Feta Cheese is a Greek cheese traditionally made from sheep's milk. It is salted and cured in brine in large blocks for months to achieve optimum flavor. It is a white cheese with a salty flavor that can be mild or sharp and a texture that ranges from semi-hard to soft. It typically has a milk fat content of 45%.
The name is protected by the European Union, which requires feta to contain at least 70% sheep's milk and the remainder to be goat's milk. In the United States feta falls into the specialty cheese category. Specialty cheeses are produced by artisan cheese makers in small facilities. Wide acceptance of the Mediterranean Diet in the US has helped feta rise to fame. Wisconsin artisan cheese makers have seen feta rise to the top in the specialty cheese market.http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Wisconsin/Publications/Dairy/spec_ch.pdf
Feta is used in salads, sandwiches, pastries, and phyllo-based Greek dishes such as spanakopita.
Scientists have recently discovered that a strain of the bacteria enterococci, found in feta cheese, may fight against food poisoning.
Featured Video: Tomato Feta Tart
A very simple recipe using prepackaged puff pastry, pesto, tomatoes and feta cheese. Spinach, olives, mushrooms and artichoke hearts would work well with this cooking method. Serve with a salad for lunch or with soup as a light supper.
