The first time I ate Feta cheese was almost 26 years ago. I am not sure I liked it, it was salty and a lot of it in my greek salad. I love it today and it took me 25 years to realise that when you bake feta, it gets soft and creamy and even better.

This dish is so easy to make and a perfect weekday dinner. I would make it as a side when I have guests too. I just serve it with some nice crusty bread. You can serve it with pasta too. I tossed it with some leftover pasta the nest day and it was really good. The pasta absorbed the lemon flavour. It was almost like a creamy lemon sauce. I adapted this recipe from NYT cooking and Smittenkitchen

I use goat cheese in a lot of my cooking as I am lactose intolerant and goat/sheep cheese has less lactose and I can eat some cheese. If you are lactose intolerant, do read the label on goat cheese since not all goat cheese are made with 100% goat’s milk. Most are mixed with cow’s milk. I have found some goat and sheep cheese which are 100% and I use that. For this recipe you need a full block and not crumbled.

I have made this 2 ways. In one it is just feta, tomatoes, garlic and olives; the other has broccoli and is a more complete meal.

Ingredients

2 blocks feta or sheep cheese (in water), sliced into 3 pieces or 1 inch slices

about 3 cups broccoli florets

3-4 cloves of garlic, sliced

About 2 cups grape tomatoes, sliced into half

1/2 lemon, sliced into rounds

7-8 olives, sliced

1 red onion , sliced

3-4 tbsp good extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp cumin powder

1/2 -1 tsp chilli flakes (we like it on spicier)

1 tsp oregano

salt and pepper to taste ( go easy on the salt as the cheese and olives are salty)

1/4 cup basil, cilantro or parsley, chopped

Directions

Heat oven to 400°F

If using just tomatoes and cheese, use a small oven proof dish. Season tomatoes, add olives, onions and garlic and nestle feta cheese in the dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

For the recipe with broccoli, take a sheet pan.

Add 3 tbsp oil. Add all the ingredients except cheese and fresh herbs.

Toss them around so they are coated with oil and seasoning

Nestle the feta slices in the vegetables

Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway without touching the cheese

Remove from oven, drizzle some good olive oil, I used some chilli olive oil. Top with fresh herbs

Serve with bread or with pasta

Enjoy!

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