Feta cheese is a soft cheese based on sheep’s milk. It appeared in ancient times and is considered a truly Greek traditional product.
This cheese is extremely popular in most Mediterranean countries, in our region it is also in demand. True, it is still unfamiliar to most of the inhabitants of our country, and some use it solely as a component for salad or eat on holidays.
This situation needs to be radically changed. After all, feta - cheese is so important in the diet, and all thanks to the high content of nutrients. Firstly, this type is made from raw milk, which means the preservation of all nutrients that are not found in processed dairy products. And secondly, it contains a lot of calcium: in 100 grams of feta there is as much calcium as in three liters of milk.
In addition, it is known for its high content of protein, fats and milk sugar, while at the same time it contains few nucleic acids and purine bases (harmful to the body).
Feta cheese is known primarily as the main ingredient in Greek salad. As a matter of fact, without this important component the salad would not have turned out so original.
In addition, the product is used in many other recipes. And due to its relatively low calorie content (only 290 kcal per 100 grams of product), it is often enough included in recipes for weight loss. It can be not only salads, but also casseroles, soups or baked meat. In general, there is room for the embodiment of culinary fantasies.
This delicious ingredient saturates the body of every person with all the necessary nutrients, so that even the most strict diet is not afraid of him. Especially pleasing is the fact that dishes with feta cheese are very diverse. We will tell about some right now.
It is impossible not to mention the most famous recipe with feta in the title role - Greek salad. This dish is called a universal set of vitamins, proteins, minerals, fats and bacteria, without which a full life is impossible. Therefore, we will begin with it.
Greek salad
Ingredients:
- feta - 50-70 grams;
- olives - a handful;
- tomato - 1 piece;
- cucumber - 1 piece;
- sweet pepper - 1 piece;
- onion - ½ pieces;
- basil, cilantro;
- olive oil - 1 tablespoon;
- lemon juice and salt to taste.
All vegetables need to be washed, cut into large pieces and laid on lettuce leaves. Then add the olives and cheese, cut into the same large pieces, to the ingredients. Grass must be torn by hand. And the last touch: the salad needs to be seasoned, after which it is safely served to the table. A great addition to the Greek salad will be wine.
Feta cheese is very tasty in tandem with meat (chicken, veal or pork). Especially such a combination is loved by the Americans and the British.
Now consider the simplest, but no less tasty, way to cook feta with meat.
Bacon and Feta Chicken Breasts
Ingredients:
- Feta cheese - 4 slices of 100 grams;
- chicken breasts (boneless) - 4 pieces;
- bacon - 4 slices;
- olive oil - 8 tbsp. spoons;
- lemon juice - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- garlic - 4 cloves;
- oregano - 1 tbsp. the spoon;
- pepper and salt - add to taste.
Initially, you need to mix the following components: lemon juice, oil, pepper, salt, oregano and garlic. Fill each chicken breast with a slice of bacon and cheese, fix them with toothpicks (so that the chicken hugs the cheese, as it were) and pour over the mixture thoroughly. Place the breasts in a preheated oven (at least 180 degrees) and bake at this temperature for at least 40 minutes.
Fresh vegetables and a bottle of dry red wine can complement the finished dish.
And finally, I want to note that this unique cheese can simply be spread on croutons. This dish is actually very tasty, but I don’t want to talk about the simplicity of its preparation.
Enjoy your meal!