🧀🔥 Savory Baked Feta (Bouyiourdi)
A traditional Greek meze dish made with creamy feta, juicy tomatoes, olive oil, chili, and herbs — baked until soft and bubbly. Perfect as a starter or light meal with bread or pita.
⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
🕰️ Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 2–3 (as appetizer)
🔥 Calories: ~230 kcal per serving
📝 Ingredients:
- 1 block (7 oz / ~200g) Greek feta cheese
- 1 medium tomato, sliced
- 1 small red chili, thinly sliced (or 1/2 tsp chili flakes)
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Crusty bread, for serving (baguette, pita, or sourdough)
🔪 Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Layer the ingredients:
In a small ovenproof dish or ramekin, place the feta block in the center. Layer the sliced tomato, red chili or flakes, onion (if using), and green pepper around and over the feta. - Season and drizzle:
Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle dried oregano and freshly ground black pepper on top. - Bake:
Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the feta softens and the vegetables are tender.
(Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes at the end for a golden top.) - Serve hot:
Serve immediately with slices of warm crusty bread or pita for dipping.
🧠 Notes:
- Authentic Greek bouyiourdi is traditionally made in a small clay dish called a “gastra.”
- Use high-quality feta—ideally PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) feta from Greece—for best taste and creaminess.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice before serving for brightness.
- To make it spicier, add extra chili flakes or a splash of hot sauce.
💡 Tips:
- You can prepare it in foil or parchment and bake it on a grill for a smoky twist.
- This also works well with cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Add a few olives or capers for a briny boost.
- For a vegan version, use plant-based feta alternatives.
🍽️ Servings:
- Serves: 2–3 as an appetizer or light snack
- Serving size: Approx. 80–100g (with bread)
- Calories per serving: ~230 kcal
(Calories may vary depending on oil used and amount of bread served)
📊 Nutritional Info (Per Serving):
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Protein: 8–10g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 5g (without bread)
- Fiber: 1g
- Sodium: ~550–600mg
🌿 Benefits:
- Rich in calcium & protein from feta
- Includes healthy fats from olive oil
- Antioxidants from tomatoes and peppers
- Satisfying and low in carbs without bread
- A perfect Mediterranean diet snack
❓Q&A
Q: Can I use crumbled feta instead of a block?
A: Yes, but the texture won’t be as creamy. A block holds together and softens beautifully in baking.
Q: Can I reheat leftovers?
A: Yes! Reheat gently in the oven or microwave. Best enjoyed fresh though.
Q: What bread goes best with this?
A: Rustic sourdough, grilled pita, or a warm baguette pair perfectly.
Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
A: You can prep and refrigerate it (uncooked) for up to a day. Just bake when ready to serve.