“We are in the area and thought we would stop by” these are the words that strike terror to many a hostess. Never fear, with a few simple ingredients you can have Bruschetta Style Broiled Feta ready before they ring the doorbell.
At this time of year friends and family are bound to stop by for an impromptu visit. Those of us who cook feel the need to feed. Keeping cheese on hand can take the stress out of those last minute visits.
In the summer we like nothing better than a bruschetta style snack — garden fresh tomatoes and cheese with crackers or baguettes. But alas it winter and tomatoes are not in season. Never fear grape or cherry tomatoes, especially those on the vine are still sweet and delicious. I have found that purchasing them on the vine gives them a longer shelf life and remember DO NOT put tomatoes in the refrigerator it makes tomatoes grainy and yucky!
Feta is a pickled curd cheese that has a salty and tangy taste enhanced by the brine solution. It is creamy white with small holes, a crumbly texture, in square cakes with no rind. It can also be purchased crumbled and flavored.
Keep a block on hand, and you are ready for a quick and easy appetizer.
A block of feta drizzled with avocado oil and baked just until soft, then surrounded by a tomato mixture that takes minutes literally to prepare.
Cherry tomatoes, shallots, garlic, a pinch of sugar for sweetness, balsamic vinegar, and capers create the perfect accent for the baked feta. Drizzle the entire mixture with honey and broil until golden brown. Please keep an eye on the dish during the broiling phase, or you will have a story to tell about the time you burnt the cheese.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with pita chips.
Bruschetta Style Broiled Feta is sure to be an appetizer favorite no matter what time of year!
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Bruschetta Style Broiled Feta
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 appetizer servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Broil
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
1 8-ounce block Greek feta, blotted dry
3 tablespoons avocado oil, divided
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
2 small shallots, sliced thin
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons capers
1 tablespoon honey
Chopped parsley for garnish
Pita chips for serving
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Select a small oven-to-table baking dish. Place the feta in the dish and drizzle with 2 tablespoons avocado oil.
Bake until the cheese is soft to the touch but not melted, about 8 minutes.
While feta is baking heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in small saucepan over medium heat, add the shallot and garlic cook, continually stirring, until lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and sugar, and balsamic vinegar; cook, frequently stirring, until the tomatoes are softened. Stir in capers.
Preheat broiler. Spoon the tomatoes mixture around the baked feta. Drizzle the honey over the top of the feta and broil until the feta is browned on top, about 4 minutes. Keep an eye on the cheese while broiling as it can burn quickly.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with pita chips.
Keywords: appetizer, snack, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, garlic, shallot, pita chips, capers
