Whipped Feta Dip

5 from 2 votes

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This Whipped Feta Dip is everything I love in an appetizer. If you know me personally, you know that I not only think feta is life, but I also love the combination of 😋 sweet and salty together. If you’ve spent time in Greece 🇬🇷, I am sure you have tasted “Tirokafteri“ or “Tyrosalata” and had your share of feta dips. Well, this dip is 💯 percent inspired by Greece and the years I spent there with my family. The process is very simple. Allow the grapes 🍇 to roast in the oven for 30-minutes of hands-free cooking time. Then it takes only 10 minutes to assemble! The result: deep, rich flavor with a creamy base that will have you reaching for this recipe again and again.

Why You’ll Love Whipped Feta Dip

This Whipped Feta Dip is a flavor-packed appetizer that’s both elegant and easy to make. You will love how the creamy, tangy feta blends perfectly with the sweet, caramelized grapes (that taste just like red 🍷 wine!) for a dish that feels gourmet but comes together with minimal effort. The hint of 🍊 orange zest adds a bright, citrusy note that takes the flavors to the next level. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or want to elevate a simple sandwich, this recipe is versatile, delicious, and guaranteed to impress.

Ingredients

🧀 Feta cheese: Use a good quality block of feta that comes in the brine. Pre-crumbled feta tends to be too dry for making this dip.

🫒 Olive Oil: Use a good quality olive oil to emulsify all the components together and help create a smooth, creamy texture.

🍊 Orange Zest: While you can use lemon zest here, I like to use orange zest to add a warm, comforting layer of flavor.

🍦 Yogurt: I add a tablespoon of plain yogurt to the feta to create a creamy, whipped texture.

🍎 Apple syrup: I like to use this for a sweetener to add an unexpected twist, but you can use honey, maple syrup, or agave instead.

🍇 Grapes: For a garnish, I make a sweet confit by baking my grapes with olive oil, apple syrup, salt and thyme.

🌿 Herbs and spices: Salt and thyme add brightness to the dip, balancing out the sweet and savory flavors.

Nonna’s Tip 💧

If you find that the feta is too salty you can remove the brine and add fresh cold filtered water, let it sit overnight and it will remove a lot of that salt. 

Whipped Feta Dip

Tips for Success

  • Purchase feta in brine: Whether you’re team Greek feta, French, Macedonian or Bulgarian, the key is to purchase a high-quality cheese in brine. Pre-crumbled feta is a no-go, as it’s too dry and won’t blend to that smooth, creamy consistency we know and love.
  • Use a high-quality olive oil: It’s the unsung hero of this recipe. We use it twice: to roast the grapes into a decadent, wine-inspired confit. Then again to create a smooth texture in the dip itself, with a hint of robust flavor. A good quality olive oil takes this recipe from good to great.
  • Serve right away: This dip can be made ahead, however it will thicken once cooled. It’s best served right away for the creamiest texture. Not to mention, the sweetness and warmth of the grapes fresh out of the oven is literally life changing.

Variations and Substitutions for Whipped Feta Dip

  1. You can also make this dip with goat cheese 🐐 and Greek yogurt instead of feta for a lighter, tangier version.
  2. Feel free to use your favorite plant-based yogurt and feta cheese swaps if you’re vegan or dairy-free.
  3. Feel free to use 🍁 maple syrup, honey, or agave if you don’t have apple syrup. 
  4. Swap orange zest for lemon zest 🍋 and leave out the sweeteners for a more neutral base.
  5. Garnish with extra herbs 🌿, like fresh thyme sprigs, rosemary, or basil for more brightness and a pop of color.

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Common Questions

Can I make the whipped feta ahead of time?

Yes, the whipped feta can be made a day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will thicken a bit, so I would give it another whip in the food processor before adding the grape garnish.

Can I use green grapes instead of red grapes?

Yes, you can technically use green grapes in this Whipped Feta Dip, but the flavor will be slightly different. Red grapes tend to be sweeter and richer when roasted, while green grapes will be slightly tart.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

I haven’t tried making this vegan, so please let me know in the comments if you give it a go. I would substitute the feta with a plant-based feta alternative and use dairy-free yogurt. Choose a vegan sweetener like agave.

is this whipped feta dip served warm or cold?

I like to serve this dip lightly warm or at room temperature. If the whipped feta and roasted grapes have been refrigerated, let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.

How do I store leftover feta dip?

Store any leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Whipped Feta Dip

Whipped Feta Dip

This Whipped Feta Dip is inspired by Greece and the years I spent there with my family. After baking the grapes, they release their juices and taste just like wine.
5 from 2 votes
Course: Dip
Cuisine: Greek
Makes: 4 portions
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

The Grapes

  • 1.5 cups red seedless grapes
  • pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon apple syrup, maple syrup, honey, or agave all work
  • sprig of thyme , optional

The Whipped Feta

  • 8 oz creamy feta, I used 1/2 Macedonian-Style and 1/2 Bulgarian feta but you can use any
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon plain yogurt , any variety
  • 1 teaspoon apple syrup, honey, maple syrup or agave

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400F (200C). In a small baking dish add the grapes, pinch of salt, drizzle of olive oil, drizzle of apple syrup, and a sprig of thyme.
  • Cover it and bake until the grapes are oozing and nice and soft, mine took 30 minutes.
  • To a food processor add the feta, drizzle of olive oil, orange zest, yogurt, a drizzle of apple syrup and process for 1 to 2 minutes until frothy and creamy. Open the lid and scrape down as necessary.
  • Add the whipped feta to a plate and top it off with the caramelized grapes. Enjoy with any fresh bread or even crostini.

Video

Notes

  • Feta substitutions: You can also make this dip with goat cheese and Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangier version.
  • Vegan and dairy-free: Feel free to use your favorite plant-based feta cheese and yogurt swaps. 
  • Feta pro-tip: If the feta is too salty you can remove the brine and add fresh cold filtered water, let it sit overnight and it will remove a lot of that salt. 
  • Sweeteners: Use maple syrup, honey, or agave if you don’t have apple syrup. 
  • Citrus substitutions: Swap orange zest for lemon zest and leave out the sweeteners for a more neutral base. 
  • Herbs: Garnish with extra herbs, like fresh thyme sprigs, rosemary, or mint for more brightness and a pop of color. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 portion, Calories: 243kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 51mg, Sodium: 650mg, Potassium: 162mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 288IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 298mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dip
Cuisine: Greek
COOKED IT? SLAYED IT? 💅
Tag @themodernnonna so I can hype you up 👏 and don’t forget to rate ⭐, drop a comment 💬, and show some love right here on the recipe!

Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

Keep up to date with me on social media! Follow @themodernnonna

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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