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Creamy Feta Cheese Salad Dressing makes any salad special
It’s snowing right now, as I am writing this post – kind of a nasty surprise for more than halfway through March. But that’s Upstate NY for you – spring is sneaky, and waiting in the wings sometimes. That’s why a fresh, crisp salad is welcome. And why this Creamy Feta Cheese Salad dressing is especially welcome.
We prefer to eat seasonally, but I’m not giving up salad, no matter what time of year it is. I love more seasonal salads like my Broccoli Bacon Slaw during the winter months, but there are times when nothing but romaine and tomatoes will do -with homemade, luscious Creamy Feta Cheese Salad Dressing.
Homemade dressing is worth making
Though I occasionally have a store-bought dressing around, I usually make them from scratch. Commercial bottled dressings – even the best of them – have ingredients we prefer to avoid. Seed oils, preservatives, thickeners – yuck. Best to make your own, and then you know exactly what is in there.
Buttermilk is a great addition to creamy salad dressings, for a couple of reasons. That tangy flavor makes it seem richer, even though buttermilk is actually very low in fat – cause it’s what is left after you make butter, right? Even the supermarket cultured buttermilk is low in fat, but still very thick and creamy – perfect for salad dressing!
Buttermilk usually lasts for quite a long time in the fridge, so I usually get it all used up before it goes bad. But here are a few ideas for using it, if you need them. Buttermilk Cornbread is my favorite cornbread, and these Lime Buttermilk Bars are sublime.
Flexible ingredients – use what you prefer
You can choose to use either Greek yogurt or sour cream – I prefer the sour cream, because I think the buttermilk is tangy enough, and for me, yogurt almost makes it too sour tasting. Greek yogurt is certainly more in vogue, so if you like it better, then by all means, use that.
The rest of the ingredients are pretty straightforward – I bought mayonnaise from the store for this, because I wanted to test it the way most people will be making it.
I’m going to show you how to make homemade mayo in the next few weeks though,so stay tuned for that. You can use any vinegar you might have on hand, but white wine vinegar is well worth tracking down, for it’s mellow flavor.
Feta Cheese is the star of the show
If you have never had feta cheese before, you’re in for a treat. Feta is a drier, somewhat lower fat cheese, with a crumbly texture. It has a sharp, salty flavor that is great for salads.
Several ways to blend this dressing
Today, I made this dressing in the blender, but you can simply put all of the ingredients in a bowl and stir it up by hand. Often for a dressing like this, I use a deep narrow container and an immersion blender. I like to use a 24 ounce canning jar and an immersion blender if I am taking a salad to a party or shared meal. It’s handy to leave it in the jar for transporting.
Using the blender, you’re going to have a smoother texture. Stirring by hand will give you a chunkier dressing. Using the immersion blender will fall somewhere in between.
Here’s how to make Creamy Feta Cheese Salad Dressing
Creamy Feta Cheese Salad Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large garlic clove
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup buttermilk, well shaken
- 5 ounces crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Peel the garlic clove and place in the jar of the blender.
- Measure in the white wine vinegar, salt & pepper and cover with the lid.
- Pulse about 20 times, until the garlic is pulverized, scrapping sides of jar as needed.
- Add the sour cream or yogurt, mayonnaise, buttermilk and half of the crumbled feta. [for a really smooth dressing, add all of the feta now]
- Run the blender on medium speed for about 45 seconds to mix the ingredients.
- Add the oregano and remaining cheese, and replace the lid.
- Pulse the blender about 5 or 6 times to combine everything well, but leave some of the cheese in small chunks.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes, or up to several days.
- Serve over the salad of your choice, or use as a dip for vegetables or chicken wings. Store in the refrigerator.
Notes
How should this dressing be stored?
Creamy Feta Cheese Salad Dressing must be kept refrigerated. It will stay fresh for several days. The creamy ingredients will not keep as long as an oil and vinegar dressing though, so plan to use it up in 3 or 4 days.
It is, as you can see, delicious on salads. I suggest using it as dip for veggies or chips, and it’s even good with chicken wings. Not everyone loves bleu cheese dressing, so this can be a good alternative.
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We’re on the same salad dressing page today! I love love love buttermilk in dressings, it’s go the perfect texture and that little bit of tang.
It really is, Sue – and so much tastier than anything you can buy in the store!
This sounds like an amazing salad dressing/dip….definitely trying!
Thanks Ashley – I hope that you enjoy it!
Hey Donalyn, this looks so amazingly creamy and delcious! I cannot wait to give it a try and I just absolutely love the idea of using it with hot wings – yummy!
Thanks Brenda – it is the bomb with wings!
Salads have been speaking to us, too. Love this salad dressing! Loads of flavor. Although I use feta cheese in salads, I usually don’t in the dressing itself. I should try this — it sounds terrific. Thanks.
Thanks John – I really like incorporating cheeses in dressings – adds lot of flavor but not as many calories and putting it right on the salad, because you use less. Hope you enjoy it!
I am very much into feta anything, so when it looks so creamy and delicious, who am I to say no? 😀
Delicious, refreshing salad recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks CCU!
I’ve been eating a lot of salad too lately with all the warm temperatures we are having in Arizona! I am usually lazy and just put lemon juice and olive oil on my salad, but I’ve been looking for yummy ways to mix it up. I love feta cheese and will be making this salad dressing for my next salad!
Thanks Isadora – hope that you enjoy it as much as we do!
I know what you mean about snow. We got it too, where I live. Except that today, I woke up to about two inches of snow on the ground! While we sailed through Janurary and February hardly even needing jackets!
Anyway, I’m all about salad dressings these days, and am glad I stumbled onto yours. Thanks!
Same here, as to the weather Jeff- I’m ready for spring! Hope you love the dressing 🙂
So creamy and utterly fabulous. It made our salad sing!
Glad to hear you liked it Joy!
I’m with you — I don’t love the store-bought dressings that include questionable ingredients! I love this recipe! It is so flavorful and easy to make. So glad I came across this, and it’s now a new go-to!
Thank you Patricia. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it ♥
We are big fans of homemade salad dressings and this fabulous, creamy feta one is definitely being added to our rotation. Yummy!
Glad to hear that, Andrea. It’s a favorite of ours as well.
So creamy and delicious and so many ways to use it.
Thanks, Dannii – I agree 👍
I love feta so I made this dressing to put on our salad last night. Omg was it amazing! My new favorite dressing!
That is good to hear, Tayler – thank you!
This salad dressing sounds divine! Love the tang of Greek yogurt with the briny feta! So good!
Thanks Eva! I hope you get to try it, if you haven’t already. ♥
I LOVE Feta cheese, so this dressing was just perfection!!!
Thanks, Paula!
I don’t often make my own homemade salad dressing, but this was well worth it! So creamy and flavorful, and it goes with all of my favorite salad fix-ins!
I am glad to hear that Nathan – always worth the trouble I think!
Feta is our fav, and this dressing was amazing!
Thanks Dina – we love feta too!
This Creamy Feta Cheese Salad Dressing recipe, which turned out so delicious, will be on my list of favs dressings. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks for letting me know, Elisa!
The creamy texture and tangy feta flavor added the perfect kick to my salads. It’s now my go-to dressing for all my salads!
I’m glad to hear that Gianne 🙂
This was such a unique and unexpected recipe that does not disappoint! Easy, creamy and delicious; definitely, a new favorite recipe!
Thanks Sara – really glad you enjoyed it!
Love this dressing! It’s so tangy and flavorful. Thanks for the recipe!
Glad to hear that, Dana!
I love this feta cheese dressing. I just made it today and it turns out perfect.
Glad that you enjoyed it Saif!
Yum! This has just taken my salad game to another level. The feta dressing was so, so delicious
Thanks Harriet – so glad that like t!