Mediterranean Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
This Mediterranean cream cheese dip is an easy dip that is served as a cream cheese board. It’s a delicious snack perfect for one or two people, or you can double or triple the recipe to serve a crowd.
If you enjoy Mediterranean recipes, this is wonderful comfort food. It’s perfect for a movie night or a small get-together with friends or family.
What Kind Of Cream Cheese Should I Use For This Cream Cheese Dip?
Avoid using whipped cream cheese. You want a regular cream cheese with some firmness to it. The kind in the tub is fine as long as it’s not whipped. Whipped cream cheese tends to be too soft. While it can work, it just isn’t the right consistency for this.
Should I Soften The Cream Cheese First?
Nope! You’ll want a firm spatula to spread it, but there is no need to soften it first. It can go straight from the fridge to being spread on the board.
Dietary Considerations
This dip is easy to adjust for dietary restrictions. With the right cream cheese and toppings, this will accommodate many different types of eating styles.
Vegan – Use vegan cream cheese and vegan feta, or omit the feta completely.
Vegetarian – This recipe is already vegetarian.
Keto – Use full-fat cream cheese and cut the amount of sun-dried tomatoes in half.
Dairy-Free – Use plant-based cream cheese and omit the feta unless you can handle non-cow dairy.
Can I Make This Cream Cheese Dip Ahead?
This really isn’t a make-ahead dish. You can spread the cream cheese and add the sun-dried tomatoes, but everything else should be added fresh and served right away for the best flavor and texture. If you do spread the cream cheese on the board ahead of time, make sure you cover the entire board with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge.
Should This Mediterranean Cream Cheese Dip Be Served Cold Or At Room Temperature?
You can serve this either way. Cold or room temperature both work well.
What Mediterranean Toppings Can I Use With This Recipe?
- Flavored oils, such as Tuscan herb or lemon oil
- Roasted Red Peppers
- Artichoke Hearts
- Capers
- Fresh Herbs (try basil or oregano)
- Toasted Pine Nuts
- Honey
- Pita Chips or Crostini
- Marinated Artichoke Hearts
- Roasted Garlic Cloves
- Roasted Eggplant
- Pickled Vegetables
- Marinated Mushrooms
- Pepperoncini
- Anchovies
- Roasted Almonds or Walnuts
- Caramelized Onions
- Fig Jam or Preserves
- Lemon Zest
- Pesto
- Grilled, chopped Zucchini
- Herbed Goat Cheese Crumbles
- Tapenade (olive, sun-dried tomato, or artichoke)
- Pomegranate Seeds
- Preserved Lemon Slices
- Diced Avocado
- Chopped dried apricots
What Can I Use To Dip With?
Try tortilla chips, pita chips, crackers, breadsticks or crostini, cheese crisps, or even raw veggie sticks. I made my oat flour crackers, and they went super well with this dip. You can use this as a spread on bread or toast,
What Ingredients Do You Need For Mediterranean Cream Cheese Dip?
Plain cream cheese – I used a plant-based almond-based cream cheese, but regular, dairy-based cream cheese works just fine.
Extra virgin olive oil – This is optional but adds a nice, smooth texture.
Sun-dried tomatoes – I used sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, but you can also use dry-packed tomatoes if you want to reduce the fat.
Kalamata olives – I buy mine pre-sliced. You can buy whole olives, remove the seeds, and slice them yourself if you prefer that. Either way works.
Italian parsley – This is flatleaf parsley, which works best. But in a pinch, regular curly parsley will also work.
Feta cheese crumbles – You can use any type of feta. I find that the best flavor comes from a combination of goat and sheep milk, but if you prefer cow milk feta, that will work, too.
Cucumber – I used little cucumbers, but any type of cucumber will work. I haven’t tried it, but English cucumbers would be especially good here.
Grape tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes and full-size tomatoes will also work. The idea is to chop them into small pieces to make scooping them up easier. I find that little tomatoes typically have better flavor.
Balsamic vinegar – Or lemon juice if you prefer.
How To Make Mediterranean Cream Cheese Dip
Spread the cream cheese over a charcuterie board.
Spread the chopped cucumber over the cream cheese.
Then add the chopped, sun-dried tomatoes.
Sprinkle on the Feta cheese crumbles.
Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the top.
Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the top. Use as much or as little as you like.
Add your crackers around the edge or put them on a separate plate and serve.
Storage
Store leftovers in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap, for up to three days.
Freezing
Freezing is not recommended for this recipe.
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Mediterranean Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
Equipment
- 1 cheese board
Ingredients
- 8 oz. plain cream cheese (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped, sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 tbsp. chopped Kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp. fresh, chopped Italian parsley
- 3 tbsp. Feta cheese crumbles
- ¼ cup finely chopped cucumber
- ⅓ cup halved grape tomatoes
- 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar (or fresh lemon juice)
Instructions
- Spread the cream cheese over a charcuterie board.
- Spread the chopped cucumber over the cream cheese.
- Then add the chopped, sun-dried tomatoes.
- Sprinkle on the Feta cheese crumbles.
- Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the top.
- Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the top. Use as much or as little as you like.
- Add your crackers around the edge or put them on a separate plate and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
