Mediterranean Feta Dip

My Mediterranean feta dip turns one of our favorite Greek cheeses into a creamy, bright and spreadable dip perfect for healthy snacking with crackers, pita crisps or fresh-cut veggies. Whipped up with flavorful ingredients such as thick, creamy, organic Greek yogurt, lots of briny feta cheese, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh dill and chives, plus a kiss of lemon, this flavorful feta dip recipe is brimming with lots of sunny flavor!

Feta Dip with Mediterranean Flair

For me, a desire for healthier snacking is something that the spring season just seems to usher in with its arrival.

Perhaps it's the sunnier, bright skies, the warmer breezes, the longer daylight hours and the general “lightness” in the air, as well as all the colorful produce coming into the markets...

All I know is that my craving for creamy, healthy dips starts to make its way in a bit more, dips with bold, bright flavors that pair well with my favorite garlic crackers or pita crisps, and those colorful, fresh veggies like radishes, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, to name a few.

Seeing as feta cheese is a cheese that I enjoy adding to salads and nibbling on along with olives, I wanted to create a creamy, spreadable, delicious and healthy dip to enjoy during the warmer months.

My Mediterranean feta dip recipe is super quick and easy to whip up in just minutes, with a small handful of flavorful ingredients that are not only irresistibly delicious, but good for you as well—win-win, right?

Prepared with thick and creamy organic whole milk Greek yogurt, a whole block of briny feta cheese, plus a touch of garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh dill and chives, and the brightness of fresh lemon zest, this feta dip is one that I'll feel great about enjoying with abandon all season long!

My Recipe for Mediterranean Feta Dip

I just love a good, cheese appetizer recipe that is easy and fun to prep, and that I can feel good about enjoying.

I typically have organic, plain Green yogurt in the fridge, and wanted to use that as a bit of a base in a dip, and figured that feta cheese would be a terrific flavor partner, and indeed it is!

Because feta is a crumbly, drier cheese, it needs that yogurt to help make it creamy and “whipped”, and easy to spread.

While one could use cream cheese as the base, I love the added health benefits of the probiotics and protein in the Greek yogurt (and I'm using organic and grass-fed here), as well as its lighter, yet creamier texture.

Once the Greek yogurt and the feta cheese block (which I crumble up for easier blending) are whipped up in my food processor, I then simply fold in a few more bells and whistles...

I like to add in some diced up sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, and patted dry) for color and sweet-tangy flavor, a bit of garlic, some fresh dill and chives for herby notes, and a little touch of lemon zest for a pop of brightness.

A touch of salt and pepper rounds everything out, and then this creamy, spreadable Mediterranean-inspired feta dip is ready for snacking!

Here's a glance at my Mediterranean feta dip recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I add my thick, Greek yogurt to the bowl of my food processor (you can also use a large bowl and whisk or rubber spatula for this if you don't have a processor), along with the block of good quality feta cheese, which I crumble.
2. I process those two ingredients together until thick, creamy and spreadable, then spoon the mixture into a bowl.
3. Next, I fold in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, garlic and lemon zest, sprinkle in some salt and pepper to taste, and spoon into a serving dish or large-mouth mason jar for storage.
4. I serve my feta dip with crackers, pita crisps, and/or veggies.

Recipe

Mediterranean Feta Dip

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

This Mediterranean feta dip loaded with bright, sunny flavor is brimming with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh dill and chives, lemon and garlic!

Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mediterranean

Yield: 2 cups

Nutrition Info: 89 calories (per ¼ cup serving)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup plain, whole milk Greek yogurt (organic and grass-fed, if possible)
• 8 ounce block feta cheese, crumbled into larger crumbles
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest
• ¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed and blotted dry)
• 2 tablespoons chopped, fresh dill
• 1 tablespoons chopped, fresh chives
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Olive oil, for optional finishing drizzle
• Crackers, pita crisps or fresh-cut vegetables for serving

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your feta dip ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
2. Add the Greek yogurt and the crumbled feta cheese block to the bowl of a food processor, and process for a few minutes until relatively smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Once creamy, spoon the mixture into a bowl, and fold in the remainder of the ingredients until well combined and blended, adding enough salt and pepper to taste.
4. Spoon the Mediterranean feta dip into a serving bowl (or into a large mason jar with lid, for storage), and keep in the fridge until ready to serve. Then, allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes at room temp to slightly soften, before drizzling with a small amount of olive oil (optional) before serving with crackers, fresh veggies, or pita crackers.

Tips & Tidbits for my Mediterranean Feta Dip recipe:

• Grass-fed organic whole milk Greek yogurt: If you can, opt for the best, healthiest yogurt for this recipe, by way of grass-fed organic whole milk Greek yogurt. The quality and health benefits are terrific, and the whole milk (full fat) version offers a bit more protein.
• Block of feta cheese, crumbled: While you can use a container of crumbled feta cheese, I prefer getting a block that's vacuum-packed and has a little bit of the brine as part of the packaging. I like to crumble into larger crumbles myself, then just add to the yogurt in the food processor. And I find the flavor a bit more intense than the pre-packaged feta crumbles, as well.
• Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes: I like to use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes here, simply blotting them dry of the excess oil with a paper towel. This "style" of sun-dried tomatoes is more plump and flavorful, and adds an innate richness when diced up and folded into the feta dip.
• Fresh herbs for herby vibrant flavor: Adding some freshly chopped dill and chives to this feta dip adds a touch of herby flavor, which I love here. If you don't care for dill, you can leave it out, or sub a tiny sprinkle of chopped oregano (about 2 teaspoons), or even parsley.

Craving more healthy and mouthwatering dips? Check out my recipe for Warm Eggplant Dip with Spiced Yogurt, Spinach Dip, Loaded Hummus, Garlic and Herb Cheese Spread, my Burrata Recipe, or even my recipe for Roasted Garlic Hummus!