Description
This vibrant roasted red pepper dip features smoky, caramelized peppers and garlic blended with creamy feta and cream cheese, finished with fresh basil and a hint of honey for perfect balance. It’s an impressive appetizer that tastes elegant but comes together easily, making it ideal for dinner parties, potlucks, or any occasion that calls for something special.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 red bell peppers, roasted until charred and soft
- 1 whole garlic bulb, roasted until caramelized
- 150 g feta cheese, crumbled
- 100 g cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon paprika, for smoky flavor
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional Garnishes, feta cubes, olive oil drizzle, chili flakes, fresh basil leaves, honey
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Halve and deseed the red peppers, placing them cut side down on a baking tray. Slice the top off the whole garlic bulb to expose the tops of the cloves, then place it on the same tray alongside the peppers.
- Roast: Drizzle the garlic bulb lightly with olive oil. Roast both the peppers and garlic for 40 minutes until the peppers are charred and blistered and the garlic cloves are soft and golden.
- Cool and peel: Remove from the oven and let the peppers cool until you can handle them comfortably. Peel away the blackened skins, then squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their papery skins.
- Combine ingredients: Add the roasted peppers, roasted garlic cloves, crumbled feta cheese, softened cream cheese, lemon juice, honey, paprika, Italian herbs, and fresh basil leaves to a food processor.
- Blend: Process until smooth and creamy, about 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Season and adjust: Add salt and pepper to taste. If the dip is too thick, add a bit more olive oil or lemon juice to reach your desired consistency.
- Serve: Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with feta cubes, a drizzle of olive oil, chili flakes, fresh basil leaves, and a touch of honey if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes