Mediterranean Baked Feta Appetizer (Printable)
Warm, savory Mediterranean appetizer featuring creamy feta baked with cherry tomatoes, olives, herbs, and olive oil. Perfect for sharing with crusty bread.
# What You Need:
→ Dairy
01 - 7 oz block feta cheese
→ Vegetables
02 - 9 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
→ Olives & Aromatics
05 - 2 oz Kalamata olives, pitted
06 - 2 tbsp fresh oregano leaves (or 1 tsp dried oregano)
07 - 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
→ Pantry
08 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1/2 tsp red chili flakes (optional)
11 - Zest of 1 lemon
→ To Serve
12 - Crusty bread or pita (gluten-free if needed)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Place the feta block in the center of a small ovenproof dish or skillet.
03 - Surround the feta with cherry tomatoes, red onion slices, garlic, and olives.
04 - Sprinkle the oregano, thyme, black pepper, and chili flakes (if using) over the cheese and vegetables.
05 - Drizzle everything generously with olive oil.
06 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the feta is soft and lightly golden, and the tomatoes are blistered.
07 - Remove from the oven, top with fresh lemon zest, and serve immediately with warm bread or pita.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It transforms simple ingredients into something that feels fancy enough for guests but is actually incredibly lazy cooking
- The way the feta turns into this warm creamy puddle while the tomatoes get sweet and blistered is absolute magic
02 -
- Dont use the crumbled feta from the tub, it wont hold its shape or get that gorgeous creamy center
- The dish should be just big enough to hold everything in a snug single layer for even cooking
03 -
- Vegan feta works surprisingly well here if you need dairy-free
- If the feta starts browning too quickly, tent it loosely with foil