Tirokafteri (Feta Cheese Spread)
Tirokafteri is a deliciously creamy blend of Greek feta cheese and spicy peppers. Make this recipe for a quick snack dip or party appetizer.
Cheese dip with bread or crackers is a classic comfort food snack, but American versions can be too heavy and greasy sometimes.
This Greek feta cheese spread is just as satisfying but is a lighter, fresher option. Plus, it’s easy to adjust the spiciness and make it just how you’d like it.
What is Tirokafteri?
The Greek name for this spicy feta cheese spread literally translates to “hot cheese.” It is also spelled tyrokafteri.
Depending on the ingredients and preparation method, alternate names for the spicy feta dip are kopanisti or htipiti.
The texture of the tirokafteri ranges from smooth and creamy to a little more rustic, and will just depend on your personal preference.
Also, this particular recipe is for the classic white variety called aspri. There’s also a red version called kokkini which adds sweet red peppers, strained Greek yogurt, and paprika for a more complex but milder flavor.
Recipe Video
This spicy cheese dip couldn’t be easier to make. Just blend everything together and serve! To see the process from start to finish, watch the video in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Ingredient Notes
Note: This is just a partial list of ingredients. For the full ingredient list, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Feta cheese – Use a really good quality cheese, preferably Greek feta. Different countries make their own versions and they can vary in flavor and texture. If you can’t find Greek feta, choose one that is mostly sheep’s milk with American being a last resort since it’s not as creamy.
- Olive oil – This lends a little bit of flavor to the dip, but any neutral oil can be used. Avocado or sunflower oil would be good substitutes.
- Bell pepper – Green peppers are more bitter because they haven’t had as long to ripen. Feel free to use a different color, but the flavor will be a little more sweet.
- Banana pepper – For more heat, replace this with a Pepperoncini pepper. Or try a red Fresno chile, but remove the seeds first. You can also roast the pepper over a gas flame to bring out more flavor if you’d like.
How to Make Tyrokafteri
- Chop the peppers: Remove the seeds from the bell pepper, then chop it along with the banana pepper. Don’t worry about how it looks – the pieces just need to be small enough to blend easier.
- Blend: Add everything to a food processor and blend until smooth. If you’d prefer a coarser texture, blend for less time and then pulse until it looks right. It might also help to drizzle in the oil as it blends instead of adding it at the beginning.
- Serve: Scrape into a bowl and add more oil over the top if you’d like. Serve immediately at room temperature.
Tirokafteri Recipe Notes
- Storage – Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. It will harden in the cool air, so let it sit on the counter for about half an hour to soften before eating.
- Handling peppers – It’s always wise to wear gloves when handling spicy peppers, especially when chopping or seeding them. The oils can burn when transferred to the skin or eyes, and it’s easy to miss some spots when washing with soap and water.
- Blending – You can also use a high-speed blender if you don’t have a food processor. However, you’ll want to pulse it a few times first, then start at a lower speed and increase as you go so that everything incorporates well.
- Less salt – Soak the feta in just enough water to cover the top for about 15 minutes, then drain and proceed with the recipe. This will get rid of the saltiness if that’s something you need to look out for.
Serving Suggestions
Try this deliciousness on just about anything you can think of! Here are some great ways to enjoy it:
- Dip for khubz (pita) or crackers
- Spread on sandwiches
- Paired with meat and vegetables
- Sauce for flatbread or khachapuri
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Tirokafteri (Feta Cheese Spread) + Video
Ingredients
- 16 oz feta cheese (See Note 1)
- 4 tbsp Greek yogurt
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups green bell pepper (See Note 2)
- 1 banana pepper (See Note 3)
Instructions
- Add the feta cheese, yogurt, olive oil, vinegar, and both peppers to a food processor. Process until the ingredients are almost smooth and combined, about 30 seconds.
- Transfer to a bowl and serve at room temperature with a drizzle of olive oil. Store covered and refrigerated up to 1 week.
Video
Notes
- Preferably Greek feta cheese. Crumbled, this will be 2 1/2 to 3 cups total.
- Typically 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped.
- 1 banana pepper, roughly chopped, about a 1/3 cup total. A Pepperoncini pepper can be substituted, with the heat factor rising just a bit. I also use a red Fresno chile (as pictured), seeded sometimes.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
My family will love this spread. Feta cheese flavor is my favorite!
I can’t wait to try this…I have all of the ingredients on hand!!
Excellent, enjoy Sandi. 🙂
This is such an amazing recipe!! Perfect balance of flavors! My family really loved it.
Thanks for letting me know Toni. 🙂
Yummy! This looks amazing and so delicious! I can’t wait to make this! My husband is going to love this!
Let me know what you two think Beth!
This Tyrokafteri is seriously making me hungry!
Then my job is done. 🙂 You’ll enjoy this one Erin.
Tangy and spicy sound like a perfect pair to me! Can’t wait to try this.
Great for dipping or as a spread on pita!
So many things will go well with this, I highly recommend it!
Perfect party dip!
YUM!! This is right up my alley! I’ve been planning a big mezza spread, this is perfect for it. I love how it’s a bit different with the green pepper and chilli, I never would have thought to add them into a feta dip. Thanks Kev – N x
So many good, tasty nibbles here to try with more to come. Thanks for stopping by Nagi!