Description
This delicious Baked Feta with Olives recipe features a warm, savory block of feta cheese baked alongside juicy cherry tomatoes, mixed olives, and fragrant garlic cloves. Drizzled with olive oil and spiced with red pepper flakes, it makes for a perfect appetizer or snack served with crusty bread or crackers.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Olive Mix
- 6-ounce block of feta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups olives (mix of green and black)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 4 garlic cloves, skins left on
Seasonings
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the feta and accompaniments evenly.
- Arrange Ingredients: Place the 6-ounce block of feta cheese in the center of a baking dish. Surround it with the cherry tomatoes and mixed green and black olives. Nestle the whole garlic cloves, skins on, around the edges of the pan for a roasted flavor infusion.
- Season and Drizzle: Drizzle 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil over the cheese and the vegetables. Sprinkle on the kosher salt, ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes evenly to enhance flavor with a little heat.
- Bake: Bake the dish in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the tomatoes soften and start to burst, and the feta becomes warm and slightly golden.
- Prepare Garlic: Remove the baking dish from the oven and carefully take out the garlic cloves. Squeeze the softened garlic out of their skins and roughly chop the roasted garlic to distribute its sweet roasted flavor throughout the dish.
- Mix and Garnish: Gently stir the feta, burst tomatoes, olives, and garlic together to combine the flavors. Sprinkle chopped fresh basil on top as a bright, herbaceous garnish.
- Serve: Serve the baked feta immediately while warm, accompanied by crackers or crusty bread for dipping and enjoying this rich Mediterranean-style appetizer.
Notes
- Use a mix of green and black olives for a balanced flavor.
- Leaving garlic skins on during roasting mellows the flavor and prevents burning.
- The dish pairs excellently with crusty bread or assorted crackers for dipping.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Baked feta is best served immediately but can be reheated gently if needed.
