Thanks to everyone for your emails and best wishes. A melt down can be very unattractive. You have all helped to encourage me to smile. I truly appreciate your comments. There’ll be no stories today, we will be swinging straight into cheese. I am going to give back to you with this idea.
I saw it first on Pinterest. It’s definitely not the sort of cheese plate you may first think of serving, however it is very handy because you probably have these ingredients.
This is a fairly loose recipe but I’ll give you a run down on how to, and then you should take it to where ever you like. This after all, is the point because it’s an idea for serving something delicious at very short notice. It’s an idea thats supposed to make you look like a brilliant effortless entertainer. Then while you are throwing together a quick main course you can leave them nibbling on this cheese plate thingy…just add crackers….or toasted Lebanese bread chips. Have I ever told you how to make them.?…we must do that.
One thing I do advise though is that you use a very creamy piece of Danish feta. If you found there was suddenly a Feta strike in your supermarket you could use a fresh ricotta.
Feta Cheese "dip" tomato, chilli and herbs
Ingredients
- 50 gm red onion very finely diced
- 60 ml lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar fine
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Chopped chilli
- 1 whole tomato small, very finely diced
- 1 small long red pepper 1/2 a red capsicumvery finely diced
- 100 gm black olives with or without seeds
- 125 ml olive oil a strong punchy one
- 1 /2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup Chopped soft herbs- parsley, basil, fennel tops
- A grind or two of pepper
- 250 gm Danish feta The nice creamy kind
Instructions
- Mix the first 4 ingredients -lemon,onion,sugar and salt. Stand till the other ingredients are ready. This "cooks" the onion.
- Mix all of the other finely diced ingredients together, then add the onion mix.
- Stir and taste . Add more onion, salt and pepper or chilli.
- Open the cheese and put onto a dish . Spoon the salsa over the cheese.
Lebanese bread Crisps
- Cut a couple of Lebanese bread rounds into pieces (approx 5-6 cm). Put a1/2 cup of olive oil into a bowl with a teaspoon salt, fresh pepper, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika. Toss the bread in this mix and then lay onto lined trays and bake till starting to colour. Cool and use with this cheese dip.
This looks delish! Feta is one of my fave things- and cheese can help with almost anything. x
Oh holy smokes that looks damn good. Not sure what happened to cause you to meltdown hun, but I do hope all is OK now and that this year ahead brings nothing but awesomeness for you xx
This is so pretty Tania, I am sorry you were having a melt down and sometimes you need a quick tasty fix. This is a delightful offering and looks just gorgeous on your pretty green plate. Happy New Year Tania 😀
This sounds terrific. I hope you are doing well now and looking forward to a terrific 2015!
I just found this recipe on Food on Friday and wanted to stop by to tell you how gorgeous this looks. Perfect for the holidays. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Carrie
OMG this is right up my alley! Give me this, some crackers and a glass of wine and I’ll be one very happy girl! Love the flavours you’ve used here!! Thank you so much for linking up with our Fabulous Foodie Fridays party! xx
What a delicious idea! I love that you use fennel tops in this too 🙂
This looks so amazing!
I am so sorry to hear you have been having a rough time Tania. Sending you lots of virtual hugs and mugs of hot, soul warming tea over to your way. Lots of love xxxxx
Oh this does sound yummy Tania! I hope you’re doing better sweetie, we all love you xox
I love this. I saw it on either instagram or FB and thought you must have been using cream cheese! Feta is so much better. I love how this can be simply put together and then what a gorgeous snack this is. Perfect for the end of the day with a glass of wine xx
This sounds delicious….yum! Love cheese. Hope you are feeling better, Tania. You make everyone else feel better with your great recipes and stories. Stay strong!
Thanks Pamela!!
this is an awesome way of making a “dip”! love it!
It most definitely does not look effortless! So impressive Tania. Big hugs xx
This would be the star of the show for sure. I’m so glad you’re able to smile again. You are my culinary hero and my friend.
Thank you Maureen I am very happy to be your friend x
This looks soooooooooooo good Tania – we have a cheese maker here in Hawke’s Bay who makes a lovely organic feta – I will get some this weekend at the market and try this. Thanks.