Description
Baked Feta and Tomato Shrimp is a vibrant Mediterranean-inspired dish that combines succulent shrimp with tangy feta cheese and fresh tomatoes. This easy-to-make recipe offers a perfect balance of creamy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors, making it an ideal crowd-pleaser for gatherings or a flavorful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp Mixture
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Cheese
- 7 ounces block of feta cheese
Garnish
- Fresh basil leaves, for topping
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the ingredients together.
- Prepare Baking Dish: In a medium baking dish, toss the cherry tomatoes with olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using until all ingredients are well coated.
- Add Feta Cheese: Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomato mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake Tomatoes and Feta: Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the tomatoes burst and the feta cheese is soft and slightly golden on top.
- Add Shrimp: Remove the dish from the oven and carefully stir the tomatoes and melted feta to create a creamy sauce. Nestle the shrimp into the sauce, ensuring they are submerged and coated.
- Bake Shrimp: Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque, indicating they are fully cooked.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the dish. Enjoy warm with crusty bread or over pasta to soak up the delicious sauce.
Notes
- Use fresh shrimp for best flavor; frozen shrimp can be used but ensure they are fully thawed before cooking.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Serve with crusty bread, rice, or pasta to complement the creamy sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated gently to avoid overcooking the shrimp.
