Creamy Feta-Red Wine Vinegar Salad Dressing

When I was a newbie, someone in the cookbook biz once told me that if a cookbook has one great recipe in it, it’s totally worth it. And I agree with that. I have a mountain of cookbooks, and most have plenty of tempting recipes but I’ve only made one thing from many of them. But those that do make the cut become standards—or what we call “go to” recipes.
One such cookbook was the Joy of Cooking, which was re-published with great fanfare (and some undeserved derision) in 1997. I remember a blurb on the book jacket from a previous edition, by a bride who swore she toted the book along when she moved abroad. Which I didn’t, although I was hardly a blushing bride. So at least I have an excuse.
My “go to” recipe from that book was the Feta Dressing. I think it was promoted as ‘healthy’, which certainly has some appeal. But what I liked most about it was that it had lots and lots of feta in it, one of my very favorite cheeses, and one of the most versatile. Feta is the cheese I go to when I want to crumble something over hot pasta, since the strong flavor holds up really well and as it warms up, the cheese turns into soft, salty cubes that play off whole wheat pasta particularly well. I like the pasta with stewed greens, garlic, and a heavy hand of chopped olives tossed in. Or even crumbled over pasta with pesto. Try it!
I’m also a big, big fan of winter greens, like frisée, Belgian endive, and escarole. And this dressing is thick enough to stand up to those tougher, slightly-bitter salads that I crave when the temperature drops.
I didn’t jot down this recipe when I did my transatlantic split, but it was pretty easy to re-create. The original had oregano in it, but I used thyme. The dressing includes a good dose of red wine vinegar, but resist the temptation to use another one: the abrupt acidity of red wine vinegar gives the dressing its kick.
Creamy Feta-Red Wine Vinegar Dressing
- 4 ounces (115g) feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon finely-chopped fresh thyme or oregano
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 tablespoons water
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Mash the feta with the vinegar and herbs with a fork until fairly smooth.
- Mix in the olive oil and water, until smooth. Because feta cheese can vary in moisture, add more oil, vinegar, or water, if desired.
- Season with pepper and salt, to taste.
Notes
Other suggestions for this dressing:
- A Caesar-ish salad with romaine lettuce, red onions, and garlic-heavy croutons.
- Alongside tabbouleh.
- Mashed with tinned tuna fish and chopped capers or green olives and scallions, for a twist on tuna salad.
- Dressing for a plate of seasonal tomatoes with fresh oregano chopped and strewn over the top.
- A mix of winter greens, tossed with slices of pears and toasted pecans.
- Over grilled chicken breasts or tuna steaks.
- WIth falafel!
- As a dip, with toasted pita chips, radishes, or raw vegetables.Related Links and Recipes:Marinated FetaReal Tabbouleh (Desert Candy)Cherry Tomato and Feta Tart (Café Fernando)Watermelon and Feta Salad (Simply Recipes)10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Cooking
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