Turkish cuisine · Salads & Mezze

Cretan Cheese Paste

Cretan-style fresh cheese paste from Izmir with roasted walnuts, dill, garlic and olive oil.

Ingredients · for 4 servings

• 300 g feta
• 150 g cream cheese
• 100 g walnuts
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 bunch dill
• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Aleppo pepper (pul biber)
• 1 flatbread

Instructions

1. Toast the walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 3–4 min. until fragrant, let cool completely and chop finely, keeping back a few coarser pieces for texture.
2. Crumble the feta into a bowl and mash with a fork together with the cream cheese into a smooth, spreadable mixture.
3. Crush the garlic cloves with a pinch of salt into a fine paste and stir in with the lemon juice so the sharpness spreads evenly.
4. Fold in the chopped walnuts and the very finely cut dill, then work in 3 tbsp olive oil a spoonful at a time until the paste turns silky.
5. Chill for at least 30 min. so the garlic and dill infuse, then taste — thanks to the feta it usually needs no extra salt.
6. Spread in waves on a flat plate with the back of a spoon, drizzle with the remaining olive oil, sprinkle with Aleppo pepper and the coarse walnut pieces, and serve with warm flatbread.