As I countdown to Friendsgiving dinner with my friends, I can't help but already have Christmas on my mind. The decorations are up, the candles are lit, and I'm already halfway through my Advent calendar. That's why we've coined our get-together "Friendsmas." It's a night of delicious food and a relaxed potluck. This year, I took on the challenge of hosting Friendsmas and cooking all the food myself, which was both exciting and daunting.
With such a huge task at hand, I needed an appetizer that would keep everyone satisfied until the main meal. That's where our Whipped Feta with Pomegranate, Pistachios & Honey came in handy.
I had seen whipped feta dips online many times before, but for some reason, I never got around to making one. The result is a creamy and smooth dip that my friends absolutely loved. By the end of the party, it was almost completely gone. Even my lactose-intolerant friends couldn't resist and even someone who doesn't like cheese said it was the best thing they've ever tasted.
The dip is incredibly easy to make. All you need to do is whip, decorate, and toast. Although the recipe calls for a food processor, I found that using my blender worked just fine! It may require a bit more scraping of the sides, but once the cheese mixture starts blending, it becomes wonderfully creamy.
It's also a perfect make-ahead dish. I prepared the feta, cream cheese, garlic, olive oil, and water in the morning. Right before my guests arrived, I gave it a quick blend until it was smooth again and topped it with fresh ingredients. You can even make it a couple days in advance, which I plan on doing in the future to save time on the day of the event.
Anticipating around 15 guests, I doubled the recipe and it turned out to be a smart move. Even though dinner was served 45 minutes late, no one minded because they were happily occupied with this whipped feta. I divided the dip into two dishes—one without toppings and the other loaded with extra pistachios, pomegranate seeds, and hot honey.
For dipping, whole-wheat pita was a fantastic choice, but I also added some slices of whole-wheat and white baguette. I toasted them on a sheet pan in the oven at 400°F for 5-10 minutes until they were lightly crispy. The few leftover slices were still crunchy at the end of the night.
This dip was so good that I'm planning on making it again for Christmas dinner with my family. It's already a hit, but I might try switching up the toppings with our Whipped Feta with Cranberries & Walnuts. However I decide to serve it, whipped feta dip will definitely be a staple on my table for years to come.
