This irresistible Greek appetizer combines crispy fried feta cheese with sweet honey and nutty sesame seeds.
In just 10 minutes, you’ll create a restaurant-worthy dish that perfectly balances salty, sweet, and crunchy elements.
Each portion delivers 295 calories of pure indulgence, making it an ideal starter for your Mediterranean feast or a sophisticated addition to your party menu.
The golden-brown exterior gives way to a warm, creamy center that will have your guests reaching for seconds.
Ingredients
- Feta Cheese: 250g block, cut into 1.5cm thick pieces
- Eggs: 2 large, beaten for coating
- Paprika: 1 teaspoon for extra flavor
- Black Pepper: 1 teaspoon, freshly ground
- All-Purpose Flour: 70-80g for perfect coating
- Sesame Seeds: 60g for crispy exterior
- Olive Oil: Enough for shallow frying
- Honey: 4 tablespoons for drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese: Cut feta into uniform 1.5cm blocks for even cooking
- Set Up Coating Station: Arrange three bowls – beaten eggs, seasoned flour mixture, and sesame seeds
- First Coating: Dip each feta piece in egg, then flour mixture
- Second Coating: Re-dip in egg, then coat thoroughly with sesame seeds
- Heat Oil: Add 6-7 tablespoons olive oil in a frying pan until hot
- Fry: Cook feta pieces until golden brown, turning carefully with a slotted spoon
- Drain: Place on kitchen paper to remove excess oil
- Prepare Honey: Warm honey until liquid consistency
- Serve: Drizzle warm honey over hot fried feta pieces
Coating Tips
The secret to getting that perfect crispy coating is all in the double-dipping! Make sure your feta pieces are completely dry before starting.
When coating, use one hand for wet ingredients (eggs) and the other for dry ingredients (flour and sesame seeds) – this helps prevent sticky fingers and keeps the coating even. If your sesame seeds aren’t sticking well, just press them gently onto the feta.
Temperature Guide
Getting your oil temperature just right makes all the difference! The oil should be hot but not smoking – around 350°F/175°C is perfect.
If you don’t have a thermometer, drop a small piece of bread in the oil – it should turn golden brown in about 60 seconds. Keep your heat on medium, as feta can melt quickly if the oil is too hot.
Serving Ideas
This crispy, sweet, and salty appetizer shines as part of a Greek meze spread! Serve it right away while the outside is crispy and the inside is warm and soft.
Try drizzling with different types of honey – thyme or orange blossom honey add lovely floral notes.
Add some fresh mint leaves on top for a pop of color, or serve with a side of fresh lemon wedges to cut through the richness.
Quick Variations
Love spice? Add a pinch of cayenne to your flour mixture. You can swap the sesame seeds for crushed pistachios or walnuts for a different crunch.
For a lighter version, try air-frying at 375°F/190°C for 4-5 minutes, but spray the coated cheese with a little oil first for that golden color.
Fried Feta with Honey and Sesame Seeds
Equipment
- Frying pan
- Bowls
- Slotted spoon
Ingredients
- 250 g feta cheese (9 ounces)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp freshly ground pepper
- 70-80 g flour (3 ounces), enough to coat the feta
- 60 g sesame seeds
- olive oil for frying
- 4 tbsp honey
Instructions
- To prepare the fried feta, start by cutting the feta cheese into little blocks, about 1,5cm thick.
- Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat with a fork. Into another bowl add the flour, the paprika and the pepper and mix with a spoon, to combine the ingredients. Into a third bowl, add the sesame seeds.
- Roll each piece of feta into the eggs, then roll into the flour. Roll each piece again into the eggs and then in the sesame seeds, so that all sides are covered.
- Heat about 6-7 tbsps of olive oil into a frying pan, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan and fry the feta until nicely colored. Use a slotted spoon to flip the fried feta, so that it is nicely colored on all sides. When done, place on some kitchen paper to absorb the extra oil.
- In the meantime, warm the honey into a saucepan, or the microwaves, until liquid.
- Serve the fried feta while still hot with a drizzle of honey.