Description
Whipped Feta with Roasted Strawberries brings creamy cheese and caramelized fruit together in a delightful dance of flavor. Spread this simple yet elegant appetizer on crusty bread for an instant crowd-pleaser that sparks conversation at your next gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz feta cheese
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups strawberries
Supporting Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
Finishing Ingredients
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh basil or mint
- Olive oil
- Black sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F, preparing a parchment-lined baking sheet for the strawberries.
- Halve 2 cups of fresh strawberries, removing the stems and creating even pieces.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of honey with a pinch of black pepper in a bowl.
- Coat the strawberry halves completely in the vinegar-honey mixture, ensuring each piece is well seasoned.
- Spread the strawberries in a single layer across the prepared baking sheet, allowing space between each piece.
- Roast the strawberries for 15-20 minutes until they become soft and develop a glossy, slightly caramelized surface.
- Remove the strawberries from the oven and let them cool to room temperature while preparing the whipped feta.
- Combine 8 ounces of crumbled feta and 4 ounces of softened cream cheese in a food processor.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and a dash of black pepper to the cheese mixture.
- Blend the ingredients until the mixture becomes completely smooth and creamy, adding extra olive oil if needed for desired consistency.
- Transfer the whipped feta to a serving dish, using the back of a spoon to create elegant swirls.
- Generously scatter the roasted strawberries over the whipped feta.
- Finish the dish with a delicate drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle chopped fresh basil or mint on top.
- Optional: Garnish with black sesame seeds for added texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- Roasting strawberries concentrates their sweetness and creates a gorgeous syrupy texture that transforms this appetizer from simple to spectacular.
- Feta’s saltiness pairs beautifully with roasted strawberries, so choose a high-quality block feta for the smoothest, creamiest whip.
- Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly, so let cream cheese and feta sit out for 30 minutes before mixing.
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for cream cheese and reduce olive oil by half, which keeps the dish protein-rich but lower in calories.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Roasted
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 190 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg