This Layered Mediterranean Style Fourth of July Dip is festive enough to make the buffet table fun and inviting while delivering a ton of flavor! Cheese, feta, California Ripe Olives, peppers, tomatoes and so much more, this dip will definitely be the first one gone at your party and you will be known as "Dip Royalty" from here on out.
This post is sponsored by California Ripe Olives and is part 2 of 3 recipes I'll be sharing in partnership with them in 2019. –all thoughts and opinions are my own
You might not guess from the types of recipes I typically post here, but holiday-themed food is one of my favorite things to make. It just turns out that I'm not good at making it far enough ahead of time to post it here before the actual holiday hits. #badblogger
There was that one time I made these adorable Valentines Day Mini Cupcakes that looked like chocolates, so I guess I'm not a total failure.
But, this time I'm breaking the mold by getting this fun and festive Fourth of July Dip to you well before the holiday so you have plenty of time to put it on your menu! You don't have to thank me. But you will after you try this dip and everyone at your party asks for the recipe.
You're welcome.
Why This Recipe Works
This layered Mediterranean dip recipe works thanks, in most part, to the bold flavors of the feta, basil pesto, and California Ripe Olives. These boldly-flavored ingredients are mellowed by cream cheese and fresh marinated mozzarella balls. The flavors and textures work together to create a flavor-packed, creamy dip that is perfect served with crunchy pita chips, fresh veggies, soft warm bread or pita.
Black olives are a fabulous thing to keep on hand in your pantry because they provide so much color, flavor, and texture to so many types of recipes. I specifically love them in dips and appetizers because they add such a great savory pop without being overbearing.
What Kind Of Black Olives Are The Best?
I specifically like buying California Black Ripe Olives, because I know the process that the olives go through since learning about it in person by the farmers a few years ago. It's a proprietary curing process that is used only on California Ripe Olives, resulting in a consistent taste and texture in every olive. Have you ever opened a can of mushy olives? I have! But, I know that won't happen if I check the back of the can to make sure they are from California.
How To Make Layered Mediterranean Fourth of July Dip
- Mix Dip Base- Combine feta, cream cheese, Sour Cream and lemon juice in a medium-sized bowl until smooth.
- Assemble Dip- Spread one-half of the cheese mixture into the bottom of a 9x13" pan. Top with basil pesto and spread remaining cheese mixture over the pesto.
- Decorate- Arrange sliced California Black Ripe Olives across the top of the dip, layering olives more heavily in the upper left-hand corner to make the "star section". Arrange chopped red pepper and tomatoes into stripes, alternating with fresh mozzarella cheese balls, sliced in half for the white stripes. Sprinkle a few crumbles of feta cheese over the olives to make "stars".
For A Perfectly Layered and Decorated Fourth of July Dip Do These Things:
- Use a hand or stand mixer to mix the cheese mixture for a smooth and light dip base. It can absolutely be mixed by hand if you don't have a mixer but I find the dip is lighter and smoother if done with a mixer.
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese balls can be found in the most grocery stores in the specialty cheese section. I like to buy mine at Costco for the best price. Cut each ball in half and slightly shingle against one another for a solid stripe.
- Using prepared basil pesto makes preparing this dip quick and easy. Not to be a commercial for Costco once again, but I use and like their brand of pesto for both the flavor and price.
- When decorating use 4 rows of both the pepper/tomato mix and mozzarella balls for the best proportionate look to your flag.
- I love this dip served with crunchy pita chips, warm pitas sliced into triangles or fresh veggies.
Explore, Pin, Create, Rate This Flag Dip
Explore- The fourth of July is the perfect time for breaking out the grill if you haven't yet, so this Gorgeous Grilled Chicken Recipe or Garlic Ranch Chiekcn Marinade will make you lots of friends at your cookout. Or maybe you want to check out the other dip recipes I have on the blog!
Pin- Make sure to pin this Layered Mediterranean Flag Dip to your Fourth Of July board so you can refer back to it when you're planning your get together! Click here to pin it!
Create- When you make this recipe, post it on Instagram! Seeing pictures of your creations totally makes my day! Be sure to tag me on Instagram and use the hashtag #heatherlikesfood. Every week I pick a few of my favorites to share in my weekly newsletter.
Rate- If you make this recipe and love it, make sure to come back to this post, comment and give it a star rating! Those ratings help me get in front of more eyes and show the Google gods that my recipes are worth sharing. Thanks so much for your help!
Layered Mediterranean Dip (Fourth of July)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups crumbled feta cheese, divided 1 tablespoon
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¾ cup prepared basil pesto
- 6 ounces California Black Ripe Olives sliced
- 1 whole red bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes chopped
- 2 cups fresh mozzarella balls cut in half
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese, feta cheese (reserve 1 tablespoon for garnish), sour cream, and lemon juice in a large bowl using a mixer. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Spread one half of the cheese mixture into the bottom of a 9x13" pan.
- Spread basil pesto evenly over the cheese mixture and top with the remaining cheese mixture, spreading evenly into the pan.
- Sprinkle California Black Ripe Olives over the top of the dip, arranging more in the upper-left-hand corner to make the square for the "stars".
- Combine the chopped red bell pepper and tomatoes in a bowl and arrange into stripes on top of the black olives, alternating with rows of sliced mozzarella balls. Make 4 rows of each.
- Sprinkle reserved feta cheese over the olive "stars" and serve with pita chips, sliced pita or fresh vegetables.
Video
Chef's Notes:
- Use a hand or stand mixer to mix the cheese mixture for a smooth and light dip base. It can absolutely be mixed by hand if you don't have a mixer but I find the dip is lighter and smoother if done with a mixer.
- Fresh Mozzarella Cheese balls can be found in the most grocery stores in the specialty cheese section. I like to buy mine at Costco for the best price. Cut each ball in half and slightly shingle against one another for a solid stripe.
- Using prepared basil pesto makes preparing this dip quick and easy. Not to be a commercial for Costco once again, but I use and like their brand of pesto for both the flavor and price.
- When decorating use 4 rows of both the pepper/tomato mix and mozzarella balls for the best proportionate look to your flag.
- I love this dip served with crunchy pita chips, warm pitas sliced into triangles or fresh veggies.
Nutrition Facts
KRISSY ADAMS says
ANY IDEA FOR A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE OLIVES..... I'M ALLERGIC....
Heather Cheney says
I can't think of a lot of alternatives that will have the same look to make a flag design on top, but capers would be a good choice in the dip itself. They add the salty-brininess that the olives contribute.
2pots2cook says
Perfect ingredients ! Absolutely ideal for the holiday but also for the hot days that came to stay ! 🙂
Dawn @ The Kitchen and a Latte says
This looks really good for Memorial Day too! I will stick to the olives just in the upper corner tho because I am not a fan of them. I cook with olive oil - which took me many years to finally use, but no olives for me. I have family who likes olives tho. They can eat mine and their share of them 🙂