Baked Feta with Tomatoes and Oregano
A block of feta baked until soft and bubbling under a pile of blistered cherry tomatoes, garlic, and dried oregano.
Baked feta is the kind of dish that looks like it took real effort but really just needs you to put a block of cheese in a baking dish, surround it with cherry tomatoes and sliced garlic, and let the oven do the work while the tomatoes blister and the feta turns soft.
Once it comes out, mash the tomatoes and feta together right in the dish and it turns into a warm, chunky, spreadable dip that's begging to be scooped up with crusty bread.
This is a rich, shareable appetizer built around feta and olive oil, so it's worth treating it as the flavorful indulgence it is rather than an everyday staple — a small warm dish meant for gathering around and sharing, best enjoyed in moderation alongside plenty of vegetables and bread to spread it on. It also comes together fast enough to pull off on a weeknight when friends drop by unannounced.
Ingredients
- 8 oz block feta cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes — halved
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic — sliced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes — optional
- 2 tbsp fresh basil — torn
- 4 slices whole grain bread — toasted, to serve
These ingredients are standard at most major European supermarkets.
Instructions
- 1Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- 2Place the block of feta in the center of a baking dish. Scatter cherry tomatoes and garlic around it.
- 3Drizzle everything with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano and red pepper flakes.
- 4Bake 20-25 minutes until the tomatoes have blistered and the feta is soft and lightly golden.
- 5Remove from the oven and gently mash the feta and tomatoes together with a fork.
- 6Top with fresh basil and serve warm with toasted bread.