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    Make It Skinny Please » Recipes » Appetizers » Skinny Spicy Greek Feta Dip (Tirokafteri)

    Published: Aug 19, 2022 · Modified: Nov 23, 2022 by Toni Dash · 5 Comments

    Skinny Spicy Greek Feta Dip (Tirokafteri)

    Weight Watchers Points3
    Calories: 78kcal
    Carbs: 3g
    Protein: 6g
    Fats: 5g
    Jump to Recipe

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    spicy greek feta dip with crackers.

    You don't have to go to Greek restaurants to enjoy this spicy cheese dip at home! We've taken the classic flavors and slimmed the dip down in this Tirokafteri recipe for guilt-free enjoyment. It's a perfect dip to enjoy with carrot sticks and other fresh vegetables.

    spicy greek feta dip with crackers.
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    spicy greek feta dip with crackers.

    Salty feta cheese, creamy Greek yogurt, roasted red pepper, spicy red pepper flakes and more combine to make this Greek feta cheese dip. It's perfect on a vegetable or cheese platter.

    Jump to:
    • What is Tirokafteri?
    • What makes this skinny?
    • Recipe Ingredients Notes
    • How to roast Red Peppers
    • How to make lower calorie Tirokafteri (spicy feta cheese dip)
    • Variations
    • Expert Tips
    • How to store
    • More recipes you'll love!
    • Recipe

    What is Tirokafteri?

    This traditional Greek dip is a spicy cheese spread or dip made with sheep's milk feta cheese. It's often served with warm pita bread as part of a mezze platter (a selection of small dishes or appetizers). The spicy feta dip is made with feta cheese, hot peppers, roasted red peppers, olive oil, lemon juice or red wine vinegar, garlic and sometimes oregano. It's very easy to make with all the ingredients blended into a creamy dip.

    The translation of tirokafteri means 'spicy cheese' (here is how to pronounce tirokafteri). Though the preparation method and handful of ingredients used changes regionally the basic ingredients remain the same. It's a long time favorite of Greek cuisine right after Tzatziki sauce for dipping.

    Tirokafteri greek feta dip with spoon in bowl.

    What makes this skinny?

    We used reduced fat feta cheese. One quarter cup of reduced fat feta cheese is 50 calories and there are 99 calories in a ¼ cup of crumbled full fat feta cheese.

    Fat free Greek yogurt. Lower in calories than full fat Greek yogurt.

    Less olive oil. There is only 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the dip.

    No oil or fat in the roasted red pepper. The roasted red pepper is roasted without any oil. Our substitution option is jarred in water too.

    Recipe Ingredients Notes

    Red bell pepper. Choose a large bell pepper that is firm and without blemishes.This will be roasted and adds fantastic flavor to the feta dip.

    Reduced fat feta cheese. You'll need 8 ounces. Reduced fat feta generally is only available in crumble instead of whole block. Use larger crumbles if different versions are available.

    Non-fat Greek yogurt. The full fat version of this is often used in Tirokafteri to blend into a smoother dip. We are substituting fat-free Greek yogurt. We recommend Chobani brand fat free Greek yogurt for the texture and the flavor.

    Lemon juice. You'll use the juice of half a lemon freshly squeezed. We use a handheld juicer that is not only fast but fully extracts the juice and strains out the seeds. Any juicer will work.

    Red pepper flakes. Instead of adding a fresh hot pepper we used red pepper flakes. You'll use ½ teaspoon.

    How to roast Red Peppers

    This method can be used to roast any type of pepper!

    Gas Stove

    If using a gas stove top, turn on a burner to medium heat. Place the red pepper directly on the grate. Char the pepper until blackened on each side rotating it with tongs (about 2 minutes per side).

    Broiler method

    Turn the broiler to high and place the red pepper about 6” away from the broiler (either directly on the grates or on a baking sheet). Char on each side until blackened rotating with tongs (about 3 minutes per side)

    Both methods

    1. Remove the pepper and place in a heatproof bowl and cover it with plastic wrap (photo 1 below). Or place in a Ziploc plastic bag and seal.
    2. Allow the pepper to steam for 10 minutes.
    3. When the pepper is cool to the touch, scrape off the blackened outside (with fingers or a dull dining knife) and remove the stem and seeds.
    4. Chop the remaining soft red flesh of the pepper into small pieces and set aside until ready to use. 

    How to make lower calorie Tirokafteri (spicy feta cheese dip)

    Combine the reduced fat feta cheese, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, non-fat Greek yogurt, red pepper flakes, oregano and chopped roasted red pepper in the bowl of a food processor (photos 2-3).

    spicy greek feta dip recipe steps 1-4

    Process until smooth, scraping the sides as needed (photo 4).

    It will be thinner dip just after blending. Place in a sealed container and chill for 30-60 minutes or until the dip thickens before serving.

    Variations

    Want it spicier? Add more red pepper flakes. Make and taste the dip before adding more in case it's too spicy.

    Red wine vinegar. Traditional Tirokafteri used either lemon juice or red wine vinegar for some acidic flavor. You can substitute 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar for the lemon juice if desired.

    Don't want to roast the pepper yourself? No problem. You can use roasted pepper in jars. Use one that is in water not oil. We tested Mezzetta brand Roasted Red Bell Pepper Strips (California fresh pack) and they worked great. If substituting use 1 ¼ cups and drain them on paper towels before adding to the recipe.

    Want a thicker dip? Reduce the amount of Greek yoghurt used.

    Want to use a fresh chili peppers? You can definitely add you favorite hot pepper instead of red pepper flakes. The seeds hold most of the heat so remove them before adding to the recipe unless you love really spicy food.

    Salt and pepper. The feta cheese is salty though adding the yogurt tames that saltiness a bit. After making the dip, taste it, and season with salt and/or fresh pepper if desired.

    Tirokafteri greek feta dip with spoon i.

    Expert Tips

    Consistency. When the dip is processed it will still have some texture versus being completely smooth. The texture comes from tiny pieces of feta that add a salty burst of flavor to anything you dip into it.

    Dairy lessens heat. Dairy products are the one thing that will reduce heat from spicy peppers so the addition of Greek yogurt will make the dip slightly less spicy. If you want it hotter add more red pepper flakes. If it's too hot you can add more yogurt.

    How to store

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

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    Recipe

    skinny spicy greek feta dip

    Skinny Spicy Greek Feta Dip (Tirokafteri)

    Weight Watchers Points3
    Click to track Weight Watchers Points
    Spicy Greek Feta Dip is easy to make and full of salty feta cheese, sweet roasted red pepper in a creamy dip perfect for dipping vegetables or spreading on a wrap.
    5 from 85 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Greek
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Chilling Time (approximate): 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 ¼-cup servings (total yield: 2 cups)
    Calories: 78kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Equipment

    Food processor

    Ingredients

    • 1 large red bell pepper
    • 8 ounces reduced fat feta cheese Athenos brand recommended
    • ¼ cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt Chobani brand recommended
    • 1 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 clove garlic peeled
    • ½ lemon juiced
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

    Instructions

    Roasting the red pepper (2 method options)

    • Gas stove top: turn it to medium heat and place the red pepper directly on the grate. Char the pepper until blackened on each side– about 2 minutes per side.
    • Broiler: turn the broiler to high and place the red pepper about 6” away from the broiler. Char on each side until blackened– about 3 minutes per side.
    • Both methods: Remove the pepper to a heatproof bowl and cover it with plastic wrap OR place it in a plastic Ziploc bag and seal. Allow the pepper to steam for 10 minutes.
    • When the pepper is cool to the touch, scrape off the blackened outside with fingers or a dull knife and remove the stem and seeds.
    • Chop the remaining soft red flesh of the pepper into small pieces and set aside until ready to use.

    Making the dip

    • Add the roasted red pepper, feta cheese, Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, oregano and red pepper flakes to the bowl of a food processor and puree until smooth and creamy. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
    • Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes to allow the dip to thicken. Serve with cut vegetables or crackers.

    Notes

    How to store
    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0.3mg | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 683IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    spicy greek feta dip with crackers.
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutritional Coach and certified Weight Loss Specialist, writer/blogger, photographer, chief recipe developer and creator of Make It Skinny Please. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her slimmed down recipes using real food ingredients bring excitement to the dining table and never taste like 'diet food'. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 85 votes (80 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tavo says

      August 19, 2022 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      I loved this recipe! Feta is one of my favorite cheeses and I loved the spicy touch!

      Reply
    2. Dana says

      August 19, 2022 at 10:05 am

      5 stars
      This dip is *everything*! I love the use of plain yogurt (and Chobani, forever! Only yogurt I buy). Love the kick from the pepper flakes!

      Reply
    3. Elizabeth says

      August 19, 2022 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      I've had this feta dip before at a Greek restaurant and loved it! Your version was just as delicious and I love that it's lower calorie too.

      Reply
    4. Kathleen says

      August 19, 2022 at 8:38 am

      5 stars
      This is perfect for my game day mezze board. Roasted pepper and pepper flakes bring this skinny spicy Greek feta dip over-the-top! Yum!

      Reply
    5. Tayler says

      August 19, 2022 at 8:33 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love feta, but this dip takes it to the next level! So spicy and full of flavor!

      Reply

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I'm a Certified Nutrition Coach and NASM certified Weight Loss Specialist. I'm excited to share Classic Recipes made more calorie friendly using real food!

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