Grilled Feta with Tomatoes and Peppers

I had grilled feta for the first time at a tiny Greek BYOB in Philadelphia. I still consider it to be one of the best kept secrets in the city, and I’ve been a loyal patron for 20 years. My version of Grilled Feta with Tomatoes and Peppers takes me back there every time!

And don’t worry if it isn’t grilling season. You can duplicate the experience right in the oven.

Can you heat up feta cheese?

The quick answer is yes! I would never have thought about putting this tangy, crumble-prone cheese on the grill, but it turns out to be a brilliant move that adds a whole new dimension to its flavor.

Most of us are accustomed to crumbling feta on top of hummus or cutting it into chunks for a salad. But warm feta is a whole new thing, and a beautiful thing at that.

Does grilled or baked feta melt?

Feta cheese doesn’t actually melt when it’s heated because of it’s higher levels of acidity. Instead, will soften to the point where you can spread it onto pita or crackers.

Once you’ve had grilled feta cheese, it’s hard to go back!

The Toppings for Grilled Greek Feta

Making this Grilled Feta presents a great opportunity to use some of the bounties of your summer garden – vine ripe tomatoes, sweet banana peppers and fresh, aromatic oregano.

• Tomatoes: Use whatever kind you can get your hands on. Right now, I have loads of big, green tomatoes in my garden that I’m (im)patiently waiting for to ripen. The cherry tomatoes, on the other hand, are out of control. So I cut them into halves and pile them on top of the feta cheese before I put it on the grill.
• Banana peppers: They aren’t spicy in the least. They add a really nice tang and complement the salty cheese perfectly.
• Fresh oregano: I grab handfuls of it out of my herb box whenever I’m making Greek or Italian dishes. Fresh oregano leaves are velvety soft and really aromatic. They add a beautiful, indulgent flavor to whatever you’re cooking.

If you can’t find fresh oregano or you’re not growing it, sweet basil is a solid substitute. Just give the herbs a rough chop and sprinkle them over the cheese before serving.

How to serve Grilled Greek Feta

This Greek Feta with Tomatoes and Peppers is best served warm because feta is not naturally a spreadable cheese. Heating it makes it spread more easily onto soft pita wedges, but as it cools it will start to get crumbly again.

Is it safe to reheat it? Absolutely. Just microwave it for 30 seconds and you’ll be back in action.

I consider this a summer recipe, but the oven can easily stand in for the grill if you’ve got a hankering for it during the colder months. Whatever time of year, be sure to have lots of warm pita on hand.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!

For more Greek-inspired recipes, try these:

• Greek Feta Dip with Pepperoncini
• Tzatziki Sauce
• Summer Greek Mezze Platter

For more easy appetizers, try these:

• Wasabi Cream Cheese Spread
• Easy Heirloom Tomato & Feta Toasts
• Tex Mex Jalapeño Poppers

Grilled Feta with Tomatoes and Peppers

Grilled Feta with ripe tomatoes, sweet banana peppers and fresh oregano – an easy appetizer that's delicious with pita or crackers!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Greek

Servings 1

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 8-12 oz brick of quality Greek or Israeli feta cheese
• 1-2 Roma tomatoes sliced (or 2 cups of cherry tomatoes, halved)
• 1 sweet banana pepper sliced
• 2 tbsp. fresh oregano rough chopped
• olive oil & fresh cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Preheat grill or conventional oven to 400 degrees. Place feta onto a piece of aluminum foil and arrange slices of tomato and banana pepper on top.
• Place foil directly onto the grill or oven rack. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until the edges of the cheese begin to brown.
• Remove from grill or oven and drizzle with olive oil. Top with chopped oregano and fresh cracked pepper. Serve with soft pita or pita chips.

Keyword appetizers, cheese, easy, gluten free, vegetarian

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