Feta makes the best summer appetizers

Summer parties call for appetizers that match the best qualities of the season.

Treat your guests to fresh ingredients. Make sure your table is full of vibrant colors and a diversity of flavors. If you want to bring your spread to the next level, be sure to incorporate tangy, piquant feta cheese.

A Greek-style cheese, feta is white and crumbly with a salty bite that complements both sweet and savory recipes. It’s light and bursting with flavor, providing just the right accent for an irresistible summer starter.

Try these options at your next gathering:

Watermelon feta bites: Fresh, lively and colorful, these tasty skewers are the taste of summer in a single bite. Simply place a cube of watermelon onto a decorative toothpick. Follow with a cube of a feta and a basil leaf, then add one more cube of watermelon. Place the finished skewers onto a plate drizzled with balsamic vinegar for a sweet, salty, easy appetizer that’s certain to brighten up your snack table.

Greek seven-layer dip: It’s a traditional party favorite with a Mediterranean twist. Seven-layer dips always go quickly, offering a variety of flavors in every bite. It’s a format that works amazingly well with the tastes of Greece. For the first layer, blend softened cream cheese with Greek seasoning and spread onto a platter or into a casserole dish. Spread hummus on top of the cream cheese for a second layer. From there, top with feta cheese, chopped kalamata olives, chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumber and green onions. Serve it with pita chips to complete the theme.

Whipped feta crostini: Slice a baguette and brush slices with olive oil before toasting in the oven. Put feta, Greek yogurt and olive oil into a food processor and blend until smooth. Smear the toasts with whipped feta and top as your heart desires. Go with roasted red peppers, bacon and chives or chopped cherry tomatoes. Add prosciutto or smoked salmon. The possibilities are as vast as your creativity.

Sweet and salty feta cubes: Delicious doesn’t need to be difficult. This appetizer is as simple as they come, yet it provides the perfect balance of sweet and savory along with a pleasant crunch. Cut feta into cubes and skewer with a decorative toothpick. Dip the cubes into honey, then coat them with chopped pistachios.

Feta cucumber cups: Fresh flavors are the key to a perfect summer appetizer. Feta cucumber cups offer savory garden goodness with just a hint of sweetness. Cut cucumbers to a thickness of an inch or more and use a spoon or melon baller to create a well in each of the slices. Create a whipped feta by blending feta with Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic powder and dill. Spoon or pipe the mixture onto the cucumber slices for a simple and tasty summer treat.

Versatile feta is a deliciously different cheese option for appealing dishes in every course of your meal. Agropur’s feta has continually earned honors at some of the world’s most prestigious cheese contests. We manufacture traditional, reduced-fat, fat-free, premium and flavored varieties. Click here to learn more about feta cheese from Agropur.