This Whipped Feta Dip is a quick and easy appetizer you can make with just five simple ingredients in about five minutes. It’s creamy, salty, and tangy — perfect spread on crostini, pita chips, or served with fresh vegetables.
Why you’ll love this whipped feta dip
Feta has surged in popularity for a reason: its bright saltiness and tangy creaminess bring instant flavor to simple dishes. This whipped feta dip takes block feta and blends it with a little sour cream, lemon zest and garlic to create a spreadable, chilled dip that feels indulgent but is effortless to make. It’s an ideal summer appetizer because it’s served cool and pairs beautifully with crisp vegetables, crunchy crackers, or lightly toasted baguette slices. Families and guests tend to love how the bold flavor of the cheese is balanced by bright lemon and mellow garlic.
You can serve the dip plain or finish it with a drizzle of olive oil and a topping such as roasted garlic. To make roasted garlic at home, roast whole garlic heads until soft and golden, or gently simmer peeled garlic cloves in olive oil until they soften and take on a light caramel color. The infused oil is delicious drizzled over the dip and adds an extra layer of richness.
Ingredients
- Feta cheese: use a block of feta rather than pre-crumbled for the creamiest texture.
- Sour cream: adds silkiness; Greek yogurt is a suitable substitute if preferred.
- Lemon zest: brightens and balances the saltiness of the feta.
- Garlic: fresh garlic provides essential savory depth; roasted garlic is a wonderful optional topping.
- Salt and black pepper: add sparingly and adjust after blending since feta is naturally salty.
How to make whipped feta dip
- Place the ingredients — block feta, sour cream, garlic clove, and lemon zest — into a food processor or high-powered blender. An immersion blender with a suitable blending cup works well too.
- Pulse or process until the mixture becomes thick, smooth, and spreadable. If the dip seems too firm, add a little more sour cream or a teaspoon of olive oil and blend again until you reach the desired consistency.
- Taste and then season with a small pinch of salt and a grind of black pepper. Because feta is salty, seasoning after blending lets you control the final flavor more precisely.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, use the back of a spoon to make gentle swirls, and finish with a drizzle of good olive oil. Garnish with optional toppings such as roasted garlic cloves, crushed red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, or a few torn sun-dried tomatoes.
What is feta cheese?
Feta is a traditional Greek cheese typically made from sheep’s milk or a blend of sheep and goat’s milk. It is usually sold in blocks and stored in a brine, which contributes to its characteristic salty, tangy flavor and crumbly but creamy texture. Compared to many soft cheeses, feta has a more pronounced tang and a firmer mouthfeel. For this dip, using block feta rather than pre-crumbled varieties produces a smoother, more cohesive result when whipped.
Variations of feta dip
This basic whipped feta recipe is an excellent base for variations. Try any of the following to change the flavor profile:
- Sun-dried tomatoes and a little of their oil for a tangy-sweet version.
- Sriracha or another hot sauce for heat.
- Roasted red peppers blended in for a smoky, sweet dip.
- Caramelized onions mixed in for a sweet-savory depth.
- Sautéed spinach and chopped marinated artichokes for a Mediterranean-style spread.
Recipe FAQs
Toast thin baguette slices until golden, or serve with pita chips, crackers, and an assortment of fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and cherry tomatoes. The chilled, tangy dip balances crisp and crunchy dippers very well.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. The dip will firm up as it chills; simply stir or re-whip briefly in a food processor before serving to restore a smooth texture.
Pre-crumbled feta often contains anti-caking additives that can affect texture. Using a block of feta yields a creamier, more cohesive whipped dip.
Recipe details
Whipped Feta Dip
Author: Anna Hinman
This whipped feta dip comes together in minutes and makes a bright, flavorful appetizer for gatherings, weeknight snacking, or a light summer starter.
Prep time: 5 mins • Cook time: 0 mins • Total time: 5 mins
Servings: 6 • Calories (estimate): 139 kcal per serving
Ingredients (for approximately 6 servings)
- 8 oz block feta cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
- 1 garlic clove (or to taste; roasted garlic for topping is optional)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine feta, sour cream, garlic, and lemon zest in a food processor, blender, or sturdy bowl for an immersion blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth and thick.
- If the dip seems too firm, add an extra tablespoon of sour cream or a small drizzle of olive oil and blend again until spreadable.
- Taste the dip and add salt and black pepper as needed. Because feta is salty, seasoning after blending helps you control the final flavor.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, create shallow swirls with a spoon, and drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with crushed red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, roasted garlic, or other toppings you prefer.
Notes
- Leftovers keep well in a sealed container for up to four days in the refrigerator. Re-blend before serving if the texture firms up.
- Nutrition values are estimates and will vary based on the specific products you use.
- For a vegan alternative, consider blending a firm tofu base with lemon, garlic, and a touch of brine from a jar of marinated artichokes for a similar tangy, spreadable dip.
Nutrition (per serving, approximate)
Calories: 139 kcal • Carbohydrates: 3 g • Protein: 6 g • Fat: 12 g • Sodium will vary depending on the feta used.
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and let me know how you served it and any variations you enjoyed.