The very best, simplest, most satisfying summer appetizer – whipped feta with roasted tomatoes. Full of garlic and fresh garden herbs. This is summer in a bowl.
Just like this simple cherry tomato pasta, cooking with minimal ingredients and letting seasonal produce shine is what this time of year is all about! It’s the time where less is more, and simplicity is key.
Tomatoes are finally popping up at the farmers markets, so I’m using them again here in this really lovely little appetizer dish. There’s three components – whipped feta, slowly roasted tomatoes, and grilled bread. Everything comes together easily, with lots of fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil lending bright, bold flavor.
While the tomatoes roast in the oven, feta cheese gets quickly “whipped” in a food processor until smooth and creamy. You’ll then take some thick, crusty bread and grill it until slightly charred and crisp. By the time the tomatoes are done cooking, you’ll be ready to throw everything together and dig in.
Spread each slice of bread with a smear of whipped feta, and then spoon the sweet, juicy tomatoes right over top. And a little flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper are key with a dish this simple.
This is truly as good as it gets in the summertime!
PrintWhipped Feta with Roasted Tomatoes
creamy whipped feta with garlic & herb roasted cherry tomatoes, and grilled bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs cherry tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced
- 4 fresh thyme sprigs
- 4 fresh oregano sprigs
- 1 cup olive oil
- kosher salt
- 12 oz crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup water
- 1 loaf crusty bread, sliced ½”
- thyme + oregano leaves, to garnish
- flaky sea salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F°. Add the cherry tomatoes, sliced garlic, and fresh herbs to a 12″ cast-iron skillet. Cover with the olive oil, season with a pinch of salt, and toss to combine. Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft and caramelized.
- Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Coat each slice of bread with a good amount of olive oil on both sides. Grill the bread until slightly charred and crisp, just a minute or so per side. Transfer the bread to a cutting board and cut each piece in half.
- In a food processor, combine the feta, olive oil, and water. Blend for a few minutes until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Spoon the feta cheese into a bowl. Add the roasted tomatoes over top, along with a generous drizzle of the oil from the skillet. Top the tomatoes with a few thyme and oregano leaves, flaky sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve the bread alongside.
Hi! I’m thinking of making this for an upcoming dinner party. Can the whipped feta be made in advance? Or is it best to serve right away? Thanks!
I was wondering the same thing!
Any luck getting an answer on this one?
Yes, I made it in advance and put it in the fridge. I made the tomatoes before and left them in the pan and spooned over the cheese before serving. It was a HUGE hit! Totally recommend this recipe!
WoW this was absolutely delicious!! I used toasted homemade day old focaccia and it completely transformed it!
Any suggestions for those of us without a food processor?
You could give a blender a try if you have one. It just might be a little hard to get going because we’re not adding all that much liquid. Hmmm…my other suggestion would be to just go super simple and top the bread with the tomatoes and then crumble feta cheese over top! Hope this helps 🙂