Q: I accidentally bought some really expensive feta for a recipe that only called for a small amount.
Now that I have a large quantity of expensive feta, what's a good way to showcase it?
Sent by Melanie
Editor: Melanie, I had a similar "problem" last year when a friend gave me a large quantity of locally-made goat feta. (So delicious!)
Here are a few good ways to show off that cheese:
• Recipe Review: Vicky Bhogal's Foil-Baked Feta
• Recipe: Greek Chicken Pasta with Olives and Feta
• Recipe: Wheat Berry Salad with Blood Oranges, Feta, and Red Onion Vinaigrette
• Recipe: Broccoli and Feta Pasta Salad
Readers, how would you use up a quantity of good feta cheese?
Related: Harvest Spotlight: Local Goat Feta Cheese
(Image: Faith Durand)

Comments (20)
I agree with the pasta suggestion, it's also great with shrimp instead of chicken. My favorite snack is warm toast with feta spread on top and a few kalamata olives.
Or you could just toast up a nice piece of crusty bread, spread some butter or drizzle olive oil on it and eat it with a nice hunk of cheese on the side. Most Greeks eat Feta as an accompaniment to a meal. If you want to make it fancy, place a slice (what Feta actually means) on a plate, drizzle some olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkle of some dried oregano. I also just make spaghetti, drizzle some more olive oil, and crumble the Feta on top. If it's a really good Feta, you want to keep it as simple as possible to really taste the flavor. Use cheap Fetas as an ingredient in recipes.
Athena is right. Just eat it!
I like to use high quality feta in a true "Greek Salad". In Greece, "Greek Salad" does not contain lettuce. It's simply cucumbers, feta, red onions, kalamata olives, high quality olive oil and feta, with oregano sprinkled on top.
Here are some other recipes that feature feta as the star, courtesy of some of my favorite RecipeZaar contributors:
Htipiti - Greek Feta Cheese Spread:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Greek-Feta-Cheese-Spread-Htipiti-38796
Grilled Feta & Tomato Sandwich:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Grilled-Feta-and-Tomato-Sandwich-120815
Baked Feta:
http://www.recipezaar.com/Evs-Baked-Feta-67949
Shrimp with Ouzo or Pernod and Feta sprinkled on top.
Also, I strongly agree with @athena: fresh herbs and good olive oil on top of the feta, served with great bread. Such a simple preparation is a great way to show off flavor. Maybe sliced cucumbers on the side. Or do the same thing and bake it to eat it warm.
Or as the main feature on pizza--mmmmm.
i love feta...
mix it with some lemon zest, chopped spinach, garlic, olive oil and stuff it into a chicken breast for a yummy baked stuffed chicken breast dinner.
mix the above listed ingredients with feta and roll it in phyllo dough eggrolls and bake to crispy perfection. (or add shreded chicken and make a calzone)
mix the above listed ingredient with feta and ground lamb and form a patty. yummy burger idea, smear the bun with tiziki sauce vs. ketchup
cut a tomato into chunks, toss with crumbled feta, sliced red onion, cucumbers, kalamata olives and drizzle with evoo and s&p for a light salad. serve with warm pita bread wedges
The Barefoot Contessa's orzo with roasted veg and feta is superfantastic. Great for home suppers or dinner parties alike.
Pix and recipe link on my blog.
I also really like to make a dip with roasted peppers, feta, and smoked paprika, but since it's such good feta I wouldn't blend it with too many other things. Enjoy!
It's lovely as a pizza-topping :)
I eat it with a spoon.
Otherwise, I like it blended in the food processor with some fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon zest to eat as a spread.
Or, cut it into slices and drizzle with oregano, then pop it into the oven.
If I'm not eating it plain, a great after-dinner treat with coffee is chunks of feta with chunks of halva. One is quite salty and the other quite sweet; they're amazing together.
You can extend the life of your good feta by marinating it in a jar of olive oil and keep in the refrigerator. Feel free to add a combination of peppercorns, herbs or roasted garlic. Use as a spread or sprinkle on salads or pastas. It should last a couple of months.
i put it on top of pasta instead of parmesan cheese. very good.
Yes, yes, with pasta! My favorite combo is with crushed tomatoes, red chili pepper flakes, garlic, anchovies, kalamata olives, and capers. Mmmm.
Lucky duck! too much really good feta...I agree with Athena and Diertac, you want to taste that yummy feta in all its glory!
Either a traditional hortiatiki salad or dakos (toasted crusty bread with crumbled feta, diced tomatoes, drizzled with olive oil and maybe a little oregano and black pepper).
I'm with the people who say pizza. Feta and spinach (or broccoli) on top of a pizza is heaven.
Feta is one of our stables around here. I put it into pasta and let it actually melt a little, it turns out very nicely and gives a nice creamy texture along with a nice rich flavor (a little goes a long way). Ideally with lemon juice and herbs, and some bitter leafy greens.
Another favorite is to mix it into ground turkey with some olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, paprika, etc. and make meatballs or burgers. Great with a yogurt sauce in a sandwich or on top of pasta for a little protein.
the traditional persian way of eating feta is with some kind of fresh flatbread, accompanied by optional sweet and savory items like parsley, cucumbers, halva, and honey. tear the bread into small bites, top with a chunk of feta, and go to town. mmmm.
All these suggestions are great. I will add:
1. On pizza with pepperoncinis. The hot/vinegary/salty flavor is so good.
2. On tacos or your favorite mexican food as a substitute for queso fresco.
I love watermelon, feta and mint salad. Drizzled with olive oil, a little red wine vinegar, salt and sometimes some chopped red chilli or dried chilli flakes.
The sweet coolness of the watermelon really plays nicely with the salty creaminess of the feta.
I would say make a greek chicken salad with orzo, the feta is the star, and invite some lucky people over for dinner!