Mediterranean Baked Feta Appetizer with Pita
Mediterranean Baked Feta Appetizer with Pita is a warm, creamy, and savory dish featuring baked feta cheese surrounded by blistered tomatoes, olives, and herbs. Served with pita, it’s a quick and crowd-pleasing appetizer with bold Mediterranean flavors.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 block of feta cheese (about 7 oz)
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup Kalamata or green olives, pitted
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp fresh oregano or thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Black pepper, to taste
- Warm pita bread, for serving
- Optional: lemon zest or fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place the block of feta in the center of a small baking dish. Surround it with cherry tomatoes, olives, and garlic.
- Drizzle everything generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with herbs, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the feta is soft and edges begin to brown and tomatoes are blistered.
- Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes at the end to brown the top.
- Remove from oven and garnish with lemon zest or fresh parsley, if desired.
- Serve warm with pita bread for dipping.
Notes
- Use a whole block of feta, not crumbled, for best texture when baking.
- Sun-dried tomatoes can be substituted for a deeper flavor profile.
- Add artichoke hearts or red onions for more variety.
- A drizzle of honey before or after baking adds a sweet contrast to the salty feta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe (excluding pita)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
