Have you tried the baked feta pasta that took the internet by storm earlier this year? That simple recipe inspired this delicious summer dip, which features some of my very favorite flavors—creamy feta, tangy cherry tomatoes, olives and plenty of fresh basil. Baking these ingredients together near the heat source yields maximal flavor. The feta softens and turns golden, the cherry tomatoes burst and naturally sweeten, and the olives become even more intensely olive-y. Swirled together and finished with a generous sprinkle of basil, the combination is sublime.
This dish also bears a resemblance to a classic Greek dish called feta fournou, or baked feta. That dish typically features feta with bell pepper, tomato and oregano. The flavors in today’s dip are also delicious raw, as you’ve seen in my Mediterranean Tomato & Feta Dip—make that one if you don’t want to turn on the oven! Either one will be a perfect light meal or summer evening appetizer.
Baked Feta Dip Ingredients
You’ll need four key ingredients to make this simple dip:
Feta
This recipe is designed for a block of feta, not pre-crumbled feta. As a plus, blocks of feta are more affordable per ounce. Blocks of feta vary in size by brand—anywhere between 5 to 8 ounces will suffice. The block used for these photos was 5 ounces. If your block is on the upper end, your dip will be more cheesy, creamy and substantial than shown here.
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
Either one will do. These little tomatoes typically offer nice, ripe flavor even when tomatoes aren’t in season. Under high heat, they burst in the oven and release their juices. The end result is just delicious.
Garlic
We’ll simply peel the garlic cloves and leave them whole. They’ll soften and mellow as the tomato juice bubbles around them. Before serving, we’ll find each of the cloves and smash it against the side of the dish with a fork before stirring it all together. This method is the easiest way to incorporate the garlic and yields the nicest flavor.
Kalamata Olives (optional)
I love Kalamata olives in this dish, but olives aren’t for everyone, so you can certainly skip them to suit your taste buds. The olives shrivel up a bit as they bake, which yields extra-delicious, condensed flavor.
Fresh Basil
After baking, we’ll sprinkle the dish all over with fresh basil to bring it to life. Enjoy!
More Summertime Appetizers to Enjoy
Here are a few more delicious dips and appetizers featuring ripe summer produce:
Caponata Epic Baba Ganoush Classic Pico de Gallo Fresh Corn Salsa Spicy Red Pepper & Feta Dip Tomato Basil Bruschetta with Balsamic Drizzle
*Feta note: Using a block of feta is key to this dish’s success. If it’s packed in water, drain it well before using. Blocks of feta vary in weight depending on the brand—any size between about 5 to 8 ounces will work. If your block is on the upper end of the spectrum, your dish will be more cheesy and creamy than shown here (nothing wrong with that!). Make it gluten free: The dip itself is gluten free. Simply serve it with gluten-free accompaniments, like your favorite gluten-free crackers.
