Baked Feta
Mar 21st, 2009 | By Peter Minakis | Category: Appetizer, Baking, Cheese, Greek, Herbs, Meze, Olive Oil, Recipes
There’s no turning back. Spring is here and I’m excited that the days are getting longer, the sun now warms my back, birds chirping, buds on trees are forming.
Although Canadians will grill even in the coldest months, we’re now upon outdoor grilling season and it won’t be too long before we’re eating outdoors.
This next dish is perfect for an outdoor gathering of family & friends. It’s a little early for local tomatoes but I found some sweet Roma tomatoes at the market. It’s been a long winter.
Baked Feta cheese…ever had it? If not – you should. This is a simple dish that’s hard to screw up. Just follow a few pointers for this meze and you’ll be offering this Greek taverna classic often.
First, although Feta is considered a soft cheese, it can also be found in a sem-hard form. You want to use a firmer Feta for this appetizer. Something that will stand up to the heat.
Use a sweet, slightly over-ripe tomato. The Feta cheese will only bake for 20 minutes…you don’t have that much time to concentrate the tomato’s flavour.
Finally, you may choose to place your slab of Feta in aluminum foil or a small earthenware vessel that’s covered in foil. Either way works.
There are many versions of Baked Feta out there, it’s a liberal recipe where you can dress it with tomato and oregano, choose another herb of your choice or even venture into combining savory with sweet. This version is similar to a Baked Feta I enjoyed last summer while on the island of Sifnos and my only addition was to add some Boukovo (Greek chilli flakes) into the mix.
Baked Feta (ΦÎτα ψητή)
(makes for one appetizer)
1 slab of Feta cheese (choose a firmer Feta, 4″X4″ X1″)
1 ripe roma tomato, cut into slices
thinly sliced rings of banana or cubanelle pepper (or other sweet pepper)
extra-virgin olive oil
chilli-flakes (Boukovo)
Pre-heated 400F oven
- Take a large piece of aluminum foil (say 12″X12″) and place on your counter-top. Ensure the shiny side of the foil is visible (face up, facing into the contents of the packet). Drizzle the center of the foil with olive oil and place the slab of Feta on top.
- Using a wooden spoon, place it parallel to your tomato and cut your thin slices of tomato. The wooden spoon will prevent the knife from cutting right through your tomato, slicing it while keeping it in tact.
- Place the tomato on top of the Feta and then carefully place a slice of green pepper between each tomato slice.
- Drizzle with more olive oil, sprinkle with some chilli flakes and some dried Greek oregano.
- Seal the cheese packet well with your foil and place on a small baking dish (in case of any leakage). Place in your pre-heated oven for 20 minutes. If using an outdoor grill, preheat and place the cheese packet to one side of the grill, using indirect heat (cheese on the side with no heat underneath).
- Carefully remove the Feta packet and open up with a knife or scissors and serve with warm crusty bread.
If you are not reading this post in a feed reader or at http://kalofagas.ca then the site you are reading is illegally publishing copyrighted material. Contact me at truenorth67 AT gmail DOT COM. All recipes, text and photographs in this post are the original creations & property of the author.
© 2007-2009 Peter Minakis
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© 2009, Peter Minakis. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post in a feed reader or at http://kalofagas.ca then the site you are reading is illegally publishing copyrighted material. Contact me at truenorth67 AT gmail DOT COM. All recipes, text and photographs in this post are the original creations & property of the author.
Amazing, this actually look quite appetizing. I love the roasted pepper too. I am sure this also give the feta a very nice bite to it.
Cheers,
elra
Wow!! That looks so good!!
That’s a very interesting recipe! I’ll have to try making baked feta… I bet it tastes delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
oh, that sounds delicious! i just adore feta!
YUM! I love baked brie and halloumi, but I’ve never tried baking feta…. it looks simple and tasty.
nice Peter. I’m picturing an enjoyable snack while sitting outside in a summer evening :)
I love baked brie, so I am sure I will love this!
This is a great recipe. I’m sure my friends would enjoy.
This sounds AMAZING!
I love your blog and have cooked from it often. Thank you so much.
I love feta but never had it baked – I must immediately try it! Sounds wonderful!
Looks fabulous! I am a feta fan, but never heard of this!
It takes on a whole different dimension when baked! I love the addition of the tomatoes and chilli.
Looks delicious Peter, I can see why you Greeks are so passionate about your feta…….you are the best!!!
Baked feta is just the best!
I love your version with the pepper and chili flakes. I’ve only ever seen it done with tomato, onions and garlic.
I could eat that right now at 7am it looks so good……Ooooh I can not wait to go to Greece again!
Great pictures too Peter.
This sounds so simple! WOuld it be totally out of the spirit to use some pickled jalapenos instead of the fresh pepper? I can imagine that bite with the creamy salty cheese.
I actually had loads of that in Northern Greece (Drama)where they call it ‘bougiourdi’.
MMMMMMM……This looks really TASTY!!! Superb, really!!
I want to reach into my computer with a piece of bread and scoop this up. It looks beautiful and you know it’s going to taste wonderful just looking at it. I love the flavor or baked tomatoes, so the combination couldn’t be better.
I like this a lot Peter. I always seem to have so much Feta left over when I make spanikopita. This is a great way to use up some of the extra!
Oh my gosh I’ll take a big slab of that please
Sort of a warmed up Horitiki…with toasted pita and a glass of wine, I’d be a happy person.
Now this is a perfect appetizer! I adore this Peter!
This looks absolutely amazing. I’m going camping in Alaska soon and have been looking for dishes that I can do over a campfire grill. This is perfect! I love the addition of the peppers too. Thanks, Peter!
the presentation here is outstanding, peter. i could sit down with a box of crackers and eat it all. :)
I. Love. Feta.
At first I looked at that slab of feta and thought, “Serves 1? Seriously?” But then I got realistic. If I was eating it, then yes: it would serve ONE. Mmmmm.
Perfect mezes for a couple of ouzo.
I have never had baked feta.. But seeing the pics I can imagine how wonderful it’s gonna be.. with the peppers & herbs infusing their flavors in it!
excellent! what a great option for the next “cheese tray” next to the baked brie. really great idea. i’m already coming up w/ topping ideas.
One of our favorite appetizers, ever. Simple and super tasty.
I think I’ll try this with some fresh oregano from my garden this summer. Beautiful appetizer!
That oozy, melty feta is totally callin’ my name. Love it! Shoulda done this one at my Greek Party!
WOW that is one great looking dish! I can’t believed I lived this long and never had baked feta. This must be rectified! LOL
Oh wow that looks good! I love Feta cheese, never thought to bake it though.
Looks great!
I have been cooking a lot with feta since the thaw. Greek flavours are the best for grilling!
Where would I find firm feta?
I always feel Feta looks like tofu : ) It looks great and easy to make.
Peter, what a fabulous looking dish!
Peter! You’re awesome and your recipes are awesome!
Yummmm. My fiance loves feta more than anything, I’ll have to make this.
I have never had baked feta but you are right- I will now!! And with crusty bread too? It doesn’t get any better than that!
This looks AWESOME! What a perfect idea for feta – love it anyway and now love it more.
I’ve never heard of this before, but it looks incredible. I need to get my hands on some good feta to try this out
I love making this but mine is never so beautiful!
I am so game for trying this. I bet there are so many combinations of veggies and hebs that could be added to the feta to change up the flavoring.
WOW I am going to try this one for sure – adding to shopping list what I need to make this killer culinary creation!!
Feta has been popping up in a lot of recipes I have seen lately. Think it is a sign I must go buy more…..
Looks awesome!
This is right up my alley. Too bad the feta never sticks around long enough to make it to the oven.
This is so beautiful! My hubby talks about eating something like this when he was in Greece. I love the wooden spoon trick with slicing the tomatoes. I’ve never seen good quality feta before. Is there a way to firm up the softer kind? Kind of like straining yogurt to get Greek yogurt?
This looks delicious. I love Feta cheese. I can’t wait to try it.
Damn, I don’t happen to have any feta on hand just now and dinner is planned. I wish I was having this for dinner :)
I would be content with that just as ,eal. Lip smacking good.
i made this in summer with our summer garden produce (i think it’s called bouyourdi in northern greece)
The banana peppers are a nice, sweet pair with the cheese. Nice appetizer for sure! We’ll keep this idea handy for another time.
Canadians sound like San Franciscans. We’ll grill in any weather, too. Although, we usually only have to cope with fog, drizzle, and rain — not snow like you guys. ;)
Looks delicious Peter … add a hunk of crusty bread, a crisp green salad and you’re set.
Feta saganaki!!!
A perfect mezes for ouzo!!!
And some nice homemade bread and … that’s life!!!!
Great recipe Peter! Simple, great flavors, I am sure to make this. Love how you present it. Oh yeah, pass that crusty bread.
LL
Oh wow – this looks insanely good! We had what I think is fried feta pieces the other night with this cucumber dip that was incredible.
I love this amazing dish which would be even better with sunset on a Greek island mentioned in your previous post:D
This is a delicious delicacy. You can enjoy it with a great bottle of wine and a Greek salad. Peter is a master on what he prepares and shares with us. I have tried many of his dishes and he is truly the best chef in North America!!! Peter do not stop posting your recipes and you beat out any Emiril and Iron Chef!!!!
One of a kind indeed!!! Forever greatful!!! Vickie….
Oh. my. word!! This looks wonderful! I love this type of dish! Oh man, now I’m hungry!
Oh, I meant to ask if that cheese is stamped in some way! It almost looks like hieroglyphic type of markings in that one photo!
That looks like a tasty way to enjoy some feta!
KAI MAMOOOOOOOOOOOO TON MEZE KAI AMA BALHS KAI PIPIERIES FLORINIS KOKKINES/KAFTERES EINAI AKOMA PIO NOSTIMOS O MEZES…… I ELLINES KANOUNE TOUS KALITEROUS MEZEDESSSSSSSSSSSSS GREEK POWERRRRRRRRRR BABYYYYYYYYYYY
This looks delicious. My hubby and I just started phase I of the South Beach and we’re looking for some tasty dishes to keep us satisfied. ; ) Can’t wait to try it.