The Perfect Feta: Cooking Time For Creamy, Dreamy Cheese

Feta cheese is a popular ingredient in many dishes, from appetizers and salads to main courses and desserts. But how long should you cook it? Well, that depends on the dish you're preparing. For example, if you're making a baked feta dish, cooking times can vary from 10 minutes to 35 minutes, depending on the recipe. On the other hand, if you're using feta as an ingredient in a dish like pasta or a pie, you may not need to cook it separately at all. In general, it's important to monitor feta cheese while cooking, as it can go from melted to overcooked quite quickly.

Baked feta with chilli and oregano

This moreish, Mediterranean side dish is a great addition to a laidback spread of roasted vegetables and summer salads. It's also a perfect entrée or finger food to bring to a friend's house.

Ingredients for 1 serving:

• 200g feta cheese
• 1 red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced
• 1 tsp fresh oregano or 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• Olive oil
• Crackers, bread, or bread crisps, to serve

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Place the feta on a sheet of foil and scatter over the chilli and oregano. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Scrunch up the foil to seal the feta in a parcel, then place on a baking tray.
• Bake for 10 minutes until warmed and softened.
• Serve with crackers, bread, or bread crisps.

Tips:

• For an extra kick of flavour, add smoked paprika.
• If you want to jazz up the plate, add a small bowl of kalamata olives on the side.

Baked feta pasta

Ingredients:

• Feta Cheese
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Garlic
• Basil
• Pasta of your choice

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F.
• Place the cherry tomatoes in an oven-safe baking dish.
• Pour olive oil on top, and season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined.
• Place the block of feta cheese in the middle of the baking dish surrounded by the cherry tomatoes.
• Flip the block of feta a couple of times to coat it with the olive oil and seasoning, or add a touch more olive oil and some black pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes burst and the feta cheese melts.
• While the tomatoes and feta are baking, cook the pasta in a pot of salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking liquid in case the dish is dry.
• Immediately add the garlic and basil leaves to the cooked tomatoes and feta and toss everything to combine.
• Transfer the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss to combine. Garnish with more fresh basil and serve warm.

Tips:

• Use the freshest ingredients possible.
• Crowd the baking dish with the cherry tomatoes to make the sauce saucier.
• Increase the heat for blistered tomatoes. You can set the oven to broil for 2 minutes at the end or turn the temperature to 450°F during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Save the pasta water. This will help the sauce be more smooth and creamy.
• Play around with the seasoning and herbs. You can try using some fresh oregano, fresh thyme or switching the fresh garlic for roasted garlic.

Baked feta with tomatoes

This is a simple, tasty, and versatile dish. It can be served as a side, an appetizer, or a main course. The feta is baked to "tender perfection" and becomes a "warm and luscious, creamy spread".

Ingredients

• Feta cheese
• Olive oil
• Cherry tomatoes
• Other vegetables (optional)
• Herbs and seasonings (optional)

Method

Preheat the oven to around 200°C. Place the feta in an oven-safe dish and surround it with the tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil and add any desired herbs and seasonings. Bake for around 20-30 minutes, until the feta is warmed and softened, and the tomatoes are tender.

Serving Suggestions

• As a dip with pita chips or crusty bread
• With a side of sliced, toasted bread
• As a pasta sauce
• With a simple salad

Frying feta

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients:

• Feta cheese (one block or 250g)
• Olive oil (enough to coat the pan or shallow fry)
• Flour (70-80g or enough to coat the feta)
• Eggs (one or two, beaten)
• Panko breadcrumbs (1/3 cup or enough to coat the feta)
• Honey (for drizzling)
• Fresh lemon (for squeezing)
• Fresh thyme (optional)
• Cherry tomatoes (optional)
• Pita chips or pita bread (for serving)

Method

First, prepare the feta by cutting it into small blocks or leaving it as a whole block. If you are using breadcrumbs, set up a breading station with one bowl of beaten eggs and another bowl of breadcrumbs. Dip the feta into the egg, turning to coat, then dredge it through the breadcrumbs, gently pressing to adhere. If you are using flour, follow the same process, dipping the feta into the egg and then coating with flour.

Next, heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and add enough olive oil to coat the pan or shallow fry the feta. You can also add some lemon zest to the oil for extra flavour. Fry the feta for approximately 2-3 minutes on each side, or until it turns golden brown. If you are using flour, flip the feta with a slotted spoon to ensure even colouring.

Once the feta is fried, transfer it to a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Serve the feta warm with a drizzle of honey and a squeeze of fresh lemon. You can also add some fresh thyme, cherry tomatoes, and pita chips or bread on the side.

Tips

• Feta is a non-melting cheese, so it is easy to work with and will not melt all over your pan.
• You can serve the feta at room temperature, but it is best served warm so the honey can seep into the cheese.
• If you want to reduce the "oily" flavour of the fried feta, serve it with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Feta in pies

Feta cheese is a popular ingredient in pies, adding a gourmet flavour to the dish. There are a variety of pies that can be made using feta cheese, including Greek pies, hand pies, and meat pies. Here are some tips and recipes for creating delicious feta cheese pies:

Tiropitas (Greek Feta Cheese Pies)

Tiropitas are a classic Greek savoury pastry made with fillo (phyllo) and filled with cheese and egg. They are usually made into triangles and are perfect for entertaining as they can be assembled ahead of time and frozen. Here's a recipe for tiropitas:

• Ingredients: 1/2 lb. feta cheese (crumbled), 1/2 lb. cottage cheese (small curd), 1/2 lb. fillo dough (thawed), 1/2 lb. unsalted butter (melted), and eggs.
• Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
• Combine the cheeses, eggs, and salt in a bowl and stir until blended.
• Set up your station: You will need a large cutting board, a teaspoon, a brush, melted butter, a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and fillo dough.
• Lay one sheet of fillo horizontally in front of you on the cutting board.
• Brush the sheet with butter and run a knife down the piece of dough every 2 inches, yielding 6 to 7 strips.
• Place one teaspoon of the cheese mixture at the end of each strip.
• Fold over the corner to make a triangle, and continue folding from side to side until you reach the end of the strip.
• Place the assembled tiropitas on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Savory Feta Pies

Feta cheese pies can also be made with a variety of other ingredients, such as beef, onions, tomatoes, and spices. Here's a recipe for a savoury feta pie:

• Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small onion (sliced), 1 pound lean ground beef, 1 small tomato (diced), 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste, 2 (9 inch) frozen pie crusts (thawed), and 1/4 cup feta cheese.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and saute the onion until soft.
• Add the beef and brown slightly, then drain excess fat.
• Stir in the tomato, garlic powder, coriander, oregano, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper, and cook until the meat is evenly browned.
• Remove one pie crust from the pan and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. Cut the pastry into four 6-inch circles.
• Place the circles on a lined cookie sheet and lightly brush with egg beat.
• Place 1/4 cup of feta cheese onto each circle and top with some beef mixture, leaving room to seal the dough 'pockets'.
• Repeat the process with the second pie crust and remaining ingredients.
• Pinch the crusts together to seal around the edges and brush the tops with egg beat.
• Bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for 15 to 25 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown.

Feta Cheese Pie with Ready-Made Phyllo Pastry

You can also make a feta cheese pie with ready-made phyllo pastry sheets. Here's a simple recipe:

• Ingredients: Phyllo pastry (1 pack), feta cheese (10.5 oz), yoghurt (2-3 tablespoons), baking soda (a pinch), eggs, and butter or oil.
• Beat the eggs with the yoghurt and a pinch of baking soda.
• Spread out the phyllo pastry and coat them with the egg mixture, then crush some feta cheese on top and add a little oil or butter.
• Roll them up from the shorter side, using two phyllo pastry sheets at a time, and smear the oven dish with oil and sprinkle with flour.
• Arrange the rolled-up phyllo pastries in a circle, starting from the centre.
• Smear with a little egg yolk and butter, and bake in a preheated oven at 360°F (180 °C) until golden brown.

Tips for Feta Cheese Pies:

• Feta cheese does not melt well, so it is important to avoid overheating the pie and to watch the baking time.
• When using phyllo pastry, don't worry about getting every layer perfectly flat. Natural folds, wrinkles, and tears create air pockets that make the layers crispy.
• You can mix feta cheese with other cheeses like ricotta or cottage cheese for a milder filling.

Frequently asked questions