This Tirokafteri recipe, sometimes known as "Htipiti", is a spicy Greek feta dip that is incredibly easy to make, yet so deliciously flavorful! Serve alongside Middle Eastern bread, baked pita chips, or Greek pita bread.
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Tirokafteri is a delicious traditional Greek dip that gets its bold taste from feta cheese, roasted peppers, garlic, and hot peppers such as chili peppers, jalapenos, or serranos. It is also sometimes known as "htipiti".
"Tirokafteri" means "spicy cheese", while "htipiti" roughly translates to "whipped" or "that which is beaten", referring to the feta cheese, which is whipped into a creamy consistency as the base of the dip.
If you enjoy Mediterranean dips like Lebanese hummus, tzatziki, ful medames, and roasted eggplant dip, or serve it on the side with gyros pizza! Either way, you'll love this uniquely spicy Greek feta dip known as Tirokafteri!
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This Tirokafteri recipe is so quick and easy that it can be made in just 5 minutes!
- Tirokafteri is a unique dip that isn't as well known as other Mediterranean dips like hummus and baba ganoush so it's perfect for impressing friends & family.
- This dish can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve it.
- You can enjoy Tirokafteri as a stand-alone appetizer or as part of a mezze platter or falafel bowl.
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Feta cheese: I like using a block of feta cheese instead of crumbled, as crumbled feta tends to be too dry. Optionally, you can add a scoop of plain Greek yogurt or homemade yogurt for added protein and to give your Tirokafteri more of a creamy texture.
- Roasted red peppers: Store-bought is fine, or you can roast your own red bell pepper.
- Parsley: Curly parsley or Italian parsley both work.
- Serrano: I use 2, but you can stick to 1 if you don't want too much spice, or you can use a jalapeño or red chili pepper instead.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: I like to sprinkle some on top for added texture and flavor. You can omit this, or you can use oregano instead.
- Pita chips: These are great for dipping, but you can use warm pita bread, crusty bread, or crackers. Or use bell peppers, carrots, celery, cucumbers, etc.
- Olives: Kalamata olives are a must, but I like including some cerignola olives or pitted green olives as well.
*See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients.
🌶️ How To Make Tirokafteri
Step 1: Add feta cheese, roasted red peppers, serranos, a fresh garlic clove, red wine vinegar, and olive oil to a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency is reached.
Step 2: Allow Tirokafteri to reach room temperature, if necessary, before serving. Garnish with additional crumbled feta, chopped fresh parsley, and crushed red pepper, and enjoy.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Serve Tirokafteri as part of a mezze platter with Tabbouleh, Spinach and Cheese Fatayer, warm pita bread, Spanakopita Triangles, and Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmadakia). You can also serve this dip as an appetizer with Greek chicken souvlaki recipe or Pastitsio! Try swirling in some of this harissa substitute for a spicy kick!
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Tirokafteri can be eaten as either a dip or a spread, and it works alongside fresh bread, pita chips, crackers, fresh veggies, mezze platters, Mediterranean charcuterie boards, Mediterranean bowls, and more!
While "tirokafteri" and "htipiti" are often used interchangeably, there is actually a slight difference. Traditionally, htipiti includes roasted red peppers, whereas tirokafteri often does not.
Tirokafteri (aka "htipiti") is traditionally served at room temperature, but it can technically be warmed up in the microwave or on the stove and served hot. I recommend trying it both ways.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- Store Tirokafteri leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- If storing in the fridge, allow the Tirokafteri to sit out at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
- Don't be afraid to tweak this Greek feta cheese dip recipe to your liking!
- Make it gluten-free by serving it with sliced carrots, cucumber, and celery.
🥒 More Dip Recipes
If you enjoy this spicy feta dip recipe, be sure to check out these other tasty dips!
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📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add feta cheese, roasted red peppers, serranos, a fresh garlic clove, red wine vinegar, and olive oil to a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency is reached.
- Allow tirokafteri to reach room temperature, if necessary, before serving. Garnish with additional crumbled feta, chopped fresh parsley, and crushed red pepper and enjoy.
Nutrition
Notes
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- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
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- If storing in the fridge, allow the tirokafteri to sit out at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
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- Don't be afraid to tweak this Greek feta cheese dip recipe to your liking!
- Make it gluten-free by serving it with sliced carrots, cucumber, and celery.
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