Reach for the Celestial Heights: Aim for Stardom
Party-Sized Feta Cheese Dip with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pine Nuts
Hold on to your taste buds for a wild ride! This recipe is gonna knock your socks off. It's a delectable party-sized feta cheese dip with sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and pine nuts. Get ready to indulge in a symphony of tangy, sweet, and herby flavors!
🥘 Yield (let's be real... who's counting?): 15 servings (You can seriously adjust this recipe to your heart's content)🤓 Difficulty: So easy even a caveman could whip it up🕒 Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (including an hour of chilling time)🕒 Active Time: 15 minutes
🎉 Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227g) of Unsalted Butter, softened
- 3/4 lb (340g) of Feta Cheese, crumbled
- 1 (8 oz) (227g) package of Cream Cheese, softened
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 shallot, minced
- 3 tablespoons (45g) of Dry Vermouth, Rice Wine Vinegar, or Seasoned Rice Wine Vinegar (optional for flavor enhancement)
- 1/2 cup (56g) of Pine Nuts, toasted
- White pepper, to taste
- 1 cup (188g) of Sun-dried Tomatoes, chopped
- 3/4 cup (177g) of Pesto Sauce
💪 Let's Make It!
- In a food processor, combine the softened butter, crumbled feta cheese, softened cream cheese, minced garlic, minced shallot, and vermouth or vinegar if using. Pulse until a smooth and creamy mixture forms.
- Oil a medium-sized bowl or gelatin mold and line it with plastic wrap. This makes it a breeze to remove the dip later on.
- Layer the dip into the mold, starting with sun-dried tomatoes, followed by pine nuts, and then pesto sauce. Spread your creamy mixture on top, and repeat the layering process.
- Pat down the layers in the mold, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- When you're ready to serve, turn the dip out onto a serving platter and remove the plastic wrap. Enjoy it with crackers or your favorite dippers!
Insightful Bits
This dip is the shining star of your party spread, boasting a delightful flavor combo of tangy feta, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, and zesty pesto. Toasted pine nuts add a pleasant crunch, while the optional vermouth or vinegar enhances the overall flavor. Adjust the recipe as needed to suit your preferences and the size of your gathering!
📝 Note: If you opt for rice wine vinegar or seasoned rice wine vinegar, start with 1 teaspoon and adjust to taste as they are generally more acidic than dry vermouth. You can always play around with herbs and spices to tweak the flavor to your liking!
- This party-sized Feta Cheese Dip, enriched with sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and a hint of garlic, offers a delightful symphony of nutrition as well, making it an ideal appetizer for any gathering.
- For those seeking a tangy twist, consider incorporating vermouth into the dip's creamy mixture, which includes crumbled feta, softened cream cheese, and minced shallot, adding another layer of flavor to the recipe.
- With instructions that are easy to follow, this dip allows you to impress your guests with satisfying, restaurant-quality recipes right at home, yielding 15 servings.
