Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip) - Recipes From Europe (2024)

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Here’s A Tirokafteri Recipe To Make This Spicy Greek Dip!

Tirokafteri, sometimes also spelled tyrokafteri, is a Greek cheese dip that is creamy, spicy, and delicious.

Made with feta cheese, roasted red peppers, chili peppers, olive oil, and vinegar, it is often served as part of a mezze platter (a selection of small dishes that are shared as appetizers or snacks).

You can serve it with anything dippable – pita bread, pita chips, and slices of baguette are popular options, but you can also eat it with cut up veggies or use it as a spread on sandwiches!

Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip) - Recipes From Europe (1)

Ingredients

Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip) - Recipes From Europe (2)

Here are the tirokafteri ingredients that you will need to make this recipe. It’s really not too many – with feta cheese being the base:

  • Feta cheese– Use good quality Greek feta cheese.
  • Roasted red peppers – Either homemade or from a jar.
  • Red chili pepper – Trimmed and roughly chopped. Adds heat.
  • Greek yogurt– Adds creaminess and some tang. Use full-fat Greek yogurt if you want a richer dip.
  • Red wine vinegar – Adds acidity and balances the flavor.
  • Olive oil – Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil.
  • Garlic clove – A small garlic clove for extra flavor.
  • Fresh parsley – For garnish.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

Before you make this tirokafteri dip, have a quick read through these recipe tips so the dip will turn out delicious:

  • For the best taste, use high-quality ingredients, especially when it comes to the feta and roasted red peppers.
  • You can roast red peppers on the grill, stovetop, or in the oven. Roasting them until the skin is charred adds more flavor to the dip.
  • You can adjust the heat of the dip to your liking by adding more or less red chili peppers. Remove the seeds for less heat.
  • If you don’t have a stand blender, you can also use an immersion blender or food processor. Alternatively, you can chop the red peppers, chili pepper, and garlic clove very finely and mix the ingredients with a fork.
  • If the dip ends up being a little too spicy, you can add a bit more Greek yogurt.

How to Make Tirokafteri – Step by Step Instructions

In this section you can see exactly how to make this spicy feta dip recipe. We’ve included all the recipe process photos – it’s a really easy recipe and there aren’t many steps!

As always, you can find the printable recipe card with the exact measurements and steps at the bottom of this post if you want to get started right away.

Add the feta (save a bit for crumbling on top), roasted red peppers, chili pepper, Greek yogurt, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and garlic clove to a blender.

Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip) - Recipes From Europe (4)

Blend the mixture until smooth.

Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip) - Recipes From Europe (5)

Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, drizzle with a little bit of olive oil and top with crumbled feta and chopped fresh parsley.

You can also add a few small pieces of red chili pepper for a little extra heat. Serve the dip as part of mezze with garlic bread, toasted baguette or pita chips.

Storage Tips

This spicy feta dip stores quite well. You can cover it with plastic wrap or transfer it to a sealed container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Don’t forget to give the dip a good stir before serving it again.

Related Recipes

If you liked this recipe for tirokafteri, you may also like these other sauces and dips:

  • Classic Tzatziki
  • Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip)
  • Romesco Sauce (Spanish Tomato Spread)
  • Obatzda (German Cheese Dip)
  • Balkan Ajvar (Red Pepper Spread)

Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip) - Recipes From Europe (6)

Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip)

Tirokafteri – also known as Greek Spicy Feta Dip – is spicy, tangy, and packed with flavor. So easy to make with feta cheese, roasted red peppers, chili pepper, and a few common ingredients, it serves well with bread to dip.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces feta cheese
  • 2 roasted red peppers, homemade or from a jar
  • 1 red chili pepper, trimmed and roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, preferably extra virgin; slightly more for drizzling
  • 1 small garlic clove, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  • Add the feta (save a bit for crumbling on top), roasted red peppers, chili pepper, Greek yogurt, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and garlic clove to a blender.

    10 ounces feta cheese, 2 roasted red peppers, 1 red chili pepper, 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 small garlic clove

  • Blend the mixture until smooth.

  • Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, drizzle with a little bit of olive oil and top with crumbled feta and chopped fresh parsley.

    1 tablespoon fresh parsley

  • Serve the dip with garlic bread, toasted baguette or pita chips.

Notes

  • Use quality ingredients, especially for the feta and roasted red peppers.
  • You can roast red peppers on the grill, on the stovetop, or in the oven. Roasting them until the skin is charred adds more flavor to the dip.
  • Adjust the spiciness of the dip to your liking by adding more or fewer red chili peppers. Remove the seeds for less heat.
  • If you don’t have a stand blender, you can use an immersion blender or food processor.
  • If the dip ends up being a little too spicy, you can add a bit more Greek yogurt.

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 711mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 391IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 247mg | Iron: 1mg

This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.

Course Appetizer, Mezze

Cuisine Greek

This recipe was contributed by

Stefani Stefovska

Born and raised in North Macedonia, Stefani started cooking from a very young age. Her family passed down their love for food and cooking together with many traditional Balkan and Greek recipes.

Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip) - Recipes From Europe (2024)

FAQs

What is Tirokafteri made of? ›

Tirokafteri is made with feta cheese, roasted red peppers, chili, olive oil and red wine vinegar. Its the perfect creamy balance of salty, smoky and spicy in every bite!

What do you put Tirokafteri on? ›

Tirokafteri, sometimes called htipiti, is a spicy, creamy, tangy, and super bold mezze from northern Greece. This spicy feta dip takes only 10 minutes and is made to share. Heap this easy appetizer on grilled bread, pita chips, or lettuce cups for a gluten-free delight.

What is feta dip made of? ›

All you do is blend feta, cream cheese, a smidge of garlic, lemon zest and olive oil in a food processor, then spread it on a plate and sprinkle/drizzle with toppings. It all just takes a lazy 30 seconds.

How many calories are in spicy feta cheese? ›

NUTRITION FACTS
serving size1.0 oz
calories155 cal
total fat16 g
saturated fat5 g
cholesterol19 mg
5 more rows

What is Tirokafteri in English? ›

What is Tirokafteri in English? The translation of tirokafteri is essentially “spicy cheese”.

What does Tirokafteri taste like? ›

Enter tirokafteri, a traditional Greek dip that effortlessly combines the creamy, tangy feta cheese with the fiery punch of chili peppers. As a spicy Greek feta dip, tirokafteri makes a bold statement on any meze platter, daring the palate to enjoy its dynamic and bold flavor.

What do you eat with Tirokafteri? ›

Most often, tirokafteri is served with bread or pita bread for dipping, or as an accompaniment to french fries. You can also use tirokafteri as a dip for crudités or crackers, or as a spread in sandwiches.

How do Greeks use feta cheese? ›

Feta is used as a table cheese, in salads such as Greek salad, and in pastries, notably the phyllo-based Greek dishes spanakopita "spinach pie" and tyropita "cheese pie". It is often served with olive oil or olives, and sprinkled with aromatic herbs such as oregano.

Is Kopanisti the same as Tirokafteri? ›

Htipiti comes in many different varieties with different regions throughout Greece having their own recipes. It can also be called Kopanisti or Tirokafteri, depending on the ingredients. However, there are three main ingredients that are consistent through all versions: red pepper, feta and olive oil.

What is the difference between feta and Greek feta? ›

French Feta is made with Lacaune sheep's milk (if you remember, that's the sheep breed used for Roquefort production). It has a softer and creamier texture that Greek Feta and a milder, less tangy flavor (though it's sharper than Israeli Feta).

What is the difference between Greek feta and French feta? ›

She explained that French feta, made of 100% sheep's milk, is the least salty of the three. Bulgarian may be made of sheep and/or goat, while Greek feta will be primarily sheep's milk and sometimes up to 30% goat's milk ― both are a little saltier than French.

Why is Greek feta so good? ›

The special thing about feta is that although is a matured cheese (3–4 months), retains humidity and acidity, so it helps the digestion of food and doesn't leave a fatty aftertaste. Feta is a Greek cheese (70% sheep milk + 30% goat milk) but a lot of other variations around the Balkans have similar taste and effects.

Is feta cheese less fattening than other cheeses? ›

Feta cheese is lower in fat than many cheeses (around 20 per cent, 14 per cent saturated) but it's high in salt, so avoid adding additional salt when cooking with feta. Reduced-fat feta is a healthier choice (though still high in salt) and is quite widely available.

Does feta cheese have carbs or sugar? ›

A ¼ cup serving of crumbled feta cheese contains 1.5g net carbs, 8g of fat, 5g of protein and 100 calories. Like goat cheese, feta also contains beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and many essential vitamins and minerals.

Is feta cheese better for diet? ›

When it comes to cheese, feta is a healthy choice. Not only is it packed with protein and fat – both essential nutrients for helping you to feel full and energised – it's also good for your gut. Probiotic yeasts in feta may lower the PH in your stomach, which is key for a healthy gut.

What kind of cheese is saganaki made from? ›

The cheese used in saganaki is usually graviera, kefalograviera, halloumi, kasseri, kefalotyri, or sheep's milk feta cheese. Regional variations include the use of formaela cheese in Arachova, halloumi in Cyprus, and vlahotiri in Metsovo.

Where did Tirokafteri come from? ›

Tirokafteri is a dish made with feta cheese, chili peppers, and other spices. It is traditionally served as a meze, or appetizer, in Greece and Cyprus. The dish originated in the Cyclades islands, where it was initially made with sheep's milk cheese.

Is Tirokafteri the same as Htipiti? ›

Ktipiti or htipiti (Greek: χτυπητή, pronounced [xtipiˈti]), also known as tirokafteri (Greek: τυροκαυτερή, pronounced [tirokafteˈri]) or kopanisti (not to be confused with the cheese of that name), is a cheese-based spread from Greece.

Is Greek cheese the same as feta cheese? ›

Feta is a Greek variety of white brine cheese. One notable difference is that all the other cheeses are made by mixing sheep, goat and cow milk in varying amounts. Feta on the other hand is made by sheep's milk with a maximum 30% of goat's milk.

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