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Feta

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Preparation, uses, and tips

The intense flavour of feta has an exceptional appeal in salads when combined with olives, tomatoes, and a variety of greens, including fresh spinach. It is also a distinctive addition to a Mediterranean-style antipasti tray along with sliced onion, cucumber, and hot pickled peppers. A dramatic dish of this kind can be made by marinating feta overnight in extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic, and chile peppers. Feta is also used in baking, and in such savoury pastries as spanakopita.

Buying and storing tips

Kept in salt brine, feta can be stored almost indefinitely. To decrease its salty quality, you can soak the cheese in spring water or milk for a few minutes before serving.

Varieties

Feta-style cheeses are produced throughout southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East—in Greece, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Croatia, Romania, Turkey, Israel, and Egypt (where the milk may come from cows or buffalo). There are three different types of feta:

Feta made primarily from sheep’s milk.
Feta made from cows’ milk in the traditional manner, which retains the characteristic crumbly texture and salty taste.
Cheese described as feta, but that is manufactured using modern ultrafiltration methods, which produce a cheese with a somewhat different structure.

Nutrition Highlights

Feta, (1 wedge) (1.33 oz.) (37.6g)
Calories: 100
Protein: 5.4g
Carbohydrate: 1.5g
Total Fat: 8.1g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Good source of: Calcium (187mg), Riboflavin (0.32mg), and Vitamin B12 (0.64mcg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires September 2008.