Mediterranean Baked Feta Appetizer (Printable Version)

Warm, savory appetizer featuring creamy feta baked with cherry tomatoes, olives, herbs and olive oil.

# 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
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
11 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ To Serve

12 - Crusty bread or pita

# Directions:

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 over the cheese and vegetables.
05 - Drizzle everything generously with olive oil.
06 - Bake for 20-25 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 Advice:

01 -
  • The feta softens into this incredible spreadable consistency while still holding its shape, creating this perfect creamy contrast to the burst tomatoes
  • It comes together in literally five minutes of prep time but looks impressive enough for company
  • Everything cooks in one dish so you can spend more time with your guests and less time at the sink
02 -
  • The feta will puff up slightly in the oven and then settle, that's completely normal and actually what you want to see happen
  • Some liquid will release from the tomatoes and feta, and that salty, herby oil is arguably the best part, so don't discard it
  • This needs to be served immediately because the feta firms up again as it cools and loses that magical spreadable quality
03 -
  • If you're making this for a party, you can prep everything in the dish up to an hour ahead and keep it at room temperature before baking
  • Cast iron skillets work beautifully here and can go straight from oven to table for an impressive presentation

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