Bringing Greek Flavors Home: Marinated Feta and Tzatziki
We were lucky to squeeze in a quick trip to Greece just before the lockdowns began. During our visit, we explored all the wonderful nooks and crannies of Athens and indulged in incredible Mediterranean food, including authentic marinated feta and creamy tzatziki.
Discovering Hidden Gems in Athens
In addition to the incredible ancient sites and museums, we wandered down dark, narrow streets with graffiti-covered walls. We were told to go further when you start to wonder if you’re crazy for strolling these roads. We did, and we were rewarded with vibrant art, music, and food scenes.
A City of Citrus, Olive Trees, and Tzatziki
Most of the streets in Athens were lined with citrus and olive trees. It is a city where tzatziki, feta, cucumbers, and olives seemed to be served at every meal. The food was incredibly fresh, and the people were warm and friendly. Mediterranean food, in general, is fabulously luscious and healthy, so we fully indulged in all the Greek fare.
Recreating Greek Delights at Home
I’ve been craving marinated feta and tzatziki lately, so I put together a platter with homemade flatbread, olives, and grilled veggies. Tzatziki is delicious served with meats, fish, veggies, and pita or flatbread. Marinated feta is wonderful on salads, grilled veggies, or crumbled over soups and stews.
Easy Marinated Feta Cheese Recipe
I packed the cheese into four small French canning jars with fresh rosemary from my garden, bay leaves, pink peppercorns, and lemon rind and topped it off with olive oil. Yummy.
Marinated Feta
Ingredients
- 1 pound cube of feta cheese
- 2-3 cups extra virgin olive oil
- Rind of one lemon
- 4 bay leaves
- 8 sprigs of rosemary
- 2 teaspoons pink green or black whole peppercorns
Instructions
- Cut the feta into large chunks that will fit into your jars and place into jars.
- Press herbs and lemon rind around the cheese.
- Sprinkle some peppercorns around the cheese.
- Pour enough oil over the cheese to cover it.
- Close jars, let sit out for a few hours, and then refrigerate.
- Allow to marinate for 4-7 days while the flavors infuse the cheese.
Tzatziki
Ingredients
- 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- ½ cucumber seeded, finely chopped or grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced very fine or mashed
- 1 tablespoons fresh dill or mint chopped fine
- 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Press the chopped or grated cucumber into a fine sieve to remove as much liquid as possible (or squeeze in a tea towel or paper towel).
- Mix the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs in a small bowl.
- Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Place in a serving dish and drizzle a few tablespoons of olive oil over the top.
Nutrition
Enjoy!
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