Creamy, easy to make paprika dip only requires 5 ingredients. It's packed with vibrant flavors from feta cheese, roasted red peppers, lemon juice, olive oil, and paprika. Serve with pita bread at your next gathering.
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Last week I tried a new restaurant and on the menu as an appetizer was paprika dip. Having never heard of this dip before, I was curious about what the base was made out of. I didn't know if they used sour cream, cream cheese, greek yogurt, or what since there was no description. I went ahead and ordered it and oh my goodness I was so glad I did. It came out in a small bowl and it was made with feta cheese and served with pita slices. It instantly became one of my favorite dips and I knew I had to go home and recreate it. There was something about the creamy tanginess that had me hooked. It only took me a couple tries to get it right and I'm so excited to share it with you.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Extremely easy to make - When I say this is easy I'm not kidding. All 5 ingredients go into a food processor and it's mixed until smooth and voila it's done. The only prep time involved is slicing the feta block into smaller pieces which takes no time at all.
- Packed with flavor - While the feta has so much flavor on its own, the paprika and lemon really enhance the feta and take it to the next level. This is not a bland dip, you'll want more and more.
- It's great for a crowd - Need a last minute party food idea? This paprika feta dip is it. You probably already have most of the ingredients on hand anyway. If you fneed a recipe for a get together or don't want to spend a ton of time in the kitchen this is the perfect recipe. This recipe also serves about 6 making it a great choice for crowds and picky eaters.
What is Paprika Dip?
Paprika dip is a dip that combines extra virgin olive oil, feta cheese, sweet roasted red peppers, paprika, and lemon juice to make a smooth spread. It commonly accompanies meats, chips, or breads. All the ingredients are mixed together until smooth to create a vibrant, rich dip.
Paprika Dip Ingredients
- 1 block feta cheese (cut into smaller pieces) - Crumbled feta can be substituted but I recommend sticking with the block because it tastes better and is higher quality.
- Roasted red pepper - I recommend using a good quality roasted red pepper in the jar. They're super convenient and add so much flavor to anything you add them to.
- Extra virgin olive oil - Use a good quality olive oil for the best flavor. Consider trying a flavored olive oil for this recipe. One infused with garlic or chili oil would be great.
- Lemon juice - Fresh lemon juice is best, I found that only 1/2 of a juicy lemon is all you need
- Paprika - I used a normal paprika for this recipe, other types can be used but we will get more into that later.
- Garnish ideas - green onion, additional paprika, fresh basil
What is The Best Paprika for The Recipe?
The three most common types of paprika are regular, Hungarian, and Spanish. These types vary in sweetness, heat, and flavor. Regular paprika was used in this recipe. It's a great choice because it's very mild and can be found in most grocery stores. If you like a bit of smoky flavor I highly suggest turning this into a smoked paprika dip by adding smoked paprika. Keep in mind this can be pretty powerful so I would start with a little and add more as needed. Spanish paprika can range in spice. I recommend using this variety if you want some added heat. If you can't find Spanish paprika cayenne pepper can be added in addition to regular paprika.
How to make Paprika Dip
To make the paprika dip place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Serve with pita, chips, or baguettes. Garnish with green onion or fresh basil.
What if I don't have a food processor?
If you don't have a food processor don't worry you can use a blender. If your blender has a pulse button I recommend using it. We don't necessarily want to blend the feta pepper dip just make it mostly smooth. Blending it could cause it to become grainy and have an undesirable texture.
Ways to Take Paprika Dip to The Next Level
- Add fresh garlic - fresh garlic cloves add so much flavor, because this is a raw dip I recommend only using 1 clove to make sure it's not overpowering
- Make your own roasted red peppers - If you have red peppers laying around consider using them in this recipe. It's so easy to roast them for this recipe. Simply preheat the oven to 450 degrees and lay the sliced peppers on a foil wrapped baking sheet. Roast for around 15-20 minutes or until the skins have blackened and the peppers have collapsed.
- Turn it into a whipped dip by adding greek yogurt. This will make it light and give it a nice whipped texture that's even more creamy. Plus it's a great way to add probiotics to your diet.
Ways to Serve the Dip
- Fresh vegetables - Fresh veggies are the perfect dippers for this paprika dip. I especially enjoy this with carrots, sugar snap peas, celery, and jicama
- Spread for sandwiches or burgers - Who doesn't love a good sandwich spread. Simply take a butterknife and add this to one side of the sandwich bread instead of adding sliced cheese. It's also great on burgers and it melts so good when it comes in contact with the hot beef.
- Dip for grilled meat - Fry up some shrimp or fish and dip it into the paprika dip for out of this world flavor.
- Chips, Pita, or Toasted Baguette - Some of my favorite and most frequent ways of eating this
- Fresh fries - Skip the ketchup and barbecue sauce, try dipping your french fries in this paprika dipping sauce instead
Storing Paprika Dip
Storing paprika dip is easy. Simply place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4-5 days. Leftover dip can be stored in the freezer for long term storage for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat be sure to thaw completely in the refrigerator.
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The Best Paprika Dip
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz block feta cheese cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 lemon squeezed
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- Garnish green onion, chives, basil
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Serve with pita, chips, or baguettes. Garnish with green onion or fresh basil.
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