Refreshing and crunchy cucumbers are served over a bed of creamy feta dip for an easy appetizer or salad.
On the days when I don’t much feel like cooking, my meals become more a matter of assembly. Like everyone, I have my go-to dishes, the kind that require little effort and work for almost any occasion or meal.
This whipped feta dip with cucumbers is just the kind of dish I turn to on those days, with just a handful of ingredients; it comes together in a matter of minutes. It can serve double duty as an appetizer/snack or stand on its own as a salad and is packed with flavor.
The basic premise (a pile of seasoned vegetables over a creamy spread) is one I use often with tomatoes, as well as carrots and other raw vegetables. Sometime the base is yogurt, other times tahini or an almond spread but in this case it’s whipped feta.
How to make a creamy feta dip:
- A bit of yogurt and olive oil is all it takes to transform ordinarily crumbly feta into a smooth and creamy base for all kinds of toppings. While many whipped feta recipes use cream cheese to smooth out their dip, I like to keep the flavors pure and more traditionally Greek by using sheep’s milk yogurt along with sheep’s milk feta instead.
- The feta, yogurt and olive oil are quickly blended together then set in the fridge to firm. I often make a batch at the beginning of the week to keep in my fridge so that it’s ready to go when I need.
How to make the cucumber topping:
- For the topping, finely chopped cucumbers are tossed in a mint parsley oil flavored with garlic and lemon zest that’s easily made in the food processor. The herbs and lemon are a delightfully fresh accent to the creamy salty feta spread.
- The dressing can also be made ahead of time so that the only thing to do when you’re ready to serve is chop and dress the cucumbers.
- A handful of crackers or chips (like some homemade pita strips) and a couple wedges of lemon and you are ready to dig in!
More Dip Recipes to Try:
Creamy Feta Dip
Refreshing and crunchy mint parsley cucumbers are served over a bed of creamy
whipped feta for an easy salad or appetizer.
Ingredients
For the Whipped Feta:
- ½ pound/ 8oz sheep’s milk feta
- 2 Tablespoons/30ml plain sheep’s milk yogurt
- ½ Tablespoon/7ml extra-virgin olive oil
- The zest of half a lemon
For the Mint Parsley Cucumbers:
- ¼ cup fresh mint
- ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley
- ¼ cup/60mlextra virgin olive oil
- ½ a garlic clove
- The zest of a ¼ lemon
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 4 Persian cucumbers, finely chopped
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
Make the Whipped Feta:
- Rinse the feta and place it in the bowl of a mini food
processor. Pulse feta together with yogurt,
olive oil and lemon zest until smooth and creamy. - Refrigerate until needed.
Make the Mint Parsley Cucumbers:
- Place the mint, parsley, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and salt
in the bowl of a mini food processor and pulse until finely chopped. (Mint parsley oil can be made ahead of time
and refrigerated until needed.) - Combine half the mint parsley oil with the chopped cucumbers
and toss to combine. (Reserve remaining oil
to drizzle over the top or for another use.) - Spread feta dip in a shallow serving bowl and top with the cucumber
mixture. - Serve with lemon wedges on the side and pita, chips or
crackers of your choice.
Notes
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Vegetarian
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 241Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 265mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 2gSugar: 8gProtein: 7g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Bonnie K says
When my husband is out of town, I cut back on cooking quite a bit. I'm happy to eat something like the above recipe, or cereal, eggs, simple sandwich. We're entitled not to have to cook if we don't feel like it. 🙂
Alison @ Ingredientsinc.net says
You had me at "feta" I love this one! And all of yours of course
anh says
I too love, love whipped feta! Incredible flavours, isn't it?
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I'm with you on cooking -- there are days when I just don't feel like whipping a whole meal. Grazing is the way to go. Love this dip paired deliciously with mint parsley pesto and cucumber salad. So refreshing & light!
Kitchen Belleicious says
oh I can name a number of things to eat and use this with! Its so refreshing and clean and beautiful and yummy!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Sylvie, this looks like EXACTLY what I need right now for an afternoon snack.
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
What a fabulous snack! You may have beat my sweet potato fries. This looks magnificent!
Sylvie says
How about your fries and my feta dip together?! Now we're talking.
Bev Weidner says
Thaaaaat looks insanely good. My eyes can't even take it.
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots says
This looks most excellent! 😀 Cereal is my go-to meal when I don't feel like cooking, but I'd much rather have this. 😀
Sylvie says
I hear you, I've had many bowls of granola for dinner!
Kathy - Panini Happy says
This dip sounds fabulous (and looks gorgeous as always). I was just cooking with feta yesterday myself, I love that tangy-salty flavor so much! I definitely understand not wanting to cook every now and then. For me, it typically happens right after the holidays when I've gone on a bit of a cooking binge. 🙂