Marinated Feta Cheese in Late Summer
With only a few more weeks left of summer foods, it's time to start preserving the bounty of the season before the cold dark months to come. One of the simplest and most delicious things you can do is marinate a good sheep or goat's milk feta in olive oil and fresh herbs, an ingenious combination that can last throughout the winter and beyond.
Taking inspiration from David Lebovitz, here's a simple guide to marinating feta:
Fill a Ball jar, or similar glass jar, with two-inch cubes of feta. Add some fresh herbs of your choosing: oregano, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, mint, red chili flakes, and/or fresh pepper. You can really use your imagination here.
Once the cheese and herbs are in place, fill the jar with olive oil, covering the cheese completely. Since you'll be using a lot, don't go for the top shelf oil here; a nice-tasting mid-range oil should do just fine. Screw the cap on and leave in a cool area like your basement, or fridge if you live in a hot New York City apartment like me.
Feta marinated in olive oil can last for years and years, and just gets better with time. I once had a marinated feta that was over four years old. I've never tasted something so uniquely delicious, with the herbaceous olive oil penetrating every nook and cranny of the sour, savory feta. Serve it with salads, pasta, or roasted vegetables, or just by itself.
About the author: Jamie Forrest publishes Curdnerds.com from his apartment in Brooklyn, New York, where he lives with his wife, his daughter, and his cheese.
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10 Comments:
Not only does it last forever -- and get better with time -- but, it is one of the most delicious things you'll ever taste! I love the stuff.
Brownie at 2:42PM on 08/26/08
I wanna try this- yet, I have questions:
No spoilage in the fridge with just a screwtop?
Should the jar be sterilized like in canning?
How come it doesn't go bad?
How long is "keeps forever"?
... I swear I hold no one liable for responses- I am just anticipating my BF's OCD food-rot line of questioning.
bisbee at 3:24PM on 08/26/08
this sounds amazing!!!! I might have to go home and buy some feta myself.
After it's "done," what do you eat it with?
Moosie82 at 3:52PM on 08/26/08
Eat it with? Bread, toast, plain, morning noon or night. :)
I love this stuff. The first time I had it was a friends mom made fresh feta. wow. so good.
jdshd at 4:42PM on 08/26/08
@bisbee, we should probably defer to the food experts here, and again don't hold me or Serious Eats responsible, but:
-No spoilage in the fridge with just a screwtop (though the oil may begin to coagulate over time)
-The jar does not need to be sterilized
-Good question; I don't know why it doesn't go bad. Feta itself is highly salted so that acts as a preserving agent. I would keep it away from light & heat though.
-I wouldn't say it lasts forever, I've just never seen it go bad! I tried one that was around 4 years old, kept in a basement.
But I think you'll find it's so delicious that it lasts only a few weeks!
jamieforrest at 5:45PM on 08/26/08
Thanks- the salty cheese/ oil info makes sense regarding not spoiling.
I promise- no responsiblity on ya'll :)
Note: I saw in David's post (I found the link after I posted questions) That he kept his in the fridge for 2 weeks. This sounds like a good rule of thumb. But it sounds like the stuff you had was still ok too.... but wow 4 yrs!
bisbee at 6:37PM on 08/26/08
The seasoned oil also makes a delicious salad dressing - just whisk in a little vinegar or citrus juice and enjoy with your favorite salad greens!
MollieBeth at 10:53AM on 08/27/08
I had some once and the feta was SO creamy! Do you think that had to do with the particular feta they used, or does the oil make the feta more creamy than crumbly?
cafire at 8:45PM on 08/27/08
Would this work with ricotta sallatta too?
shayna99 at 12:20PM on 08/28/08
Do you not have to worry about botulism, since the oil prevents air circulation? That has always been my concern with making things that are covered in oil, especially if I am planning to keep them for longer than a week.
greentwist at 11:15AM on 08/29/08