Baked feta cheese with sun dried tomato and capers Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Kathryn Morrissey

November18,2013

5

1 Ratings

  • Serves 4

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

While on honeymoon in Santorini, I was so inspired by the ingredients they used, their local dishes and their flavour combinations. One of which was the heavenly marriage of feta cheese, tomatoes and capers. It got me thinking about so many different types of recipes, and this particular one was a real success. It is totally fuss free and easy to make, and a real crowd pleaser. This dish is best served as a sharing dish, so plonk it in the middle of the table with some roughly torn crusty bread, and enjoy the relaxed company of your guests with glass of red wine. —Kathryn Morrissey

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • Sun dried tomato, oregano and thyme paste
  • 1 cupsun dried tomatoes (the kind that need to be rehydrated before using)
  • 1/2 cupolive oil
  • 8 sprigsthyme, leaves picked and chopped
  • 6 sprigsoregano, leaves picked and chopped
  • salt and pepper to season
  • Feta cheese
  • 1 block of feta cheese
  • 1 quantity of sun dried, oregano and thyme paste
  • 2 tablespoonscapers
  • 1-2 sprigsthyme, leaves picked
  • 1 sprigoregano, leaves picked and chopped roughly.
  • crusty sourdough bread to serve
Directions
  1. Sun dried tomato, oregano and thyme paste
  2. Rehydrate your sun dried tomatoes by covering with boiling water and leaving to soak for about 20 minutes.
  3. Drain the sun dried tomatoes and pat dry. Use a hand held blender to blitz the sun dried tomatoes and olive oil to a smooth paste. When ready stir through the herbs and season to taste. (This can also be used as a marinade, spread, dip or to add extra flavour to pasta sauces- it will keep for 2 weeks refrigerated in an airtight jar.)
  4. Note: If you are using sun dried tomatoes that have been preserved in oil, use the oil from the jar rather than olive oil- it will give added flavour. You may not need the same quantity of oil, so start with a 1/4 cup. You are looking for a thick paste consistency.
  1. Feta cheese
  2. Lay a large piece of baking parchment on a flat surface. Spread 1/4 of the sun dried tomato paste in the centre and place the block of feta cheese on top. Cover with 1/2 the remaining sun dried tomato paste (reserving some for later)
  3. Sprinkle with the extra herbs and a little olive oil, and wrap well with the baking parchment.
  4. Bake in a preheated oven (180'C, 350'F, gas mark 4) for 15 minutes.
  5. When ready , remove from the oven and tear away enough parchment to expose the cheese, making sure there is enough left to hold in all of the juices. Sprinkle with the capers and serve straight away with crusty bread and remaining sun dried tomato paste.

Tags:

  • Cheese
  • Capers
  • Feta
  • Tomato
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Serves a Crowd
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Appetizer
  • Entree
  • Snack

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Regine

  • Kathryn Morrissey

Popular on Food52

4 Reviews

Regine November 22, 2013

I bought ingredients for me to make over the weekend ( tomorrow for me ). I will eat it with this bread called Ms Em's bread posted this week by Genius Recipes in food52.

Kathryn M. November 23, 2013

Amazing! I hope you really enjoy it! Let me know how it goes! x

Regine November 18, 2013

This must be delicious. Will make as an appetizer next time I have friends over for dinner. What an excellent idea and a "refined" appetizer. Thanks for sharing. I could also see myself making some buttery orzo and right before serving spread some of your feta dish on top of the orzo.

Kathryn M. November 18, 2013

Ohhh I love the idea to spread it on some orzo, how lovely! Thank your for your lovely comment, I am so glad you like it! I love having it when I have friends over. I just stick a few of them in the oven and then create a lovely sharing table where everyone digs in. It is so stress free and easy to prepare and make, that it means I never feel under pressure when serving this one. The more of those recipes we have up our sleeve the better I think! Thanks again for commenting and please do let me know how you get on cooking it! I would love to hear :) x

Baked feta cheese with sun dried tomato and capers Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Why is my feta not melting in the oven? ›

In the case of feta cheese, it has a very high moisture content and slightly low fat content which mean it has a lower melting point, but its high acidity results in it have very high amounts of bonded calcium which takes longer time and higher temperatures to melt.

How to cook with dry sundried tomatoes? ›

Using Dry-Packed Tomatoes

This is a pretty simple process: Just let them soak in warm water for 30 minutes until soft and pliable, drain (reserve the liquid to add flavor to stocks and sauces), pat dry, and use as directed in your recipe. You can also use wine, broth, or other cooking liquids to reconstitute.

What's the difference between semi dried and sundried tomatoes? ›

The removal of some of the water content means semi-dried tomatoes have an intense, sweet flavour, but retain a more moist texture than their sun-dried counterparts.

Do you put feta on pizza before or after cooking? ›

Does feta cheese go on pizza before or after cooking? Feta cheese is safe to eat whether you cook it or eat it raw. You can sprinkle chunks of feta cheese on your pizza as an added topping after it has been baked, or put it on your pizza before putting it into the oven.

What type of feta is best for baking? ›

Feta Always use Greek feta which is made with sheep milk or a combination of sheep and goat milk. The flavour and texture cannot be beat. A rectangular piece of feta, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick, is perfect for this recipe.

Should I soak sun-dried tomatoes before use? ›

Rehydration:Before using dried sun-dried tomatoes in recipes, it's common to rehydrate them. Place the dried tomatoes in warm water, vegetable or chicken broth, or even white wine for about 15-30 minutes until they become plump and tender. Once rehydrated, drain them and use as desired.

Do you rinse sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Editor: Rachel, if the tomatoes are dried and not packed in oil, then yes, we like to chop them and let them steep in hot water or wine, then drain them before using. But if they are packed in oil, then we use them straight (and a bit of the oil, too!

Are sun blushed tomatoes the same as sun-dried? ›

Therefore sun-blushed tomatoes are juicier than sun-dried ones and are often considered nicer to eat, but the sun-dried tomatoes have a longer shelf-life. As with a lot of food, opinions vary and many people do prefer the taste and texture of sun-dried tomatoes. The flavour is concentrated by the drying process.

Which is healthier tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Sun dried tomatoes have a higher bioavailability of lycopene than fresh or canned tomatoes. Sun dried tomatoes are packed with Vitamin C. While Vitamin C isn't a cure for the common cold, there is good evidence that it may help prevent serious complications caused by colds.

How can you tell if sundried tomatoes are good? ›

Change in smell: If the sun-dried tomatoes develop a funny or musty smell, it indicates spoilage, and they should be discarded [2]. Change in texture: Sun-dried tomatoes should have a chewy and dry texture. If they appear moist or soggy, it means they have absorbed moisture and may harbor bacteria and germs.

What is the point of sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Incorporating sun dried tomatoes into any meal is a smart way to stay healthy! These little gems are packed with nutrients and anti-oxidants (including lycopene) that are event believed to decrease the risk of certain cancers, neutralize free radicals and decrease inflammation.

What are the best tomatoes for sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Roma tomatoes, San Marzano, or smaller grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes can be used to make sun-dried tomatoes. Without their moisture, their flavor is amplified, boosting the taste of a dish. In the sun. Using the sun is the classic way to dry tomatoes like they once did on the rooftops of southern Italy.

How do you use sun-dried tomatoes that are not in oil? ›

Dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes work great in grain and pasta salads. Mediterranean Orzo and other Mediterranean-inspired dishes are a fitting place to feature them. They shine on pizza and focaccia as a foil to a yeasted or sourdough bread component.

What are the best tomatoes to make sun-dried tomatoes? ›

Plum, oval or pear-shaped Italian, Roma or paste tomatoes are best for drying. A food dehydrator is the best options for drying tomatoes. Sun or air drying is not a viable option for Minnesota's high summer humidity levels.

Why does my cheese not melt in the oven? ›

Why won't my cheese melt? There are many reasons, but the biggest is the moisture content. The moisture content of the cheese has a great effect on the melting process. Cheese that contains higher amounts of fat will melt better than one that doesn't.

How do you get feta to melt? ›

Add a small amount of preferably full milk to your jar and drop in your feta. You can use skim or 2% if you prefer. Now turn your stove on to medium heat and allow water to boil. As it heats up, stir it constantly.

Does feta melt when baked? ›

Feta cheese doesn't melt in the oven – that's why it's so great for baking. But, it does still go beautifully gooey in the middle, and gets lovely crispy bits around the edges. Just keep mixing until everything's nice and smooth.

Does feta cheese melt when cooked? ›

Texture: Since the curd is just lightly pressed together, Feta is very crumbly, and works beautifully as a topping to other dishes. When you put it in your mouth, however, high quality Feta will become quite creamy, not grainy. Cooking: Feta melts well, turning soft, not gooey, and maintains its flavor when heated.

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