This easy marinated feta recipe combines a little spice, herbs and savoury flavour from feta cheese, black olives and sun-dried tomatoes. Perfect for dunking bread, as part of a multi-course meal for entertaining or as a foodie gift for someone special!
Hubby and I enjoy charcuterie and cheese boards on the regular, maybe a couple times a month for sure.
Typically we enjoy on Friday night with a big hunk of crusty bread and some vino. Charcuterie boards are super easy to whip up, they always look nice and taste delicious!
In the past we’ve often bought marinated mozzarella or these little teeny tiny marinated feta cheese packs that are not much bigger than the small dish of oil you see in this recipe.
And those are not cheap! You get a few pieces of feta cheese, a bit of oil and that’s it.
So, marinated feta? Yep, I’m making it myself to go with our charcuterie board!
I love dunking a nice bread into the oil and enjoying with a glass of wine. Oh, the simple things.
Marinated Feta Ingredients
So, for this marinated feta recipe you’ll need:
- Quality olive oil
- Feta cheese, cut into little cubes
- Some herbs
- Olives
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Peppercorns
- Capers
- Zest of fruit
- Chili peppers
You simply mix everything up into a jar and let the ingredients get to know each other overnight.
And, if there’s an ingredient you don’t prefer, feel free to leave out!
Best Oil To Use
Since olive oil is such a prominent component in this marinated feta recipe, I highly recommend using a quality one that you enjoy.
This is not the time to cheap out with olive oil. You want the good stuff. Wait, isn’t that always, LOL.
Ways To Use The Cheese and Oil
- Enjoy with a charcuterie board.
- Use the oil in cooking to infuse flavour.
- Drizzle the oil over finished dishes, like steak or as a finisher for pasta.
- Use as a dip for bread as an appetizer.
- It’s delicious as a pizza finisher or even brushed on the dough before baked.
- Great to include with a bunch of tapas recipes for a multi-course meal.
- Make and give as a hostess gift.
Tips for Making This Recipe
- As mentioned, use a good quality olive oil! The oil is such an important component of this recipe.
- Cut your feta into bite-sized cubes so it’s not only easy to eat, but you get maximum flavour absorption from the oil and herbs.
- Keep this marinated feta refrigerated. When about to enjoy, remove from fridge for about 10 to 15 minutes before digging it. Olive oil tends to firm up a little in the fridge.
- Ensure that you use a large enough jar for all the ingredients to fit in there and that everything is submerged. If you need to top up with a tad more oil to cover everything, that’s okay!
- Don’t have the dried herbs listed? No worries! Use what you have on hand. Have just rosemary and oregano, but no thyme? Use those. Also, if you just have Herbes de Provence (a French mixture of herbs) that works wonderfully.
More Easy Recipes for Entertaining
Hope you enjoy this herb marinated feta recipe as much as we do! It’s great for weekend eats while relaxing at home!
If you make this simple marinated feta recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Marinated Feta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil, approximately (you want enough to cover everything)
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 Thai chili peppers, split lengthwise to expose seeds (optional)
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 7 to 8 ounces feta cheese, cut into cubes (about 200 grams)
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest, roughly 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon orange zest, roughly ½ orange
- 10 black olives, optional
- 2 teaspoons capers, optional
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 sun-dried tomatoes, cut into thin strips (optional)
Instructions
- Place olive oil into a storage jar (big enough to hold everything) and add crushed red pepper flakes, chili peppers (if using), black peppercorns, oregano, and thyme. Stir.
- Add feta cheese, ensuring it is completely submerged in the oil. Note: if you need to add a little more oil to submerge cheese, that's okay.
- To olive oil mixture, add remaining ingredients. Cover and gently shake a little. Refrigerate for 24 hours.
- Upon enjoying, remove from the fridge for about 10 to 15 minutes. It will harden in the fridge but will liquefy when removed. Enjoy the feta cheese and infused oil with bread or crackers, or use the oil in a vinaigrette, over pizza and more. Note: If there are leftovers, keep stored in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.
Notes
- As mentioned, use a good quality olive oil! The oil is such an important component of this recipe.
- Cut your feta into bite-sized cubes so it’s not only easy to eat, but you get maximum flavour absorption from the oil and herbs.
- Keep this marinated feta refrigerated. When about to enjoy, remove from fridge for about 10 to 15 minutes before digging it. Olive oil tends to firm up a little in the fridge.
- Ensure that you use a large enough jar for all the ingredients to fit in there and that everything is submerged. If you need to top up with a tad more oil to cover everything, that’s okay!
- Don’t have the dried herbs listed? No worries! Use what you have on hand. Have just rosemary and oregano, but no thyme? Use those. Also, if you just have Herbes de Provence (a French mixture of herbs) that works wonderfully.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Jackie
It says lemon and orange. Do I use both or pick pne?
I assume I can used kalamata olives.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Hi Jackie! I use both in the recipe, but if you only have one or the other, that’s okay. Yes, kalamata olives would be great. Enjoy!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
With all the parties just around the corner, this would definitely make wonderful hostess gifts.
Girl Heart Food
For sure! Thanks Karen 🙂
Marissa
How have I not made marinated feta before!? Keith and I would devour it!! So excited to try this, Dawn. Perfect for the holidays ahead!
Kevin
Love this for a dinner appetizer and easy to whip together! Great with a fresh baked crunchy bread, YUM!
Girl Heart Food
Definitely! Thanks Kevin 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
I love marinated cheese of any sort! Feta is perfect for it, as it stands up so well in the oil, too. A great holiday appetizer!
Girl Heart Food
Same here, Jennifer! Thanks so much 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I LOVE charcuterie!! One of my favourite things to eat at a restaurant, or date night at home with hubs like you! I can’t believe the outrageous prices for some of the spreads though, so you’re GENIUS to make your own! I’ll definitely be trying this out – love that little bit of heat you added! Cheers! XO
Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thank Katherine! Happy weekend 🙂 XO
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Is it Friday yet? This looks incredible! I could make a whole meal out of it! Packed with flavor….all we need is our wine! Happy weekend, my friend! XOXO
Girl Heart Food
Haha!! Thank you Annie – I agree 😉 Happy weekend to you too! XOXO
Milena
To me feta occupies a special status among cheeses:) The combination with olive oil, especially a good one like you have here is an absolute delight. So many ways to flavor the marinade, you are right! Love the idea of gifting little jars of it:) Pinned!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Milena! I really enjoy feta too 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
Feta is my favorite! I’m totally making this for myself, but I’m going to make a few batches to give out with my Christmas cookie trays too–I always like to add a little something savory with all the sweet. This is BRILLIANT, Dawn! Have a great weekend!
Girl Heart Food
Sounds like a wonderful idea, Kelsie! Have a great weekend too 🙂
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I’m definitely trying this one Dawn! We also love a good charcuterie board on the weekends, but they can get kind of pricey. Making our own marinated feta will help cut the cost for sure! And this will make a lovely appetizer for the upcoming holidays! Happy almost weekend!
Girl Heart Food
Yay! So happy to hear that 🙂 Thanks Leanne – you too!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I love appetizers like this Dawn. So full of flavor! And not hard at all to put together. Perfect for our weekend entertaining. Pinned!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Mary Ann 🙂 Me too! Have a great weekend!