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Greek Spicy Whipped Feta Cheese – Tirokafteri

ByElena Paravantes, MS, RD

Spicy Whipped Feta known as tirokafteri in Greek. This traditional Greek dip has it all: creamy, just a touch spicy, tangy and so satisfying.

spicy feta dip Greek

According to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes eating full fat cheese is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes by 23%… I like this study.

I often get this question about the amount of cheese consumed in the Mediterranean Greek diet: is it healthy? Don’t Greeks eat a lot of cheese?
Well yes, they do. In fact, depending on the source Greeks consume the most cheese per person in the world. Feta is probably responsible for this, as we eat it with almost every meal. Cheese is in essence the main source of protein in the traditional Greek diet, since the main course was usually vegetables or legumes.

Today (unfortunately) Greek super markets are full of processed low-fat yellow cheeses that are not Greek and many buy them thinking that it will help them lose weight. The result; no satisfaction because these cheeses have little taste, but no weight loss either, as we all know saving 20 calories by eating a low-fat piece of cheese instead of regular fat, is not enough if the rest of the diet is not that great.

My point is this: go ahead and have a flavorful full-fat piece of cheese, it will be fine if the rest of your diet is Mediterranean based with plenty of vegetables, olive oil, fruit and legumes.

With that I present you with a yummy Greek feta cheese dip that I have changed just a little: tirokafteri which translate into “hot cheese”. It basically is feta cheese mashed with a bit of olive oil and a hot pepper. It is a very common appetizer and when we order it , it lasts just a few minutes. While you can dip different things in it, I really think it is best with bread. I added some Greek yogurt to make it a bit fluffier and experimented with using a jalapeño pepper (it was really good) rather than a regular hot pepper.

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Greek Spicy Whipped Feta Cheese – Tirokafteri

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Peppery Whipped Feta dip. This traditional Greek dip has it all: creamy, just a touch spicy, tangy and so satisfying.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Keyword: Feta Dip
Author: Elena Paravantes, MS, RD
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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mash the feta with the yogurt until you have a paste ( it will be a bit grainy).
  • Add the olive oil and vinegar and mix well.
  • In a food processor mince the hot pepper (without the seeds), add to the feta mixture and blend well.
  • Let it sit in the refrigerator for about an hour before serving.

Notes

You can sprinkle with oregano or parsley for decoration.

Photo by Elena Paravantes

Elena Paravantes, MS, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist by the U.S. Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). She is an expert on the Mediterranean Diet. She has been active as a clinician, consultant, author and lecturer for 20 years, both in the U.S. and Greece. An expert on the Greek Mediterranean Diet, her interviews and articles have been published in many publications including CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Prevention, NPR, and Shape. Elena has collaborated with a number of organizations including Loyola University, Yale University, University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, and the American College of Greece. Elena earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and her Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds has a Master’s Degree of Science in Health Management.

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19 Comments

  2. I am so glad CNN posted the link to this recipe today! I adore good feta cheese (the real stuff, not the Americanized cow milk version), and this sounds lovely! My allergy to cow milk and anything made from it has led me gradually to a plant-forward diet, with the Mediterranean/DASH diets front and center. Definitely looking forward to trying this! Just started following you on Pinterest, so I can see other yummies!5 stars

    Reply

  3. Elena, I have a question about measurements. For the 9 oz feta, is that a volume measure (ie 1 cup + 2 tablespoons) or is it a weight measure (ie approx 270 grams)? In North America, “ounce” can refer to both.
    Thanks!5 stars

    Reply

  5. Hmmm I wonder what it would be like to put these on a cut up piece of pita and broiled them topped with a kalamata olive for an little hot d’oevre. Will report back!

    Reply

  7. I used your recipe as a map tonight. I was looking for the flavor, heat and creaminess we get when we go to Astoria for dinner. So, Trader Joe’s has. New Hatch Chili Salsa that I used instead of the fresh pepper. Cut vinegar out, used a squeeze of lemon and added some finely chopped parsley. Great proportions, lovely heat.

    Thinned with a bit of low fat buttermilk, it would be a tasty salad dressing, too!

    Thanks

    Reply

  9. Thank you for this information, I have not heard about study elsewhere. I have high cholesterol and am told endlessly by the medical profession to only consume fat free dairy foods. You are so right, the fake fat reduced cheese has little taste and no satisfaction and I have often told my husband I don’t understand why we are told it is best to consume foods as close to how they occur in nature with the exception of dairy.

    Reply

    1. The study was presented recently at the conference I mention. However, in the past there have been several studies that show that full-fat dairy have benefits. Of course they should be consumed in moderate amounts and the rest of the diet should have mainly monounsaturated fats (olive oil, avocado etc.)