Feta cheese

Greek feta is a fresh, white cheese made from ewe’s or goat’s milk. The texture is interesting – soft, yet firm enough to cut into cubes – and it is stored in brine. It should have a lightly salty flavour, with a strong aftertaste, and can be extremely appetizing. In Greece, feta is served on every occasion, from breakfast through to dinner, in both sweet and savoury contexts. Perhaps its most distinctive role is in horiatiki salad, when it is served with tomatoes, cucumber, onion and olives, but you will also find it served with slices of watermelon or with figs. Small cubes of feta will often accompany a karafaki, a small glass of ouzo, the famous anise-flavoured Greek aperitif. It is also crumbled and used with spinach or courgettes (zucchini) as a filling for pies.