This is the dip that ruins you for plain hummus. Smooth, tangy whipped feta under a slow drizzle of homemade hot honey, finished with thyme, a little citrus, and a dusting of sumac, scooped up with charred bread. It hits creamy, salty, sweet, and just-spicy all at once — and it’s genuinely easy to make at home.
It’s one of the most-ordered plates on our summer menu. Here’s how we make it.
Ingredients
Whipped feta
- 200 g feta cheese
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Hot honey
- 1 cup honey
- 2 to 3 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, or 1 fresh jalapeno, sliced
- 1 to 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
To serve: charred bread, fresh thyme, a little citrus, a pinch of sumac.
How to make it
- Whip the feta. Add the feta, Greek yogurt, lemon zest, olive oil, 2 tablespoons honey, and oregano to a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Make the hot honey. Add 1 cup honey and the red pepper flakes (or jalapeno slices) to a small saucepan. Heat over medium until the honey just begins to simmer, give it a stir, then remove from the heat and let it rest 10 to 15 minutes so the flavours infuse.
- Finish the hot honey. Taste it — if you want more heat, add more flakes or let it infuse longer. Strain into a clean jar and stir in the apple cider vinegar.
- Assemble. Spread the whipped feta on a plate, drizzle generously with hot honey, and finish with thyme, citrus, and a pinch of sumac. Serve with charred bread.
What to drink with it
You want something crisp and bright to cut the richness and stand up to the chili-honey sweetness. A Sauvignon Blanc is the easy call — grapefruity and dry — and a dry Pet-Nat is even better if you like a little fizz against the creamy feta. Shop our whites or browse the Pet-Nats.
Make-ahead and storage
Both parts keep. Whipped feta holds in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container; the hot honey keeps about a week (use it on pizza, fried chicken, and cheese too). Bring the feta to cool room temperature before serving so it’s soft and scoopable.
Don’t feel like making it? Whipped Feta Dip is $12 on our summer menu. Visit us in Hillier and order it with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
More from the patio: Food at the Vineyard · Wine flights · What is Vermouth?
