Tyrokafteri (5-Minute Greek Spicy Feta Dip Recipe)

Name: Tyrokafteri (5-Minute Greek Spicy Feta Dip Recipe)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup feta cheese (broken into chunks or crumbled); 1 cup roasted red peppers (jarred, in oil or water (ready-roasted)); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons lemon juice (about the juice of 1 lemon); ¼ teaspoon dried chili flakes; a few fresh herb leaves e.g. oregano, parsley, coriander; an extra drizzle of olive oil; extra lemon segments; pita chips, tortilla chips or any chips, warm pita bread or flatbread, vegetable sticks, or zucchini fries

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Bring a taste of the Mediterranean summer into your kitchen with this quick and easy feta dip recipe! Tangy, creamy, zesty and just a little bit fiery, ‘tyrokafteri’ (literally ‘hot cheese’ in Greek) is a spicy feta dip that’s perfect for mezze platters, or simple appetizers and snacks.

Throw just 5 simple ingredients into a food processor. In just 5 minutes, your dip will be ready for shovelling into your mouth with warm flat bread, pita chips or on the side with a classic Greek meal.

Move over tzatziki!

Someone scooping up spicy feta dip with a homemade pita chip from an oval shaped dish with black and white rim on a black plate and blue background with more pita chips in the background.

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What’s tyrokafteri?

First things first… the Greek word Tyrokafteri (written Τυροκαυτερή in Greek and pronounced tee-ro-kaf-ter-EE) literally means ‘hot cheese’ in English!

Also sometimes spelled tirokafteri, it’s a spicy feta cheese dip (or spread!) that’s made with feta cheese, roasted red peppers, lemon, olive oil and chili. You’ll often see it in Greece as part as a meze platter, or just to enjoy on the side with other classic Greek side dishes and mains.

Like many classic Greek recipes that have been passed down through generations, many people have their own preferred way of making tyrokafteri. Some are made with actual chilis, others are made with hot peppers, and still others just a pinch or two of chili flakes. Some add lemon juice or vinegar and some versions include more red bell peppers than others.

Of course, they are all delicious!

Fun facts

Traditionally, this dip is made with a pestle and mortar. You can try it if you like although expect some arm work! The dip will be chunkier, but arguably even more delicious made this way.

In Greece, you might also come across cheese dips called ‘htipiti’ or ‘kopanisti’, which mean ‘whipped’ or ‘beaten’. They are very similar whipped feta dips, but there are some small differences. Tyrokafteri is the spicy one, of course!

Why you’ll love it

One of the (many) wonderful things about Greek food is its simplicity. You don’t need many ingredients to make something extremely delicious!

Here’s what I think you’ll love:

SO easy to make in literally 5 minutes and with just 5 ingredients. Add a few store-bought or homemade pita chips and this is such a fantastic option for a quick pre-dinner appetizer for guests!

A crowd pleasing flavor combination. Made with all natural ingredients, this dip is rich and creamy and yet lighter than most cheese dips. The flavors are bold and punchy and yet not overpowering. The sweetness of the red peppers cuts through the salty feta and hit of spice just enough. You won’t be able to stop eating it!

Adjust the spice to your personal taste. I like to keep my dip on the milder side with just a little kick of heat. But feel free to add more chili flakes if you like.

Ingredients

Feta cheese: Since it’s the star of the show, I like to pick a good quality feta cheese that I already know I like. My favorite is an authentic Greek brand. However, I also quite like Danish, Persian, Bulgarian or French fetas for their extra smooth and creamy textures.

Roasted red peppers: To make this dip the easiest it can be, I always use jarred roasted red bell peppers that are packed in either water or oil. Whole or chopped are both fine.

Dried chili flakes: I use these since I always have them in my pantry. Feel free to use crushed red pepper flakes instead, or a chopped fresh red chili (start with just one and go from there).

Lemon juice: Not all tyrokafteri recipes include lemon juice, but I love the vibrance and freshness it adds. Feel free to use a little vinegar instead if you don’t have lemon juice on hand.

Extra virgin olive oil: You’ll add just a little to the dip to help it blend together. If you can use a good quality brand all the better. Since there are so few ingredients in this dip you want each one to shine.

How to make tyrokafteri

It would be hard to find a cheese dip as easy to make as this one!

All you have to do is to throw all of the ingredients into a food processor or blender together. My mini food processor bowl seems like the perfect size!

Then pulse for just a few seconds until you have a smooth creamy dip that still has a few chunks of cheese and peppers in it.

Collage of 2 images showing all ingredients for a spicy feta dip or tyrokafteri in the bowl of a food processor and then with the ingredients all blended together to make a dip.

If you have time, pop it into the fridge for a while to ‘rest’. Then spread the dip out on a small platter or plate or pile it into a bowl to serve.

I sometimes garnish the top with a few fresh herb leaves (oregano in the photo below), an extra drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a few lemon segments if I have any.

A black and white oblong shaped dish of spicy Greek feta dip with a bit of fresh oregano on top and with salt, Greek salad, pita chips and lemon halves next to it, all on a blue background.

Helen’s top tips

Don’t overmix. Pulse the ingredients in your food processor until just combined. Traditionally, this red pepper and feta dip should be a little chunky in texture.

I find a mini food processor is ‘just right’ for making this dip. But you can also use a hand held blender or regular blender or even crush and whip the dip by hand in a pestle and mortar if you prefer.

Try to make the dip at least 2 hours ahead. The traditional way to serve tyrokafteri is a little hardened, straight out of the fridge. I love it like this!

How to serve

My favorite way to serve tyrokafteri is as a very simple dip in a bowl with pita chips, tortilla chips (or any chips), crackers, warm sliced flatbread or chopped veggies on the side for dipping and scooping.

If you’re interested in making your own homemade pita chips, check out my recipe for air fryer pita chips (also possible in a regular oven!).

If you want to be fancy, make a trio of dips with tyrokafteri, tsatziki and either melitzanosalata (eggplant dip) or hummus. Make crispy Greek zucchini fries for dipping!

But a Greek feta dip is also perfect used as a spread! Spread it onto these 2-minute olive oil toasts, or slather it inside a sandwich or wrap such as these Greek wrap pinwheels.

Or how about serving it pizza style? Spread the cheese dip onto a cooked pizza base, naan bread or other favorite flatbread, and sprinkle chopped Greek salad ingredients over the top!

Last (but most definitely not least), this dip is fantastic served simply on the side with any Mediterranean style dinner. How about serving it as part of a salad bowl, with quinoa or another grain, pita bread and whatever other salad ingredients you like?

Here are some more ideas:

a classic Greek horiatiki (village) salad and the best Greek potatoes ever! (you really have to try these)

air fryer Greek meatballs or ‘keftedes’ (or make them in a regular oven!)

easy Greek moussaka

traditional yemista (stuffed vegetables)

amazing Greek chicken and potatoes or equally as delicious Greek patties and potatoes (bifteki)

Greek chicken gyro pitas (spread some inside – why not?!) or on the side with baked chicken skewers (souvlaki!).

Top tip: This dip also makes a perfect side dish for lamb kleftiko (Greek roast lamb) or any other grilled or roasted meat.

Someone scooping up some Greek spicy feta dip in an oblong shaped plate with black and white edge with a homemade pita chip, with more pita chips in the background.

Variations

As already mentioned, you are pretty free to make this spicy feta dip recipe your own by simply varying the amounts of the ingredients you add.

For instance, add a little more or less lemon juice or substitute with vinegar. Up the spice (or don’t!). Add just a few roasted red peppers for a hint of pink in the dip, or add more for a dip with more of a salmon-y hue (my fave!).

For a very mild version of the dip, skip the chili altogether, perhaps adding a half to 1 teaspoon of paprika instead.

You can also stir in a few fresh herbs, or sprinkle some over the top to serve. My top choice would be a little fresh oregano, but coriander or parsley would work well, too.

However… my FAVORITE way to vary this recipe is by adding sundried tomatoes into the dip! You can either keep the roasted red peppers and just add a few, or you can entirely replace the bell peppers with sundried tomatoes.

This also makes an incredibly delicious quick and easy feta dip!

Recipe FAQ

What can I substitute for chili flakes when making tyrokafteri?

You can simply use chopped red chilis, crushed red pepper flakes, jalapeños or even Mediterranean hot green peppers if they’re available. Any kind of chili or hot peppers will work. Always start with a small amount and go from there to increase the heat.

How long does tyrokafteri keep in the fridge?

If you cover it well or keep it in an airtight container, this spicy feta dip will keep well for a few days in the fridge, and probably longer. If you’d like to keep it longer (up to a week), cover the top with a thin layer of olive oil to help preserve it.

The dip will harden a little in the fridge, but arguably it tastes even better that way!

More recipes starring feta cheese!

I love a cold cheese dip like tirokafteri, but how about a hot feta dip instead? Try this baked feta with tomato, feta and olives and you’ll see it’s just as delicious with fresh bread dipped in.

These feta filo pies with honey also make a very simple and sublime appetizer for your mezze plate. Need party appetizers instead? Try these mini Greek cheese pies (tiropitakia).

This baked eggplant with tomato and feta is way more delicious than it possibly sounds. Perfect with Greek meatballs and olive oil toasts!

This Greek spinach and feta filo pie impresses every time. So easy, but everyone will think you’re an amazing cook.

Ever tried stuffed chicken breasts with spinach and feta? Such an easy but delicious dinner!

For more ideas for your mezze platters and snacks, you might also like to check out this list of 21 easy Greek appetizers!

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