Baked Feta Recipe

Baked Feta Recipe

Baked feta is a traditional Greek appetizer, not the famous TikTok baked feta pasta (main course)!

It is one of those easy recipes that consists of a block of feta baked in the oven until warm, soft, and golden brown on top.

There is more than one way to achieve it:

1. Bake feta cheese at 350° F (180° C) for about 20-25 minutes on the middle rack until soft, and then broiling to char the top for about 3-5 minutes on the oven top rack;
2. Bake the cheese at 430° F (220° C) for 10 minutes on the oven top rack or until soft and charred.

Because we used honey in this baked feta recipe, we used the first method; otherwise, the top may have gotten too brown.

Then we served it with crostini but you can use pita chips instead. It’s up to you! 

Reasons to make this feta bake

This is one of those easy feta cheese recipes that you’ll want to make again and again. Why?

• It's quick and easy! All you have to do is to place a block of feta in the center of a baking dish drizzled with olive oil and surrounded by grape tomatoes and olives. Then toss the veggies with minced garlic, dried herbs, olive oil, and honey. Bake it in the oven and voila... The easiest appetizer of your life is ready to be devoured with some crostini!  
• So mess-free – At the end, you’ll only have one dish to clean. Who doesn’t appreciate that, right?
• It’s healthy: This Greek appetizer is rich in protein (feta cheese), nutrients (veggies), and contains healthy fats such as olive oil and olives.

Ingredients

• Greek Feta Cheese- For the best flavor and texture, buy a block of creamy feta instead of the crumbled cheese which is too dry and won’t work in this baked feta recipe. Full fat feta is preferred! But keep in mind it won't melt like brie or goat cheese.
• Pitted Olives –A jar of pitted, Mediterranean olives will usually provide a medley of both green olives and Kalamata olives. If you’re not a fan of one or the other, just get the kind you prefer. Marinated olives are another option and comes already packed with flavor but it cost more.  If you have a picky eater, replace them with something else or skip them. 
• Grape Tomatoes – I used yellow and red grape tomatoes to make this appetizer more colorful but you can the red ones only if you prefer. Some replace them with sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil and/or add jarred roasted bell peppers and thinly sliced red onions.  
• Olive Oil- The used a good-quality cold-pressed olive oil that is rich and fruity. They usually come in a dark bottle to protect the oil from sunlight.  Extra virgin olive oil also works well in this recipe!
• Fresh Garlic Cloves- Freshly minced garlic always has a better, bolder flavor than the jarred ones.
• Dried Herbs and seasonings - I used dried oregano and basil but you can use thyme, rosemary, or a blend of Italian seasonings. It is optional but I added a pinch of red pepper flakes to give this appetizer a kick.
• Honey – Although you can skip it, it really makes a difference in flavor. It balances the acidic, savory flavors of veggies and feta cheese.   

How to make baked feta

1. To start, place grape tomatoes and olives in a baking dish. Toss them well with minced garlic, dried oregano and basil, 3 tablespoon of olive oil, and 2 tablespoon of honey. 
2. Using a spoon, push the vegetables to the sides of the baking dish and place the block of feta cheese right in the middle.
3. Drizzle the cheese with 1 tablespoon of olive oil (or more if you want) and sprinkle extra dried herbs on top and a good pinch of red pepper flakes.
4. Bake at 350° F (180° C) for about 20-25 minutes on the middle rack until soft. Then, brush ½ tablespoon of honey on top of the feta cheese and broil it on the oven top rack until golden brown on top (about 3-5 minutes).
5. Alternatively, you can bake the cheese at 430° F (220° C) for 10 minutes on the oven top rack, or until soft and charred. It will take less time to bake but the top can brown faster!
6. Because we used honey in this baked feta recipe, we used the first method; otherwise, the top may have gotten too brown. Either way, the spreadable feta will be soft, but not melted!
7. Serve it with fresh herbs such as fresh basil leaves (and/or oregano leaves) and crostini or pita chips. 

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Tips for Baked Feta Cheese

• If you use a medium-heated oven (350° F), you’ll have to broil the cheese later in order to achieve a golden brown top. Or you can use a high-heated oven (430° F) all the way through and achieve all at once. But in this case, do not add honey to the recipe or use only a hint of it.
• Make sure you have an oven-safe dish for this recipe. 
• Our baked feta appetizer serves about 6-8 people. Use a small baking dish and reduce the amount of each ingredient for 2 people!
• Use quality Greek feta cheese (one with a creamy texture, not crumbled) or feta that comes in a brined liquid (the moisture gives the feta extra flavor and increases its But drain the brine off before baking and pat dry with a paper towel). Although French or Bulgarian white cheese will work fine too! They are like feta but can not use the term because Greece has the PDO for the term "feta". Do not use crumbled feta, which is too dry and will not get soft enough after baking.
• Use a good quality olive oil or extra-virgin olive oil.
• Serve the baked feta right away; otherwise, it will harden quickly! It will be soft, but not melted! Because I didn’t serve mine immediately, it wasn’t spreadable but still delish!
• Serve it with toasted bread (crostini) or pita chips. To toast the bread, slice a baguette and brush on both sides with olive oil. Sprinkle some dried herbs on top and arrange them on a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil. Bake it at 350° F for 8 minutes.

FAQ’s

Does feta cheese melt in the oven?

Feta cheese gets soft in the oven, but it does NOT melt! Why? Because of its relatively high acid content. When acidic cheeses are heated, the proteins tighten, expelling moisture that evaporates, making the cheese too dry to liquify. This baked feta recipe is soft and spreadable, but it's not melted feta. Use a good glug of olive oil on top of the cheese to help soften and get golden brown on top.

What goes well with feta or with baked feta dip?

Feta cheese originally comes from Greece and is associated with Mediterranean and modern Middle Eastern cuisine. That means feta pairs well with other flavors and dishes from those cuisines, including olives, tomatoes, hummus, pomegranate, figs, pita, nuts, honey, bell peppers, Mediterranean herbs, and spices, and roasted veggies. In this baked feta dip, we use a mix of Greek and Italian ingredients. It is my new favorite appetizer! Of course, you are welcome to add your own spin to the dish!

How do you use feta in brine?

You can buy feta in a few different ways: in brine, vacuum-packed, or crumbled.  They are available at Whole Foods! All of them are feta, but the feta in brine is going to be creamier and will have more flavor. Once you've used the block of feta for this easy baked feta appetizer recipe, you can use the leftover brine as a base for dressing or to marinate veggies before roasting.

Storage

Store leftover veggies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Use them in pasta, casseroles, savory bread puddings, pizza toppings, etc.

The baked feta cheese itself must be eaten right away.

But if you have leftovers, keep them chilled in the same container and warm them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

It will be warm but not spreadable (or as soft) as when it first came out of the oven.

Other Mediterranean recipes to try:

• Baked Caprese Zucchini Rolls Ups
• Mediterranean Chicken Foil Packets
• Avocado Hummus
• Cauliflower Hummus
• Pizza Marguerita
• Shrimp Carbonara

Other Cheese Appetizers to Enjoy:

• Brie en Croute
• Queso Fundido Dip
• Shrimp Cheese Ball
• Meat and Cheese Platter
• Borek