon zest for garnish
- Optional: red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, or za’atar
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: If cream cheese is cold, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to soften, or microwave for 10-15 seconds. Drain feta if it’s packed in brine and pat dry with paper towels.
- Blend Base Ingredients: In a food processor, combine feta cheese (broken into chunks), softened cream cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and minced garlic.
- Process Until Smooth: Blend for 2-3 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides with a spatula as needed, until mixture is completely smooth, creamy, and fluffy. The longer you blend, the lighter and airier the texture becomes.
- Add Herbs: Add fresh herbs and black pepper. Pulse several times until herbs are incorporated but still visible (don’t over-process or they’ll turn the dip green).
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the dip and adjust seasoning. Add more lemon juice for brightness, salt if needed (though feta is already salty), honey for sweetness, or red pepper flakes for heat.
- Chill (Optional): For best flavor, transfer dip to a serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Can be served immediately if needed.
- Serve: When ready to serve, drizzle with extra olive oil, garnish with fresh herbs, lemon zest, and optional toppings like red pepper flakes or za’atar. Serve with vegetables, pita chips, crackers, or crusty bread.
Notes
- Quality feta makes a big difference—use authentic Greek feta for best flavor.
- Cream cheese must be softened to room temperature for smooth blending.
- Blend for full 2-3 minutes for lightest, airiest texture.
- Dip thickens when refrigerated; let sit at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.
- Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For thinner dip, add more olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Greek yogurt can replace cream cheese for tangier, lighter version.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup dip (without accompaniments)
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 385mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg