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    Home » Dips and Spreads

    Tirokafteri (Greek Spicy Feta Dip)

    Published: Jan 13, 2023 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    644 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Tirokafteri is a classic spicy Greek feta dip that's ready in 5 minutes. Made with creamy feta and roasted red peppers, you can enjoy this dip as part of a mezze platter alongside some pita bread.

    tirokafteri in a bowl with bread olives and herbs.

    Feta is a key ingredient for many Mediterranean and Greek recipes. No Greek salad or spanakopita is complete without the addition of quality feta and you know we love our marinated feta as part of a mezze platter. Feeling adventurous and looking for something new? Try my popular baked feta with honey and zaatar or this spicy creamy Greek feta dip, called tirokafteri!

    Table Of Contents:
    • What Is Tirokafteri Made Of?
    • How To Make Tirokafteri
    • Serving Suggestion
    • Make A Greek Feast!
    • Storage
    • Are Tirokafteri And Htipiti The Same?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Dip Recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    This classic Greek dip is similar to our whipped feta dip, but spicier thanks to red chili peppers. However, you can control how many peppers you'd like to use and if you don't want the tirokafteri to be too spicy, you can simply remove the seeds.

    What Is Tirokafteri Made Of?

    you need feta, chili pepepr, roasted red pepper, olive oil, garlic and yogurt to make spicy Greek feta dip.
    • Red chili peppers: They're tiny but very mighty! I usually use 1 or 2 for this recipe and it adds enough heat to the dip without overpowering it.
    • Feta: Use the best feta you can find to make this recipe. Quality feta is usually in brine. It's white and made with sheep's milk or a combination of sheep and goat's milk.
    • Roasted red pepper: You can find jarred roasted red peppers in almost every supermarket. Using jarred roasted red peppers is a big time saver. However, if you'd like to roast the peppers at home, follow my roasted red pepper hummus recipe.
    • Greek yogurt: You need a bit of yogurt to make the dip creamy and spreadable since feta is a hard cheese. It's best to use whole milk Greek yogurt.
    • Red wine vinegar: To balance the richness of the feta. Make sure not to overuse it.

    How To Make Tirokafteri

    1. Cook the chili pepper in olive oil for a minute so it softens a bit.
    2. Place the chili pepper with the feta, roasted red pepper, Greek yogurt, olive oil, feta, garlic and red wine vinegar in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until it's creamy and smooth.
    3. Transfer to a bowl or a plate. Top with more olive oil and slices of chili pepper if desired.

    Serving Suggestion

    Serve this classic spicy Greek feta dip with pita bread or pita chips as part of a mezze platter alongside other dishes such as tzatziki, stuffed grape leaves, melitzanosalata and skordalia.

    Dip pita bread in tirokafteri.

    Make A Greek Feast!

    Why stop at a mezze platter when you can make a delicious Greek feast? Prepare some keftedes or souvlaki and serve them as pita sandwiches or with some lemon rice or spanakorizo. With a side of tirokafteri and hummus, this will be the meal of dreams!

    Storage

    Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When you're ready to serve, stir the spicy feta dip well and top with more olive oil.

    Are Tirokafteri And Htipiti The Same?

    The two Greek dips are very similar since they're both made with feta. However, htipiti doesn't call for yogurt and isn't spicy since it only uses roasted red pepper.

    A platter of tirokafteri spicy Greek feta dip.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does tirokafteri mean?

    This word is made of two parts: Tiri and Kafteri. Tiri means cheese and kafteri means spicy. Therefore the word tirokafteri means spicy or hot cheese.

    What can I use instead of red chili pepper?

    If red chili peppers aren't available, use ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or red chili pepper flakes.

    Can I make tirokafteri ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make this spicy feta dip up to a day in advance. The feta might release some of its salty water when set in the fridge, which is very normal. In that case, just give it a good stir and top with olive oil.

    How long does tirokafteri last?

    Tirokafteri lasts for 3 days in the fridge. Make sure it's stored in an airtight container to maintain flavor and consistency.

    More Dip Recipes

    • Best Whipped Feta Recipe
    • Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Recipe
    • Best Tzatziki Recipe (Greek Cucumber Sauce)
    • Muhammara Roasted Red Peppers and Walnut Dip

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Tirokafteri (Greek Spicy Feta Dip)

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Tirokafteri is a classic spicy Greek feta dip that's ready in 5 minutes. Made with creamy feta and roasted red peppers, you can enjoy this dip as part of a mezze platter with some pita bread.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, condiments
    Cuisine Greek
    Servings 8
    Calories 128 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 chili red pepper use 2 if you like it very spicy
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil divided
    • â…“ cup roasted red peppers
    • 8 oz feta cheese see notes
    • 1 clove garlic
    • 2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
    • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

    Instructions
     

    • Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the chili pepper to the pan and cook for just a minute or two. Turn the heat off.
    • Place the cooked chili pepper with the roasted red peppers, feta, garlic, Greek yogurt, red wine vinegar and the remaining of the olive oil in the bowl of a food processor.
    • Seal the lid and blend until creamy and smooth. Transfer to a plate or a shallow bowl and smoothen the top. Drizzle with more olive oil and a few slices of chili pepper if desired. Serve with pita bread.

    Video

    Notes

    • If you like tirokafteri to be less spicy, remove the seeds of the chili pepper before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients. 
    • Use the best feta available to you for this recipe. Make sure you're not using crumbled feta. A block in brine works best for this recipe. 
    • You can use jarred roasted red peppers or you can roast them from scratch. If doing so, follow my instructions in roasted pepper hummus to learn how to roast peppers at home. 
    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Give it a good stir and top with more olive oil before serving. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 405mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 204IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 0.3mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

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      Green Goddess Dressing Recipe
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      Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe
    • Harissa is a classic Tunisian paste that's very spicy.
      Homemade Harissa Recipe
    • roasted garlic hummus topped with chickpeas and olive oil.
      Roasted Garlic Hummus
    644 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea

      May 20, 2023 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      Big fan of creamy feta dips and this spicy one with red peppers sounds amazing!

      Reply
    2. Dannii

      May 20, 2023 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      I love anything with feta and this was amazing. Just the right amount of spice.

      Reply
    3. Suja md

      May 20, 2023 at 10:15 am

      5 stars
      This was a such a delicious and easy recipe! So good!

      Reply
    4. Tara

      May 20, 2023 at 8:15 am

      5 stars
      Oooh, I had this recently at a Greek restaurant for the first time and loved the flavors so much. Definitely need to try it at home. Yours looks absolutely fantastic.

      Reply
    5. Gina Abernathy

      May 20, 2023 at 7:43 am

      5 stars
      This looks and sounds like a wonderful dip to get my dinner party started tonight. Excited to try it!

      Reply

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