What to do with leftover feta cheese?
If you’re like me, you might be tempted to just eat it all up straight out of the container.
But there are other fun (and tasty) things to do with feta cheese, too.
Here are a few of my favorite recipes.
Let’s take a look.
Make some delicious sandwiches
Making a sandwich with feta cheese is easy.
Just take your favorite bread, lay down some greens (like lettuce or spinach), and stuff it with tomatoes (or avocado, if you’re like me).
Then all that’s left to do is slice up your leftover feta cheese and sprinkle it over the top of the sandwich.
It’s quick, easy, and delicious.
Make a tasty side dish
If you’re just looking for a snack, or if you want to add something delicious to your meal that doesn’t take much effort, try topping off your favorite side dish with some leftover feta cheese.
Orzo and couscous are my go-to’s, but you can also sprinkle it over rice, or anything else you like.
Make a salad dressing
Another easy trick for enjoying leftover feta cheese is to turn it into your very own homemade salad dressing.
To do this, simply follow the directions on your favorite bottle of salad dressing.
Then just take out about half of the amount called for and replace it with some crumbled-up feta cheese.
Shake it up, taste it…and once you’re happy with the flavor, replace any remaining amount of dressing that was removed with more of your homemade feta salad dressing.
Use it on top of potatoes for dinner
If you’re looking for a dish to go with dinner tonight, check out this recipe for baked feta potatoes.
It’s quick and easy, and it is always delicious.
Turn the oven on to 350 degrees F.
Take 6 medium-sized russet or baking potatoes, wash them well, then pat them dry with paper towels.
Place them on a baking sheet and prick each of the potatoes four or five times with a fork.
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil all over the tops of the potatoes.
Then sprinkle salt, pepper, dried basil, parsley flakes, and any other seasonings you like over top.
Use more if desired.
Bake for about 1 hour, or until the potatoes are tender.
Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly.
Cut each of the baked potatoes in half lengthwise, being careful not to go all the way through the opposite side.
Then place a wedge of feta cheese into each opening that you made on your potato halves, then sprinkle some more salt and pepper on top.
Place them back in the oven for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese has fully melted.
Remove from the oven once again, put a teaspoon of Greek yogurt on each of your potatoes, then sprinkle some more dried basil over the top of that.
Enjoy.
Add it to your scrambled eggs in the morning
If you’re tired of eating plain old scrambled eggs with salt and pepper for breakfast, try this: take 3-4 large eggs and beat them in a bowl.
Add 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 tablespoon of water to the mixture.
Put some butter into a frying pan and turn the burner on medium heat.
Swirl the pan around to get the butter all over the surface.
Pour in your beaten eggs and let them sit for a few minutes until they begin to look cooked on the bottom of the pan.
Then start stirring them around slowly with a wooden spoon or spatula, making sure not to scrape up any stuck-on bits from the bottom of the pan.
Cook until the eggs are done to your liking.
Remove from heat and sprinkle some crumbled feta cheese on top of your eggs.
Serve with toast or as a side dish with dinner.
Try adding feta to your favorite soup recipe
If you’re a fan of soups, try adding some feta cheese to your next concoction.
It’s especially good when paired with lentils or beans in a soup.
So whether you add feta cheese to a side dish, use it as part of a dressing for a salad, add it to the top of your baked potatoes, or just eat it plain, you’re sure to enjoy the way this savory cheese enhances your favorite dishes.
How do you store feta cheese after opening?
Feta cheese has a relatively short shelf life and should be used within 5 days of opening the package if you store it in the fridge.
As with other types of cheese, once you’ve cut through the rind (the hard part covering the exterior of the wheel), you should wrap it in wax paper or foil to keep it from drying out and then store it in the refrigerator.
It can be frozen for longer storage up to a month. (source)
Can you freeze feta cheese?
Yes, you can freeze feta cheese for up to a month.
The taste may be affected by the freezing and thawing process, but it should still be edible.
For best results, firm varieties such as block feta or Greek feta cheese freezes well.
How long does feta last in olive oil?
Feta cheese, covered in oil, will keep in the refrigerator for about 2-3 weeks. (source)
Can feta cheese be eaten raw?
Feta cheese is perfectly safe to eat in its raw form and can be eaten in salads or with other vegetables.
Is feta cheese healthy?
Not necessary.
Feta cheese is high in calcium and protein, low in fat and carbs.
It has a moderate amount of sodium.
How can you tell if feta cheese has gone bad?
Feta cheese will not be good to eat if it tastes sour, smells bad, or has mold growing on it. (source)
What is feta cheese made of?
The basic components of fresh whole milk, salt, starter culture, and rennet are mixed together in a vat.
The whey, which contains the milk sugar lactose, is drained off and water is added to make it more concentrated.
This mixture of enzymes and water is also called “rennet.” A new batch of rennet is put into the solution and it coagulates (turns from a liquid to a solid) and curdles within a few hours.
The curds are molded into forms, where they drain and age in cool chambers for several days until the characteristic crumbly texture is achieved.
What is the liquid that feta cheese comes in?
The liquid that feta cheese comes in is saltwater. (source)
How do you make feta less salty?
If you find feta to be a little salty in taste, try soaking the cheese in milk overnight.
It will draw out some of the salt.
You can use this mixture in your recipes as well.
Conclusion
There are endless possibilities for dishes that you can make using leftover feta cheese.
In this article, I’ve shared just a few of my favorites.
Feta cheese is the perfect way to add some extra flavor and excitement to your meals without having to put in much effort.
So go ahead and give one (or all.) of these recipes a try.