Baked Feta with Tomatoes, Chickpeas, and Fresh Herbs Recipe
A vibrant and hearty Mediterranean-inspired baked feta dish featuring a block of creamy feta cheese baked with juicy cherry tomatoes, aromatic garlic, spicy chili pepper, and tender chickpeas. This flavorful skillet combines fresh herbs and olive oil for a perfect appetizer or light meal, served with crusty flatbread or toasted pita wedges.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Cheese and Oil
- 8-ounce (225-gram) block feta cheese
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) olive oil
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 1/2 to 2 pints (3 to 4 cups) cherry or grape tomatoes
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 red chili pepper, thinly sliced
Legumes
- 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Seasonings
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh chopped herbs (parsley, cilantro, mint, dill, basil, or rosemary, or a mix)
Serving
- Flatbread or toasted pita wedges (gluten-free, if needed), for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the dish.
- Prepare the ingredients: Drain and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly. Thinly slice the garlic cloves and red chili pepper. Rinse the cherry tomatoes and set aside.
- Arrange ingredients in baking dish: In a medium-sized ovenproof baking dish or cast-iron skillet, place the block of feta in the center. Surround it with the cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, sliced garlic, and chili pepper.
- Season and drizzle with oil: Sprinkle kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper evenly over the feta, tomatoes, chickpeas, and aromatics. Drizzle the olive oil generously over the entire dish to ensure everything is well coated for roasting.
- Bake the dish: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the feta is soft and slightly golden, and the tomatoes have burst and started to release their juices.
- Add fresh herbs and serve: Remove the baking dish from the oven and sprinkle the fresh chopped herbs over the top. Serve immediately with flatbread or toasted pita wedges for dipping into the luscious, melty cheese and flavorful sauce.
Notes
- Use a mix of fresh herbs according to your preference for varied flavors.
- You can substitute cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes or small vine tomatoes as available.
- Adjust chili pepper amount depending on your heat tolerance, or omit for a milder dish.
- Serve with gluten-free bread if you require a gluten-free option.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated before serving.
