One of my favorite places to grab a quick lunch in DC is Cava, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant that’s kind of like Chipotle but with pita and hummus instead of tortillas and guacamole. I often pick up their harissa, crazy feta, and hummus from Whole Foods for an easy dinner, but one day I started thinking…couldn’t I make this stuff at home? So, I did a little googling of recipes for some inspiration, and got to creating my own interpretations of their Mediterranean classics. The best part about these recipes? They make for a fresh, simple dinner that’s perfect for entertaining.
THE EASIEST SUMMER DINNER
When I’m entertaining in the summer, I’m all about easy recipes that require minimal cooking. Putting together a Mediterranean platter definitely fits the bill. A few dips, throw some kabobs and pita on the grill, and you’re done. Plus, it’s interactive for the guests and it’s a more leisurely dining experience than serving an entree, which I think is ideal for a slow summer evening.
The two recipes I’m going to share with you today are for a harissa dip and crazy feta. Typically, I’ll serve these with store bought hummus (I have to draw the line on homemade somewhere!), roasted garlic, a super easy diced cucumber, tomato, and onion salad, maybe some shaved parmesan – just whatever I happen to have on hand, really. Then, I’ll add in a protein, steak or chicken, though you could also do tofu, grill it, and throw some pita brushed with olive oil for a couple minutes just as the meat finishes. Serve it all family style and enjoy!
CAVA INSPIRED HARISSA
1 15 oz. can tomato paste
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup crushed red pepper
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1/2 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp black pepper
Mix all ingredients together in a food processor (I used my Nutri-bullet and it worked fine!). Serve with an extra drizzle of olive oil. Keep the leftovers on hand to use on sandwiches, tacos, everything!
CAVA-INSPIRED CRAZY FETA
8 oz. crumbled feta
2 jalapenos, seeds in, minced finely
1/4 cup mayonnaise (I used Duke’s, of course)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp lemon juice
Drizzle of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together (I just did it by hand – I don’t think you need to use a food processor). Feel free to add in other ingredients like garlic or basil, depending on what you have on hand and what sounds good. Serve and enjoy!
