Feta Recipes: Sliders and Orzo Pasta

I LOVE FETA CHEESE! I've even had it on pizza recently and it was amazing. Here are some recent creations with my new favorite cheese:

SLIDERS
These are so super fast and have enough difference in them to make it feel like you aren't just eating traditional hamburgers. This last time we had a couple with the hamburgers and some with deli sliced chicken and they were even better than the mini hamburgers! Quite a versatile recipe.
{Thank you Rachael Ray for this one}

Look like this.
4 pita bread (I love to use homemade naan, you could also use tortillas)
1 1/2 lb ground beef (I think 1 lb is plenty)
1 tsp ground cumin (I probably put about 3 so you can actually taste the flavor)
Salt and pepper
1 romaine heart, thiny sliced crosswise
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved (or whatever tomatoes you have on hand)
1/2 cup dill pickle slices (sounds weird, but tastes so good)
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup hummus (buy at the store or make your own scrumptious version)

The alternative {or addition}: *Use Greek-style yogurt instead of the hummus and add feta cheese crumbles to the salad!

Preheat a grill to medium-high. Stack the pitas and wrap in heavy duty foil; place on the grill and cover to warm.

In a large bowl, combine the beef with the cumin, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper; shape into twelve 1/3-inch-thick patties. In another large bowl, combine the romaine, tomatoes, and pickles; toss with the olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Remove pitas from grill. Transfer beef to the grill, cover, and grill for 2 minutes on each side for medium. (don't overcook or they really are too tough) Spread each pita with some of the hummus, then top with some of the salad, and 3 patties. Serve with lemon wedges.


FETA ORZO PASTA SALAD
This recipe comes from a friend, soon to move away, and will seriously amaze you. It might not look all that incredible. Friends, it is. Try it.
From Kathie Weeks {I miss living close to you already!!}

16 oz. orzo pasta (find in the pasta isle)
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup & 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp dry basil (adding a little fresh would be good, but you really need the dry)
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped or pressed
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cup green/red bell pepper (one of each)
half bag of julienne cut sun dried tomatoes, finely chopped (make sure they're fresh)
6 oz. feta cheese
4 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Cook the pasta and rinse in cold water thoroughly. When pasta is fully drained of water, add in the olive oil, white wine vinegar, dry basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, bell peppers, and sun dried tomatoes. Mix all together. Chill in refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight. Just before serving, mix in fresh chopped parsley and crumbled feta cheese.

*Can also toss in cooked diced chicken for an entree.
*Half this recipe for smaller portions, serves about 10.

If you want your dish to be raved about at a potluck, this is the one!

5 comments:

  1. The Sliders look delicious! I wonder how I could make them in a vegetarian version.

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  2. ......maybe I could sub in black bean cakes.

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  3. Great idea, Becky! So this is what I think would be a good vegetarian alternative for the sliders:

    One of my favorite lunch meals is to load sliced veggies with either hummus or greek yogurt into a pita/tortilla/naan and scrumptiously bite into it. You could do the same thing here.

    Here are some ideas for additions (leaving out beef and other meat):
    sliced red or other sweet peppers
    sliced green pepper
    halved slices of cucumber
    slices of avocado
    peas in the pod
    etc.

    I know this leaves out the cumin, but the salad with pickle and olive oil is still awesome with the hummus/greek yogurt combo. If you really want some cumin in it, just sprinkle on top of the hummus.

    Let me know when you try it!

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  4. Black bean cakes would probably be a good alternative...I have yet to try them. Oh, I just thought of something...Morning Star veggie patties! I love those.

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  5. i do too! and cumin is my second favorite spice so its a must ;)

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I love to hear your feedback.

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