Simple and delectable, whipped feta with honey and walnuts is the perfect appetizer to share before any meal.
It would be impossible for me to adequately put into words how much I adore feta cheese. It is easily one of my favourite cheeses and has found its way into many of my recipes. Appetizers, salads, main dishes and sides have all benefitted from the addition of this salty and tangy cheese. I’m actually a bit surprised I haven’t found a way to incorporate it into a dessert yet! So any time I find a new and interesting way to feature this sumptuous cheese I am quick to try it out. Which brings us to this delicious appetizer.
Whipping the feta cheese with cream cheese helps to temper the salty tang while adding a luscious creaminess that elevates this humble goat cheese into something else entirely. The great thing about this preparation is that whipped feta is a canvas that you can cover with a myriad of toppings and flavours. Slow roasted cherry tomatoes would be fabulous, and you could easily play around with different herbs.
But my favourite way to enjoy this whipped feta is with a big drizzle of honey and lots of toasted, crunchy walnuts for that heavenly sweet and salty combination. A slice of baguette or pita is a perfectly acceptable way to eat this dip but it’s also great scooped up with just the walnut halves!
Ingredient Notes
Feta Cheese: The star ingredient! In Greece feta cheese was traditionally made with sheep’s milk, or a combination of sheep and goat’s milk. Given its protected designation it is still being produced that way today. Outside of Greece, however, the rules regarding the labelling of feta cheese are not quite as strict meaning in some places it has become more of a generic term for a crumbly, white cheese in brine. It is worth it to seek out a sheep or goat’s milk feta cheese if you can.
Cream cheese: Adding cream cheese will balance out the feta’s strong flavors and add to the overall creaminess of the dip.
Chives: I like to add fresh chives to this recipe. The mild oniony flavor adds an extra dimension of flavor to this dip that I think is needed.
Honey: The simplicity of this dish means that you have a great opportunity for highlighting an interesting or unique honey. One of our local honey farms, Campbell’s Gold, has a plethora of options when it comes to honey. We really enjoy their alfalfa honey and it is my usual go-to. I would caution against using a flavoured honey unless you think that flavour would pair well with the feta cheese.
Walnuts: You could use any nut here, I just happen to think walnuts pair well with honey and feta. Pistachios would be another great choice or even toasted pine nuts.
Kosher salt and pepper: I usually end up adding a little kosher salt. Taste the whipped feta before you add it –depending on the cheese you used, it might be salty enough. Add pepper to taste.
How to Make Whipped Feta with Honey
This is a super simple recipe with only a couple of steps that can be prepared ahead of time, making it an excellent choice for a party.
In a food processor add the cream cheese and crumble in the feta. Blend the two cheeses together in short bursts, scraping down the sides in between. I like this dip fairly smooth but with a bit of texture, so I don’t let it blend too long. Taste the whipped feta to check if it needs salt. Add the chives, pepper to taste, and a bit of kosher salt if needed and pulse to combine.
Scoop the whipped feta onto a serving plate and spread it out in a thick layer. I like to form dips and peaks in the cheese for the honey to pool into! At this point you can cover it and chill until service.
When ready to serve, gently heat the honey up, 15 to 30 seconds in the microwave, until it can pour easily. If you heat it up too much the honey will be too runny. Drizzle the honey over top the feta, letting it pool in places. Top with chopped toasted walnuts and more chives and you’re ready to serve!
Pairing & Serving Suggestions
Serve this whipped feta with honey appetizer before any meal. I usually serve the whipped feta with baguette slices, but pita wedges would make another great choice. I mentioned earlier how much I enjoy just scooping up the cheese and honey with just walnut halves so I always make sure to serve some alongside the bread.
When it comes to wine pairing look for a wine that can stand up to the strong flavour profile of feta cheese. Look for a higher acidity wine such as a Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Riesling. A sparkling white wine would work very well, especially as an aperitif before dinner. The bold flavours of the feta would also pair well with a cocktail that has a bit of acidity, such as a French 75 or try it with my Rhubarb Lavender Gin Cocktail Recipe!
Spread the Enchantment
More Delicious Appetizers
If you like the sweet and salty combination of this whipped feta dip, then you’ll love my Whipped Brie with Herbs and Honeycomb!
For more light appetizers, try my Swiss Chard and Gruyère Puff Pastry Pinwheels or my Prosciutto Wrapped Figs with Goat Cheese and Port.
