Try feta cheese for vibrant summer entrees

Summer is made for light dishes and inviting flavors. It’s the time we take advantage of fresh, local produce and open our minds to try something new. Tangy, crumbly feta cheese is the perfect ingredient to bring some new vibrancy to your dinner table.

Its light, creamy texture complements a variety of main dishes whether meat-based or vegetarian. With a bright and salty flavor, feta stands out without overpowering. It lends both complexity and balance to your entrees.  

If you haven’t tried feta as part of your main course, here are some great-tasting dishes that are bound to bring smiles:  

Baked feta with pasta – Made famous on TikTok, this simple and incredibly delicious pasta dish led to empty shelves in cheese aisles as home cooks clamored to give it a try. Start by placing a block of feta cheese in the center of a baking dish and surround it with cherry tomatoes. Add chopped chili pepper, drizzle with olive oil and bake. After 25 minutes in the oven, break up the feta, stir, mix in your pasta and top with a generous helping of fresh basil.

Mediterranean portobello pizzas – Who needs a crust when these large, delicious mushroom caps fill in so nicely? Brush portobello mushroom caps with olive oil and roast them at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. Spread your favorite pizza sauce in the undersides of the caps and fill them with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, mozzarella and feta. Return them to the oven until the cheese is melted and sprinkle with a little Italian seasoning for a unique and classy take on an everyday favorite.

Feta-stuffed lamb burgers – These burgers offer rich Mediterranean flavor in a familiar package! Blend ground lamb with dried oregano, cumin, lemon zest and red onion. Create a cup with the ground lamb mixture while making patties. Fill with crumbled feta and seal it in with more ground lamb before flattening. Cook the burgers to your desired level of doneness and top with lettuce, tomato and tzatziki sauce.

Feta-stuffed chicken breasts – It’s easy to prepare and certain to delight. Mix feta cheese with olive oil, chopped parsley and dried oregano. Cut a slit into the sides of your chicken breasts to create pockets and spoon in the mixture.  Place the stuffed chicken breasts into a baking pan and top with tomato sauce, more feta and grated parmesan cheese. Bake the dish until the chicken is thoroughly cooked, then serve with pasta and a green salad for a plate that’s full of both flavor and color!

Vegetarian pot pies – This hearty dish is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all the goodness growing in our gardens. Choose an array of vegetables such as sweet potato, parsnip, onion and zucchini. Roast them until tender, then mix with feta, coriander, herbs, chili flakes, lemon zest and cream. Divide the mixture among small pie plates. Cut frozen puff pastry sheets into circles just larger than the plates and place them on top. Bake until the top crust is golden and flaky.

Agropur proudly makes some of the world’s finest feta cheese. Produced at our Weyauwega, WI, facility, our feta is consistently honored at prestigious US and world cheese competitions. Agropur produces high-quality feta in several flavors as well as in traditional, reduced-fat and fat-free varieties.

Click here to learn more about Agropur’s delicious feta.