I don’t know about you but I love savory snacks. If I am looking for something to munch on during the day, there is a very good chance that it will be olives, cheese or bread, or all of the above. This spicy feta spread is a snack that I can whip up fast to satisfy the savory cravings. I mostly have this as an afternoon snack with some black tea (they go so well together), but I also made it for breakfast and served it as a meze at dinner parties in the past.

As the name suggests, this feta spread is quite spicy. I definitely recommend sticking to the recipe (or making it even spicier, I mean, why not) but if spicy food is not your thing, you can always reduce the heat that the recipe asks for. I didn’t use to like spicy food until I met my husband, Cesar. His love of spicy food rubbed off on me over years of food adventures. Now we have a collection of hot sauces in the fridge, yet another collection of peppers in the spice drawer and we became the couple that travels with a carry-on size Sriracha.

But, back to the spices in this recipe. Turkish Marash pepper or Aleppo pepper is a bit sweeter than the standard red pepper flakes you find at the supermarket. Marash and Aleppo peppers have moderate heat and a sweeter taste, almost like sundried tomatoes with a nice kick. Most spice shops carry Aleppo pepper. Marash pepper is a lesser known name, at least in the United States. If you can’t find either, feel free to use crushed red pepper flakes but keep in mind that your feta spread mind end up a bit spicier.

Yields: 8 servings Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

150 grams feta cheese, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)

3 tablespoons walnuts, chopped

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, preferably Marash pepper or Aleppo pepper

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Preparation

1. I always buy blocks of feta cheese if I can find them. If you are starting this recipe with a block of cheese, place it inside a bowl and crumble it using the help of a fork.

2. Chop the walnuts with the help of a knife or if you are lazy like me, use the chopper attachment of a hand blender. The walnut pieces should be relatively small.

3. Combine crumbled feta, walnuts, tomato paste, olive oil and spices until everything is incorporated.

4. Spread on slices of toasted bread and serve.