Here is another kickass dip that we have been obsessed with. It’s called crazy feta. It’s astonishing how such simple humble ingredients create something so delicious! Serve this with chips, homemade crispy pita chips, cucumber and carrot sticks. You can also use this as a spread for your rolls. Just spread some on a tortilla or naan, add roasted chicken and this dip. So so good! The clincher here is the roasted jalapenos. You can roast them in a pan , straight on the grill or in the oven. This step not only softens the jalapeno but also makes them sweeter. Oh and my substitute for roasted jalapenos is pickled jalapenos, straight from the jar. This version takes less than 2 minutes to put together. You can take this for potlucks, picnics and what not. I have some more colorful Mediterranean dips for you - roasted olive topped hummus , red pepper feta dip or 3 ingredient hummus or make a chunky dip like this black bean and corn dip.
Ingredients for Spicy Feta Dip
Here are the simple ingredients you need to make this delicious recipe See the recipe card for quantities. Feta - Regular feta not the kinds in brine. A great substitute is cottage cheese and even burrata. Taste test it to understand how salty it is. Jalapeno -I make this dip with charred jalapenos and sweet pickled jalapenos too. One gives it a smoky feel and the other makes it sweet, sour and spicy. I love both versions. You can use any other chili as per your tolerance to make this. Banana peppers, red peppers are good substitutes. Lemon - Adds a much needed freshness to the dip. Lemon juice also makes the feta creamier. I use both the juice and zest. Herbs - Parsley, cilantro and basil are my go to. All of them have different flavor profile. I love cilantro the most.
How to make Feta jalapeno dip
This dip is not creamy but a little gritty with a ton of character. This dip is inspired from cava but its
Step 1: Char the jalapenos
Charing the jalapenos will make them softer and reduce the heat too. You can broil them in the oven for 10-15 minutes till you see black charred spots. Air frying them for 10 minutes is also a good option. Remove the charred skin and chop it into little pieces. To make the peeling easier, place the charred jalapenos inside a covered box. The condensation will help remove the skin easily. Smaller jalapenos are spicier than the large ones. Make sure to wear gloves if you are handling jalapenos for the first time.
Step 2: Whip the Feta
Just blend the feta with lemon juice till it’s pasty using a food processor. You are not looking for a whipped cream texture but rather the clotted cream texture. If you like, you can process everything together but I like the texture of the dip with chopped jalapenos.
Step 3: Mix everything
Add the chopped charred jalapeno, chopped herbs and give it a good mix. Top with olive oil and reserved jalapenos and serve. A shorter version is using the pickled jalapenos or jalapeno jam. There is no need to chop or char anything. You can straight away mix it with whipped feta. I like the slight sweetness the jalapeno jam brings.
Storage
If you are not eating the dip in a couple of hours, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-6 days. You can serve the dip right out of the fridge which makes this a great make ahead appetizer.
Serving Crazy feta dip
I love serving cold dips. In fact, there hasn’t been a party where I have not served my Greek yogurt dip and this loaded hummus. They are just so easy to serve. You can also use this as a sauce or a spread to make warm pita wraps with falafels or grain bowls. If it’s a small gathering, you can make this dip and serve it with chips and crispy veggies like cucumbers and carrots. If you have a larger gathering, I prefer serving two to three dips, maybe a hot dip like this jalapeno popper chicken dip or making a charcuterie board around the theme.
