Feta can upgrade any dish you've got from "meh" to "marvellous". Here's a meal plan we've packed with that gloriously salty, wonderfully crumbly cheese.
Ingredients
Makes 3 dinners, each serving 4
Honestly, you could probably chuck some feta onto a plate and call it a day. We're not going to do that though. We've gone the extra mile by making the most of feta and using it in some fun and interesting ways.
50g Butter
60g Chilli Oil
20g Cumin Seeds
240g Drained Cooked Chickpeas
20g Dried Oregano
60g Extra Virgin Olive Oil
440g Feta
76g Filo Pastry
50g Flaked Almonds
1 Garlic Bulb
100g Greek Yoghurt
30g Harissa
30g Honey
300g Leeks
3 Lemons
30g Olive Tapenade
125g Parsley
320g Puff Pastry
30g Ras El Hanout
2 Red Onions
1 Pinch of Sesame Seeds
150g Spinach
3 Tomatoes
160g Watercress
The Recipes
The first recipe in this meal plan is a batch of Crispy Feta, Olive and Harissa Phyllo Parcels – they're deceptively easy to make and the perfect little lunch for a hot summer's day. These parcels are best consumed outside, under a blaring sun, but you can eat them all year round, too. The combination of the feta and the olives makes for an almost heady level of saltiness but it stands up well with the heat of the harissa. A winner.
Next up, we've got a Tomato Tart With Whipped Feta & Peppery Watercress Salad that's begging to be made at your next dinner party. Whipped feta is one of those fancy dips you can make in no time that'll have a lot of people incredibly impressed. Just don't tell them how painfully simple it is to make. They'll be suitably less impressed after they find that out. The bright, pepper watercress salad is essential. Serve yourself up a big slice of this for a dinner to remember.
Last but not least, we've magicked up a recipe for Herby Leeks With Chickpeas & Chilli Feta which will provide a nice bit of balance to your week. Yes, it's got a fair amount of cheese so it's hard to call this "light" but – honestly – it's about as close as you're going to get when you're playing around with blocks of feta. The chickpeas add a nice whack of protein to this dinner.
Crispy Feta, Olive and Harissa Phyllo Parcels
These are the most simple but satisfying crispy phyllo parcels, perfect as a starter, or a to have with a cold beer...
Tomato Tart With Whipped Feta & Peppery Watercress Salad
Flaky puff pastry topped with spiced tomatoes. Finished with a nutty gremolata and tangy whipped feta – a quick and impressive weeknight dinner.
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Herby Leeks With Chickpeas & Chilli Feta
This gorgeous, vibrant green dish from Dr Rupy is a great way to get in some veg. The chilli feta is a real chef's kiss touch.