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Tirokafteri
Spicy whipped feta
Spicy whipped feta with roasted chilli (τυροκαυτερή)
Tirokafteri means 'hot cheese', and in Thessaloniki and across northern Greece it's the dip you order with ouzo or tsipouro: feta whipped with chilli, a roasted red pepper and olive oil into something creamy, salty and properly fiery. Every ouzeri makes it slightly differently; some keep it chunky, some silky, some add yogurt to soften the heat. Scoop it up with toasted bread, or spoon it beside grilled vegetables and fritters. Use feta labelled vegetarian. Chef's tip: add the fresh chilli a little at a time and taste; chillies vary a lot, and adding the whole lot at once is the usual mistake that makes it too hot to eat.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 9 oz feta cheesevegetarian, crumbled
- 1 roasted red pepperfrom a jar, drained, or roast your own
- 1 red chilliseeded and chopped; more to taste
- ½ tsp chilli flakes
- 3 tbsp Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp olive oilplus extra to serve
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (3)
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Put 9 oz feta cheese, 1 roasted red pepper, ½ tsp chilli flakes, 3 tbsp Greek yogurt, 3 tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp red wine vinegar in a food processor and add half of 1 red chilli.
Step 2: Pulse for 20–30 seconds, until creamy but with a few small flecks of pepper. Taste, then add the rest of the chilli if you want more heat and pulse once more.
Step 3: Spoon into a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and chill for 15 minutes so it firms up. It keeps 4 days in the fridge.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 3 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tirokafteri take?
- About 10 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of feta cheese?
- Goat's cheese or ricotta salata, same amount.
- What can I use instead of roasted red pepper?
- Any colour of bell pepper, same amount.
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