Best 5 Easy Marinated Feta Recipes

Are you looking for an easy and flavorful appetizer to impress your guests? Look no further than marinated feta! This simple yet delicious dish is made with just a few ingredients and can be prepared in minutes. Simply marinate feta cheese in a mixture of olive oil, herbs, and spices, then let it sit for a few hours or overnight. The result is a creamy, tangy cheese that's perfect for spreading on crackers, drizzling over salads, or using as a filling for sandwiches and wraps.

This article features three different recipes for marinated feta, each with its own unique flavor profile. The first recipe is a classic Greek-style marinade, made with olive oil, oregano, thyme, and lemon zest. The second recipe is a spicy harissa marinade, perfect for those who like a little heat. And the third recipe is a sweet and savory honey and balsamic marinade, which is sure to please everyone. No matter which recipe you choose, you're sure to enjoy this delicious and versatile dish.

Let's cook with our recipes!

EASY MARINATED FETA

Easy Marinated Feta image

I always make my own marinated feta. If you like, you can also add garlic, but my family doesn't like garlic so we prefer this simple variation.

Provided by mannkochtgut

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Antipasto Recipes

Time P3DT10m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 5

Ingredients

1 pound feta cheese, cubed
1 chile pepper
1 tablespoon herbes de Provence
1 pinch lemon zest
1 cup olive oil, or as needed

Steps:

Place feta cheese in a glass jar. Add chile pepper, herbes de Provence, and lemon zest. Fill jar with olive oil so feta is completely covered and seal.
Marinate in a cool place, but not in the refrigerator, for 3 to 4 days. Remove chile pepper before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 519.2 calories, Carbohydrate 3.8 g, Cholesterol 66.8 mg, Fat 52 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 10.8 g, SaturatedFat 16.2 g, Sodium 838.2 mg, Sugar 3.5 g

MARINATED FETA THREE WAYS

Marinated Feta Three Ways image

With just a few ingredients and some hands-off time, feta cheese can be transformed into a delicious appetizer to serve with crostini or as an accompaniment to grilled vegetables and meat. We came up with a trio of super versatile flavor combinations that are all made following the same method. By marinating the feta in glass jars, you'll be able to see the colors of the aromatics, for a beautiful and delicious gift too.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories appetizer

Time 13h

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

1 cup good-quality extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh oregano
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 strips lemon zest (about 3 inches long; see Cook's Note)
1 bay leaf
8 ounces feta, drained well from brine and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup good-quality extra-virgin olive oil
4 whole chipotle chiles in adobo
3 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
8 ounces feta, drained well from brine and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup good-quality extra-virgin olive oil
3 canned whole artichoke hearts, drained and halved
4 sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, roughly chopped
3 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 strips lemon zest (about 3 inches long; see Cook's Note)
8 ounces feta, drained well from brine and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Steps:

For each of the above combinations, place all ingredients except for the feta in a small saucepan and gently heat over medium low just until tiny bubbles begin to form, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely, about 1 hour.
Once the infused olive oil is cool, transfer half of the aromatics from the saucepan to a 16-ounce Mason jar followed by half of the feta. Repeat layering and then carefully pour the infused olive oil into the jar. Gently press the feta down if needed to ensure it is fully submerged and seal the jar with its lid (see Cook's Note). Place the jar in the refrigerator and allow the feta to marinate for at least 12 hours and up to 5 days.
Remove the jar from refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the solidified olive oil to liquify.

MARINATED FETA

Marinated Feta image

I'm well aware that everyone knows this marinated feta recipe or does it in their own way, but that's how I cook it - it's a quick appetizer for unexpected guests that just rang a doorbell to your house. Keeps well in the refrigerator.

Provided by sono1helen

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Antipasto Recipes

Time 15m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

4 black olives, finely chopped
2 fresh sage leaves, or more to taste
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 red chile pepper
1 sprig fresh rosemary, or more to taste
¼ red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 tablespoon toasted sesame-ginger seasoning (such as Victoria Gourmet ®)
1 small pepperoncini pepper, finely sliced
½ tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
14 ounces feta cheese, cubed
½ cup olive oil

Steps:

Place a layer of olives, sage, garlic, chile pepper, rosemary, bell pepper, sesame-ginger seasoning, pepperoncini pepper, and oregano into the bottom of a container. Add a layer of feta cheese. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients.
Pour olive oil into the container to cover feta mixture completely. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 347.7 calories, Carbohydrate 5 g, Cholesterol 58.9 mg, Fat 32.6 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 9.8 g, SaturatedFat 12.5 g, Sodium 867.3 mg, Sugar 3.3 g

LEMON-HERB MARINATED FETA

Lemon-Herb Marinated Feta image

Briny feta, tart lemon, bright herbs and hot pepper come together in perfect harmony here. Spoon this appetizer onto a round of buttery, toasted French bread for a perfectly balanced bite that you'll want to keep eating all night. That's right, this easy and elegant recipe is perfect for a party. It's low-effort, tastes great and is sure to impress, despite the fact that its ingredient list is short and mostly utilizes bits and bobs of ingredients you might already have on hand. Feta might be the exception to that rule, but that's exactly what we were going for when we developed this recipe: a way to showcase the divine flavor of this special cheese. So mix this up in advance of your next party, and watch your guests go gaga over this marinated app-there's no need to reveal how easy it was to make.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories Appetizer

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

4 fresh thyme sprigs
2 fresh oregano sprigs
3 strips (3x1-inch each) lemon peel
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
8 oz feta cheese, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 can (11 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original French Bread
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps:

In pint-sized glass jar, arrange herbs, lemon, peppercorns and pepper flakes. Top with cheese. Pour olive oil over cheese mixture; cover and refrigerate 3 days. Serve with toasts. Any leftover cheese mixture can be covered and refrigerated up to 4 days longer.
At least 1 1/2 hours before serving, make the toasts. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. Bake French bread 24 to 26 minutes or until browned. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes. Cut into 1/2-inch slices. Brush slices on both sides with melted butter. Return to pan; bake 10 to 15 minutes, turning once, until light golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 220, Carbohydrate 10 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Fat 3, Fiber 0 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, ServingSize About 2 Tablespoons Cheese Mixture and 1 to 2 Toasts, Sodium 230 mg, Sugar 1 g, TransFat 0 g

MARINATED FETA WITH HERBS AND PEPPERCORNS

Marinated Feta With Herbs and Peppercorns image

The best recipes often make a good ingredient great through minimal effort. For this easy appetizer, start with good-quality feta, preferably in brine, which is creamier than the squeaky supermarket varieties. Many commercial fetas use only cow's milk and can taste somewhat one-note, so look for one that contains both sheep's and goat's milk, which provide the cheese's signature tang. Dice the feta, toss it with preserved lemon, peppercorns and chile, and refrigerate overnight. Spoon it onto crostini, or serve it alongside eggs, fish, salad, grilled or roasted vegetables or atop a bowl of pasta.

Provided by Alexa Weibel

Categories dinner, easy, lunch, dips and spreads, finger foods, salads and dressings, appetizer, side dish

Time 10m

Yield About 2 1/2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if needed
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons finely chopped preserved lemon, or 4 strips fresh orange zest plus 1 tablespoon juice (from 1 orange)
1 red serrano chile, very thinly sliced (optional)
4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano
1 tablespoon any combination of whole pink, green, white and black peppercorns, crushed or coarsely chopped
8 ounces firm Greek feta, in brine
Crostini or crackers, for serving

Steps:

In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, parsley, preserved lemon, chile, oregano and peppercorns.
Cut the feta into 1/2-inch cubes and add them to the olive oil mixture. Gently fold together until feta is evenly coated. Transfer to a jar or lidded container and drizzle with more olive oil, if needed to immerse the feta. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
Remove from refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving to allow solidified olive oil to return to liquid form. Serve with crackers or crostini, or spoon on top of seared fish, grilled or roasted vegetables, pasta or salad.

Tips:

Choose the Right Feta: Select a high-quality feta cheese made from sheep's milk or a blend of sheep's and goat's milk. Look for feta with a firm texture and a slightly crumbly consistency.
Prepare the Marinade: Use a flavorful marinade to infuse the feta with delicious flavors. A classic marinade includes olive oil, herbs (such as oregano, thyme, and basil), garlic, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes. You can also experiment with different ingredients to create your own unique marinade.
Marinate for the Right Time: The marinating time depends on your preference and the desired level of flavor infusion. For a mild flavor, marinate the feta for at least 30 minutes. For a more intense flavor, marinate for up to overnight.
Use Quality Ingredients: Use fresh herbs, high-quality olive oil, and flavorful spices. Fresh ingredients will result in a tastier, more aromatic marinated feta.
Experiment with Different Flavors: Don't be afraid to experiment with different flavor combinations in your marinade. Try adding citrus zest, honey, or spices like paprika or cumin to create unique and delicious variations.

Conclusion:

Marinated feta is a versatile and delicious appetizer or snack that can be enjoyed on its own, as part of a cheese platter, or incorporated into various dishes. With its tangy, briny flavor and creamy texture, marinated feta adds a pop of flavor to salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and pasta dishes. The marinating process infuses the feta with a variety of herbs, spices, and other ingredients, resulting in a flavorful and aromatic cheese that is sure to impress. Whether you choose a classic marinade or experiment with different flavor combinations, marinated feta is a delicious and easy-to-make addition to your culinary repertoire.