Smokey Marinated Feta

Ingredients:

10 garlic cloves

1-2 lemons, finely shaved the peel to get 8 strips

½ Tbl lemon juice

4 bay leaves

2 ½ tsp chipotle chile flakes

1 ½ tsp Spanish Sweet Paprika

1 cup Arbequina Olive Oil

9 ½ oz feta, cut into ¾ inch cubes

Directions:

Place a small sauté pan on medium heat. Once very hot, add the garlic and cook for about 3-4 minutes, turning halfway through, until charred on the outside. Add the lemon strips and bay leaves continue to cook for 90 seconds more, then add the chipotle chili flakes and cook stirring continuously, until well toasted and fragrant, about 20 seconds.

Remove from the heat and add the paprika, oil, and salt, stirring to combine. Let cool completely.

Stir in the feta, then transfer to a bowl or glass jar with a lid and let marinate for the next couple hours or refrigerate covered until ready to use.

Take feta out of the refrigerator for about 1 hour before use. Adding  lemon juice right before seasoning.