Description
Mediterranean baked feta with olives and sun-dried tomatoes delivers a rich, tangy flavor profile straight from Greek cuisine. Cheese melts luxuriously alongside briny olives, creating a simple yet elegant appetizer you’ll savor with crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 oz / 226 g) feta cheese (Greek, not crumbled)
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, drained & chopped)
- ¼ cup mixed olives (Kalamata, green, or mix, pitted & halved)
- 2 cloves garlic (thinly sliced or minced)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tsp honey (optional, for sweetness)
- Fresh basil or parsley (for garnish, optional)
- Crusty bread, pita chips, or crackers (for serving)
Instructions
- Preparation: Position the oven rack centrally and preheat to 375°F (190°C), creating an optimal roasting environment for this Mediterranean cheese dish.
- Vessel Selection: Choose a compact oven-safe ceramic dish or cast-iron skillet that perfectly fits the feta block, ensuring even heat distribution and presentation.
- Cheese Placement: Centrally position the feta in the baking vessel, creating a focal point for the surrounding ingredients and ensuring stable cooking.
- Flavor Layering: Artfully scatter kalamata and green olives around the cheese, then strategically distribute sun-dried tomatoes to build a complex flavor profile with visual intrigue.
- Seasoning Enhancement: Drizzle extra virgin olive oil generously, then delicately sprinkle crushed dried oregano, freshly cracked black pepper, and a whisper of red pepper flakes to elevate the dish’s aromatic complexity.
- Baking Process: Transfer the prepared dish to the preheated oven, allowing 15-18 minutes of cooking time until the feta softens and develops a golden-tinged exterior with a luxuriously creamy consistency.
- Serving Preparation: Rest the baked feta for 3-5 minutes to harmonize the flavors, then present immediately alongside crusty artisan bread or warm pita for an authentic Mediterranean experience.
Notes
- Cheese Quality Matters: Choose high-quality, authentic Greek feta for the most authentic and creamy texture.
- Prevent Dryness: Drizzle olive oil generously to keep the feta moist and prevent it from becoming too crumbly during baking.
- Customize Heat Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes to control spiciness, making the dish suitable for different heat tolerances.
- Dietary Adaptations: Serve with gluten-free bread or vegetable sticks for those with wheat sensitivities or following low-carb diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg