This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I’ll admit it – I wasn’t a fan of the baked feta pasta trend, but as an appetizer with crusty bread? Yes please! There is something about a warm piece of focaccia bread dipped in an olive oil that has been infused with roasted tomatoes and garlic and then smeared with baked feta cheese – it’s all you could ask for in a recipe!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Baked Feta and Tomato Dip
Oven roasted tomatoes with garlic infusing olive oil in all its tasty goodness. Warm and creamy feta cheese that is ready to be spread over your warm focaccia bread, then dipped in the amazing olive oil and tomatoes with a drizzle of sweet honey for the perfect bite. This is a super easy appetizer that is perfect for company and sure to be a crowd pleaser!
How To Prepare
Don’t Skip the Tomato Poke – Trust me, you don’t want these tomatoes popping in your mouth when they are fresh out of the oven. It won’t feel very good. An easy solution is to make a small slit with the end of a knife in each tomato to relieve some of the pressure.
Choose a Good Olive Oil – Make sure you are buying a good quality olive oil for this recipe. One of my favorites is La Tourangelle. They sell theirs in a tin which is best because the tin blocks all light and keeps the olive oil fresher for longer, unlike glass bottles.
Room Temperature Feta – Let your feta sit out while you prep everything else so that you get a more even bake.
Baste as it Bakes – Don’t forget to baste your feta a few times while it bakes. It will help everything to meld together beautifully.
🫶 And that is it, subscribe for more!
🔥Chef Nadia’s Tip🔥
Make sure you are buying a good quality olive oil for this recipe. One of my favorites is La Tourangelle. They sell theirs in a tin which is best because the tin blocks all light and keeps the olive oil fresher for longer, unlike glass bottles.
Substitutions and Variations
- Substitutions
- Herbes de Provence → You can swap this with Italian seasoning.
- Focaccia → Sour dough, ciabatta or a crusty baguette would also work.
- Honey → Agave is another great choice.
The Perfect Pairings
This baked feta cheese dip recipe will pair so nicely with a Tinto de Verano. Follow it up with a Cherry Tomato Pasta with Burrata and a fresh Arugula Salad with Fennel. Finish your night with a nice bowl of Amaretto Peaches.
Baked Feta and Tomato Dip: Questions Answered
It is from a little shop in Portugal! It doesn’t have a name brand. If you are looking for something similar you should search for au gratin dishes. They are the same shape and you can find a pattern you love!
You can prep the tomato mixture and season the feta a few hours in advance. Just cover and refrigerate then bake when ready to serve. The focaccia is best baked fresh.
It is really best served warm.
Equipment
- small baking dish, au gratin dish size
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 3-4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano
- 2 tsp crushed red peppers, divided + more for topping
- 1 pinch of salt
- ⅓ cup olive oil, high quality + more for drizzling
- 1 tsp herbes de Provence
- Honey, to taste
- 1 feta block
- 1 focaccia loaf
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Carefully poke a hole on your tomatoes with the end of a knife, this will make it so they don't burst in your mouth while hot.
- Add the tomatoes to a baking dish with the garlic, oregano, 1 tsp crushed red peppers and salt. Add in ⅓ cup of olive oil and mix.
- Set a block of feta on top of the tomatoes and drizzle more olive oil.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, basting it a couple times.
- On a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, place your focaccia bread and drizzle olive oil and some honey. Add the other 1 tsp of crushed red pepper and herbes de Provence evenly to the top.
- When you have about 15 minutes left on the baked feta, add in your focaccia bread and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden.
- When done, drizzle the baked feta with a little more olive oil and honey, slice your focaccia bread and use it to dip into your delicious baked feta.
Kitchen Cam
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
