Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (2024)

Published: by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

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Marinated feta takes only 5 minutes to make and is the perfect appetizer. You can make it ahead of time and enjoy it later. Cubes of creamy feta are coated with olive oil, spices, herbs and lemon peel, making this the ultimate Mediterranean snack!

Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (1)

Nothing beats a good feta cheese - creamy, rich and firm, this humble cheese can be used in many different recipes. You can make baked feta, use it in salads such as Greek salad, turn it into whipped feta or tirokafteri (Greek spicy feta dip) or even add it to rice dishes such as spanakopita. One of my favorite ways to use feta is to marinate it with olive oil, herbs and spices. This is a quick recipe that takes only 5 minutes to make.

Table Of Contents:
  • What is feta and where is it from?
  • Why you'll love this recipe
  • How to choose good feta
  • Ingredients
  • How to make marinated feta
  • Variations
  • Serving suggestions
  • Frequently asked questions
  • More recipes with feta cheese
  • Step-by-Step Recipe

What is feta and where is it from?

Feta is originally from Greece and is commonly used in Eastern Mediterranean countries such as Bulgaria, Turkey, and the Balkans, among other places. It's semi-hard and made of sheep's milk, or sometimes a mixture of sheep and goat milk. This cheese is usually made into large blocks and ages in brine.

The term "feta" is sometimes used for other white cheese made with cow's milk as well. However, keep in mind that real feta is made with only sheep's milk, or a combination of sheep and goat milk. If made with cow's milk, it's white cheese and not feta - no matter what the packaging says!

Why you'll love this recipe

It's easy: Marinated feta is so easy to make. All you need to do is slice the feta, fill a jar with feta, olive oil, herbs and spices and let it marinate!

Quick recipe: Ready in 5 minutes, this recipe is perfect for days that you're short on time but still want to make something nice. You can also make it in advance and serve it when you're ready.

Everyone loves it: Marinated feta is such a show-stopper. You can customize the marinade to your liking and serve it in many different ways, for example with fresh-baked Turkish bread.

Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (2)

How to choose good feta

Quality feta has a creamy texture, and should taste slightly salty, tangy and should be aromatic.

When shopping for feta, I recommend visiting Middle Eastern or Mediterranean stores and look for blocks of feta stored in brine. Here are a few tips to get choose the right feta:

  1. Look at the color: If you're able to take a look at the feta before you purchase it, make sure to do so. It should be white and not yellow. If the cheese is yellow, it means that it's been exposed to air and the flavors have changed.
  2. Check out the ingredients: Quality feta is made with sheep's milk or a combination of sheep and goat's milk.
  3. Brine: The cheese should be in brine and you need to keep it in the brine for it to stay fresh.

Ingredients

Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (3)
  • Feta cheese: First and foremost, you need quality feta in brine. It comes in the form of a block and you can cut it into cubes. I usually opt for Greek feta, however if that's not available, Bulgarian white cheese would work as well.
  • Garlic: A couple cloves of garlic, sliced and added to the marinade will elevate the flavor.
  • Tarragon: This herb adds a lot of flavor and aroma to the feta. You can also use dried tarragon. It's also possible to use other herbs such as rosemary, thyme or oregano.
  • Olive oil: Quality extra virgin olive oil works best for this recipe.
  • Lemon: You only need the lemon peel.
  • Pepper: I used peppercorn and Aleppo pepper. However, you can use only one of them or use chili flakes instead of Aleppo pepper.
  • Black cumin: This is optional but adds a lot of flavor. It cannot be replaced with regular cumin.

How to make marinated feta

Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (4)
  1. Cut the creamy feta cheese into cubes and place them in a clean mason jar.
  2. Add the garlic slices, tarragon, peppercorn, Aleppo pepper, lemon peels and black sesame seeds.
  3. Fill the jar with olive oil to the top. Make sure all the feta cubes are submerged in olive oil.
  4. Seal the jar and marinate for at least 8 hours up to 1 day.
  5. To serve, take the jar out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (5)

Variations

Here are a few ideas to try if you're making marinated feta:

  • Use chili pepper or jalapenos if you want it to be a bit spicy.
  • Add fresh rosemary, thyme or oregano instead of tarragon.
  • For a slight hint of sweetness, add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar to the marinade.

Serving suggestions

Marinated feta is an easy Mediterranean appetizer that you can serve on a mezze platter with some labneh, fried halloumi, pita chips or pita bread. You can also use it on salads, with chicken or meatballs.

Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (6)

Frequently asked questions

How long does marinated feta last?

If covered completely with olive oil, marinated feta lasts in the fridge for up to 1 month.

What can I use instead of feta?

You can use other semi hard white cheeses such as Bulgarian white cheese, French or Turkish white cheese.

What can I do with the remaining olive oil marinade?

Once you've used all the feta, save the marinade and add more feta cubes to it and top with more olive oil. You can also use the olive oil as a marinade for chicken or seafood or add it to salad dressings.

Can I keep marinated feta at room temperature?

You can keep the marinated feta at room temperature to serve it. However, you always need to store in in the fridge.

More recipes with feta cheese

  • Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad Recipe
  • Easy Shakshuka with Feta
  • Baked Feta Recipe Recipe with Honey and Zaatar
  • The Best Greek Salad Recipe

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

Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (11)

Best Marinated Feta Recipe

Shadi HasanzadeNemati

Marinated feta takes only 5 minutes to make and is the perfect appetizer. You can make it ahead of time and enjoy it later. Cubes of creamy feta are coated with olive oil, spices, herbs and lemon peel, making this the ultimate Mediterranean snack!

5 from 13 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Basic

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 8

Calories 83 kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 oz feta in brine
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled
  • 2 springs fresh tarragon
  • 1 teaspoon peppercorn
  • 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or chili pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 lemon peel only
  • 1 ½ teaspoon black cumin
  • 1 cup olive oil

Instructions

  • Slice the creamy feta cheese into cubes. Place them in a clean and dry mason jar.

  • Add the garlic slices, tarragon, peppercorn, Aleppo pepper, lemon peels and black sesame seeds.

  • Fill the jar with olive oil to the top. Make sure all the feta cubes are submerged in olive oil.

  • Seal the jar and marinate the cheese for at least 8 hours up tp 1 day. To serve, take the jar out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.

Video

Notes

  • Serve on a mezze platter with herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, pita chips and pita bread.
  • You can use Bulgarian, Turkish or French white cheese instead of Greek feta. It's important to use a block of feta and not crumbled feta.
  • To serve, bring the jar out of the fridge and wait for it to come to room temperature.
  • Store the marinated feta in the fridge for up to one month. Make sure the cheese is always covered with olive oil.
  • Save the leftover olive oil to make salad dressing or use it in marinades.

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 4gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 324mgPotassium: 57mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 140IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 154mgIron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stephanie

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (16)
    This recipe takes serving Feta cheese to a whole new level! It was easy to put together and tasted so delish on my appetizer tray.

    Reply

  2. Kushigalu

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (17)
    I love this simple and easy recipe. Looks so delicious. I have never tried feta this way.

    Reply

  3. Noune

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (18)
    I absolutely adore this recipe! Love feta and tarragon. And takes no time to put it together. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  4. Caroline

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (19)
    I love how easy this is but the marinade adds such lovely, bright flavors to the cheese - perfect for nibbling on.

    Reply

  5. Seema Sriram

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (20)
    I adore Feta and this recipe is spot on. Love the flavours and the texture of the marinated feta.

    Reply

  6. Kelley

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (21)
    This would be perfect on pretty much anything!

    Reply

  7. Vicky

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (22)
    I love feta in salads but have never had marinated feta before. This would work wonderfully in a salad or on a charcuterie board.

    Reply

  8. Beth

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (23)
    I can't wait to try this! I love feta cheese, and these marinade ingredients sound like they really accentuate that delicious flavor.

    Reply

  9. Elaine

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (24)
    What a great recipe to make feta. I had one on rotation but it doesn't stand as well as this one. Gotta make some changes 😉

    Reply

  10. Tayler Ross

    Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (25)
    I tried this marinated cheese over the weekend and it was amazing! So full of flavor and I will definitely be making again soon!

    Reply

    • ERIN

      This says there is Aleppo pepper in the recipe but its not in the ingredients. Is it a whole pepper?

      Reply

      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        Aleppo pepper is similar to chili pepper flakes.

Leave a Reply

Best Marinated Feta Recipe (5-minutes!) (2024)

FAQs

How long does feta last in olive oil? ›

How long will feta cheese last in olive oil? As long as you choose to make your marinated feta cheese using high-quality olive oil, it should last at least two to three weeks in the fridge.

Is feta in brine better? ›

Not only does the brine intensify flavor, elongate feta's life span, and improve its creamy texture, but it's useful as a secondary ingredient. You can use that brine to marinate chicken, thin out whipped feta dips, build flavor in broths and braising liquids, and cook grains and beans.

How long can feta last in brine? ›

According to Sommer, feta packed in liquid salt brine can last for as long as 6 months if stored correctly: You can keep the cheese in its original container, but be sure that the block is completely submerged in brine and that care has been taken to avoid contamination.

What kind of milk is used to make feta cheese? ›

Traditionally feta is made using sheep milk, but commonly, it can be made using sheep, goat or cow milk, or any combination of the three. Feta has a salty and pleasantly tangy taste. Texturally, it can range from firm and crumbly, to rich and creamy.

What liquid do you store feta in? ›

You can easily save the remaining cheese by making your own brine. Just combine 2 cups water with 2 tsp. kosher salt, stirring until the salt dissolves. Store the leftover feta in the brine, making sure the cheese is covered completely.

What oil to store feta in? ›

Marinating feta in quality olive oil helps it last in the fridge for a good two to three weeks or so, if stored properly. Seal the jar tightly after each use. Also ensure that the top of the cheese is always covered with olive oil.

Do I rinse the brine off the feta? ›

However, feta brine is incredibly salty and flavorful. So, per America's Test Kitchen, rinsing feta stored in brine reduces the salt content. This simple and quick step allows you to maximize feta's texture and flavor — while controlling the cheese's taste according to your own.

What kind of milk is Athenos feta cheese made from? ›

Athenos Traditional Fat Free feta cheese crumbles are made with skim milk for guilt-free meals. Ingredients: Fat free feta cheese (cultured pasteurized skim milk, salt, enzymes, natural flavor, artificial color, vitamin A palmitate), powdered cellulose (to prevent caking), natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor).

Do you wash brine off feta? ›

Run the feta under very cold water for 10 seconds. This will clear away any brine and firm it up. For salads, use your hands or the tines of a fork to break it up into small pieces. They do not have to be tiny; small chunks work just fine.

What is the difference between feta and feta in brine? ›

By "feta in brine," we mean the stuff that comes packed in a plastic container full of liquid—in this case, salt water—as opposed to the pre-crumbled or vacuum-sealed varieties. Crumbled feta may have the appeal of saving you, what, the three seconds it'll take you to crumble the cheese by hand?

Why is my feta brine slimy? ›

+ Why has my feta gone slimy in the brine? This can be due to two factors. Either the brine solution has a lower calcium level than the feta, leeching calcium out of the cheese, causing it to become slimy, or the cheese acidity is higher than that of the brine again, leeching calcium from the cheese.

Can I freeze feta? ›

You can freeze feta cheese but once thawed it will become drier and crumblier, so it's best to use it in cooking. To freeze, leave it whole or cut into desired shape and sizes. Place into a freezer bag and expel air. You can leave it in the freezer for up to two months.

What are the three types of feta? ›

When cooking with feta, it is imperative to understand the differences between Greek, Bulgarian and French. Henderson defines the three as such: “A definitive similarity of these cheeses lies in the ripening process by which blocks of cheese are held in a saltwater brine.

Is feta a cow or goat? ›

While feta cheese made in Greece is typically made with sheep's milk or with a combination of sheep's and goat's milk, many manufacturers in the US make feta with cow's milk.

How do Greeks use feta cheese? ›

Feta is used as a table cheese, in salads such as Greek salad, and in pastries, notably the phyllo-based Greek dishes spanakopita "spinach pie" and tyropita "cheese pie". It is often served with olive oil or olives, and sprinkled with aromatic herbs such as oregano.

How long does Greek olive oil last? ›

The good news is that Olive Oils shelf life is much longer than the average product and some Olive Oils can last up to 18-24 months before becoming unappetising. However, Extra Virgin Olive Oil tends to last a shorter period, usually around 12-18 months.

Can you store cheese in oil? ›

Cured cheese in olive oil is a Spanish tradition that is one of the best ways to preserve Manchego or some other cheeses. Also, this technic turns the product into an even tastier delight, Covering the food completely with oil prevents contact with air, which helps to make cheeses last longer.

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