Feta is rich, creamy, salty, and pairs incredibly well with those plump, juicy, briny olives! Looking for a quick appetizer or a delicious bite for your mezze platter? Try our traditionally prepared Greek marinated olives and feta! With a classic selection of Greek olives and cubes of creamy feta cheese, we have created an authentic representation of this traditional Greek snack for you to enjoy!
Greek olives are amazingly flavorful and come in a range of varieties from Kalamata to Halkithiki. In fact, Greece is the top producer of edible olives in the world. Consequently, olives are a dominant part of the Greek diet and appear in a range of traditional dishes.
As for feta, what exactly is it? Feta is a white cheese soaked in brine that originates in Greece. Since 2002, the name “feta” has been registered as a protected designation of origin (“PDO”) by the European Union. This means that only this type of cheese, prepared in Greece, can be called “feta.”
What’s more, the grazing conditions of the land, characterized by a limited supply of high-quality flora (which feeds the sheep and goats), create the distinct flavors that we have come to love in what we call feta cheese.
Need-to-Know
Which Feta Cheese to Purchase
When selecting a block of feta cheese, choose a whole block that is not already crumbled. We like the “Mt. Vikos” brand of feta cheese made with sheep’s and goat’s milk; however, any other Greek feta cheese should be just as creamy and delicious!
Selection of Olives
We choose a traditional selection of Greek olives, including kalamata black olives, castelvetrano green olives, and Cretan green olives. However, you may or may not have access to all of these types of olives, depending on where you live. Here are some great alternatives:
- Halkithiki Green Olives
- Kalamata Red Olives
- Nafpilon Green Olives
- Throubes Black Olives
- Konservolia Artas Olives
Cubing vs. Crumbling the Cheese
We prefer to top slices of pita bread with cubes of marinated feta cheese, so we recommend cubing the block of feta cheese. However, if you choose to eat smaller chunks of feta cheese, you may opt for a large crumble instead.
How to Eat It
- Eat it “as is” as a snack or appetizer
- Eat it on a mezze platter
- Spoon it onto pita bread, crackers, or baguette
- Spoon it over seasoned cucumbers and tomatoes
- Serve it alongside scrambled eggs
- Spoon it into a bowl of pasta or orzo
Storage
Store the marinated feta and olives in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume it for up to 7 days.
Purge Your Fridge
You just finished munching on our marinated olives and feta, and you are left with some extra rosemary sprigs. Here are some tasty options to rid your fridge of the excess rosemary:
Ingredients
- 7 oz. feta cheese block cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup olives kalamata black, castelvetrano green, and Cretan green olives
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp salt
- ground pepper to taste
Instructions
Cut the Herbs and Feta Cheese
- Cut the feta cheese block into cubes. Alternatively, you may also opt for a large crumble if you prefer. Set aside.
- Squeeze lemons. Set the juice aside.
- Finely chop the rosemary. Set aside.
Toss the Ingredients Together
- Combine cubed feta cheese, olives, olive oil, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, oregano, rosemary, salt, and ground pepper in a mixing bowl. Toss well.
- Serve and enjoy.
2 Responses
This came together perfect and tasted luxurious!
Hi Kim,
Thank you for your kind comment. We are so happy you enjoyed this dish, it is one of my husband’s personal favorites as well. If you liked this one, check out other Mediterranean bits from our mezze platter.