Whipped Feta Dip with Spicy Honey

The light, sweet and savory dish you need for summer! This easy, velvety whipped feta dip with honey, Middle Eastern spices and a little red pepper kick is the perfect appetizer for summer parties, weekends, camping or any time! Dip with grilled pita and veggies, such as fresh cucumbers and radishes, plus grilled, crisp-tender carrots and asparagus. We recommend pairing with 2019 Riesling Grand Klasse, 2017 Contact Riesling or Semillon.

Ingredients:

• 8-10 oz feta, crumbled or broken up into coarse chunks

• ½ c ricotta

• ¼ c sour cream

• sea salt + freshly ground pepper

• ¼ c spicy honey – purchase a good quality spicy honey* or make your own, recipe below

• 1-2 tsp za’atar** (optional, but highly recommended – you can find it online or in many grocery stores or you can make it yourself)

• fresh chives, finely chopped

Directions:

1. Add feta, ricotta, sour cream, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper to food processor. Process on high for three minutes, pausing after one minute to scrape down sides. Feel free to add more salt & pepper to taste (the salt content of different brands of feta varies greatly). Add to shallow serving bowl.

2. Drizzle ¼ cup cooled spicy honey over the top. Save extra honey to add more if you like, or save it for another time.

3. Sprinkle za’atar and chives over the top.

4. Enjoy with a glass of chilled white!

* We DO recommend Mike’s Hot Honey, we DO NOT recommend Signature Select brand

**Za’atar is a middle eastern spice blend commonly made up of savory dried herbs such as marjoram, thyme and oregano, and toasted earthy spices such as coriander and cumin, plus sesame seeds, salt and sumac

Jen’s Garlic Hot Honey

Ingredients:

• 2/3 c honey

• 1 1/2 tsp olive oil

• 2 garlic clove, minced

• 2 tsp crushed red chili flakes (or more to taste)

• dash of salt & pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oil in small fry pan ON LOW. Sometimes even low can be too hot.

2. Add garlic and sauté a few minutes. You don’t want brown the garlic, so lift off heat if you are concerned. Once garlic is softened, remove pan from heat.

3. Add honey, chili flakes, salt and pepper to pan. Stir to combine and let cool. Pour into a jar for storing.