Rich, creamy and protein packed, Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Garlic and Thyme is a show-stopping appetizer for parties, brunches or cozy nights in. Easy to make, this cheesy dip is full of addictive flavour. Whipped to a silky, fluffy texture and scooped up with toasted baguette and crisp vegetables, this is the dip you won’t be able to stop eating.
Briny, salty feta, whipped together with mild cottage cheese, creates a creamy, fluffy, high protein blend that is perfect for dipping vegetables or spreading on bread. Mixing in roasted garlic and fresh thyme turns this whipped feta into a dip that is addictive and complex. To prepare this delicious dip, just follow a few simple steps: roast the garlic, add it to the food processor along with the other ingredients, and blend it all into a creamy, fluffy cloud. It’s that easy! For a pretty presentation, spread the whipped feta in a serving dish, garnish with fresh thyme and olive oil, and be prepared to watch it disappear as everyone hungrily scoops it up with crackers and cucumber slices.
To make quick work of blending this whipped feta dip without dirtying your big food processor, use the small bowl attachment of your regular size food processor, or a mini food version such as the Kitchen Aid Mini Food Processor. ( I have one of these little machines in cheery colours in each of my kitchens for keeping the clean up simple for small tasks. This mini food processor is also small enough to take along to holiday rentals for blending up salad dressings, making sauces and whipping up dips like this one!)
What goes in Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Garlic and Thyme?
- Garlic: In this recipe, whole cloves are garlic are roasted to soft, caramelized perfection, adding a mellow garlicky flavour to the dip, without the burn of raw garlic.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The addition of olive oil adds richness to this whipped feta and helps achieve a consistent, smooth texture. Drizzle extra over top for an extra punch of mediterranean flavour.
- Feta Cheese: A good source of protein, feta cheese adds flavour and tang to this dip. For the best flavour and texture, skip the pre-crumbled feta and instead look for authentic feta cheese sold in a block, floating in brine. Use your fingers or a fork to crumble the feta before adding it to the food processor.
- Cottage Cheese: The mild flavour of cottage cheese won’t overpower the taste of the feta cheese, while providing high protein creaminess. Look for cottage cheese that has at least 2% milk fat for the best texture.
- Lemon Juice: To balance the creaminess of this whipped feta and to add brightness, just a little lemon juice is added. For best flavour, use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Fresh Thyme: Fresh thyme adds an herby, savoury dimension to this dip. If you don’t have fresh thyme on hand, fresh dill or parsley are also delicious.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Serve this spread with crackers, pita or fresh vegetables as an elegant, crowd-pleasing appetizer. Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Garlic and Thyme can also be enjoyed as part of a charcuterie board or meze platter, adding personality and a signature component to the mix of store bought items. Serve this whipped feta as a flavour packed sauce to elevate simple grilled chicken or oven-roasted meatballs, or use it as a base for roasted vegetables or potatoes. Rich and smooth, this whipped feta dip is delicious slathered on crusty bread and topped with fresh slices of tomato for a delicious, meat-free lunch.
DRINK PAIRINGS
Feta cheese is salty, rich and tangy. Combined with creamy cottage cheese, mellow roasted garlic and herby fresh thyme, this whipped feta dip pairs perfectly with a white wine that is high in acidity, such as Sauvignon Blanc. In keeping with the Mediterranean theme, the Greek white wine Assyrtiko is another great choice. If you can find Assyrtiko, it is a match made in heaven with this Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Garlic and Fresh Thyme.
Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Garlic and Thyme
Ingredients
- 2 medium heads of garlic
- extra virgin olive oil
- 100gr/3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F and place a rack in the centre of the oven. Tear off two squares of foil and set aside.
- Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the tops off the heads of garlic to expose the cloves. Place a head of garlic in the centre of each of the foil squares. Drizzle the garlic heads with olive oil. Bring up the corners of the foil to enclose the garlic, wrapping the garlic snuggly in the foil. Place the foil wrapped garlic heads directly on the oven rack and roast until the garlic cloves are golden and soft when squeezed, about 30-45 minutes (depending on size and freshness of garlic). Remove the garlic heads from the oven, unwrap and allow to cool to room temperature. (Make ahead: Garlic can be roasted up to 3 days in advance and stored in a covered container in the fridge until ready to use.)
- Add the feta cheese, cottage cheese, cooled roasted garlic, thyme, lemon juice and 1 Tbsp of olive oil to a small food processor. Process the ingredients until smooth. Transfer the whipped feta to a serving dish and spread evenly with the back of a spoon. Drizzle with additional olive oil and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves to garnish. (Make ahead: This dip is delicious right after you make it, but it's even better if the flavours are given the chance to mix and mingle, even for a few hours. Make it up to 2 days in advance and store in a covered container in the fridge. Garnish with olive oil and fresh thyme just before serving.)
RECIPE NOTES
- Starting with room temperature ingredients will help the dip whip up to an ultra smooth texture. If you have the time, let the feta and cottage cheese sit on the counter for 20-30 minutes before starting the recipe.
- Make ahead: This Whipped Feta Dip with Roasted Garlic and Thyme is delicious right away, but only improves in flavour if allowed to sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. Make it up to 2 days in advance and store in a covered container in the fridge. Garnish just before serving.
- This recipe makes 1 cup of whipped feta, but the recipe can easily be doubled if more is needed for a large crowd. If doubling the recipe you will need to use a full size food processor instead of a mini food processor.
