I found a similar baked feta appetizer at a local Mediterranean restaurant, and fell in love! It was super simple to recreate using my own blend of seasoning and toppings. Baked feta makes a perfect appetizer for any night, and is very simple to prepare.
Burst Tomatoes
Oh feta. How I love you. For this recipe, I found a lovely block of goat cheese feta in brine from Trader Joe's, since I'm lactose intolerant. It came with 2 blocks, so that makes it super easy to double the recipe for a larger party, or to save and use one block for another recipe. I love the creaminess of the feta with the sharpness of the burst tomatoes. I absolutely love a soft, cooked tomato. The flavor completely changes and softens with heat.
Baked Pita Chips
Once again, I made my baked pita chips to go with this appetizer. So incredibly simple and so much cheaper and more delicious than the stuff in a bag. And when you dip a homemade pita chip into this hot cheese, it is pure perfection!
Ingredients for baked feta
A block of feta cheese - You'll typically find this in brine near the other specialty cheeses at the grocery store. Trader Joe's usually has the best price.
Sweet cherry tomatoes - I like a mix of colors to make this dish really pretty, but any sweet tomatoes will do.
Kalamata olives - I just learned that Kalamata olives are particularly high in iron and vitamin A, and contain a natural antioxidant. So there you go!
Red pepper - You can really use any color you like (just not green) and slice it up nice and thin.
Fresh basil - This is optional, but really packs a punch. If it's not in season, I hate to spend the small fortune on a few basil leaves, but if you grow them or can find them for a good price, it's worth it! Fresh greens always lift the flavors of a dish.
To create this delicious baked feta, simply...
Turn the oven on to 350°F and grab a cute oven-safe baking dish or pie dish.
Place the block of feta in the center and sprinkle with salt, oregano and some olive oil. I like it with lots of olive oil, but feel free to use portions to your taste.
Slice most of your cherry tomatoes and olives in half. Thinly slice the red pepper.
Lay the tomatoes, olive and peppers on top and around your feta. Sprinkle again with a bit of salt and another drizzle of olive oil.
Bake all together until your whole tomatoes have burst and the feta is soft and gooey, about 45 minutes.
Top with fresh basil and serve alongside baked pita chips, more veggies or toasted bread.
Baked Feta with Burst Tomatoes, Olives and Basil
Ingredients
- 1 5 oz block feta cheese
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon course salt
- 15-20 cherry tomatoes - any color
- 10-15 kalamata olives
- 1 large roasted red pepper in brine - thinly sliced
- 5-8 basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In an oven-safe bowl, place your feta block in the center. Sprinkle block with oregano and salt and set aside.
- Slice your cherry tomatoes and olives in half (leaving a few whole). Slice your roasted red pepper in long, thin strips.
- Arrange tomatoes, olives and red pepper on top and around your feta. Drizzle 2 tablespoon olive oil over all of it.
- Bake in the oven until tomatoes have burst and feta is soft and a little runny, about 45 minutes. Once removed, top with basil and the rest of the olive oil. Enjoy!
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