Greek Meze and Appetisers
Feta Psiti me Meli Recipe (Baked Feta with Honey and Sesame)
Φέτα ψητή με μέλι FEH-tah psee-TEE meh meh-LEE · Feta psiti me meli
In short
Feta psiti me meli is a whole block of feta baked briefly until warmed through and lightly softened, drizzled with honey and scattered with toasted sesame seeds and a little chilli. It is a genuinely modern addition to the Greek meze table, contrasting salty cheese against sweet honey with a warm, gentle heat, rather than the hard fried crust of saganaki.
Feta psiti me meli takes a completely different approach to warm feta from saganaki's hard fried crust: the whole block goes into the oven just long enough to warm through and soften at the edges, keeping its shape rather than melting, then gets finished with a generous drizzle of honey, toasted sesame and a pinch of chilli flakes for a little background heat.
This is genuinely modern Greek taverna food, the kind of dish that has become popular relatively recently rather than something handed down through generations, and it shows how well feta's saltiness plays against sweet honey once you stop treating the cheese purely as a savoury ingredient.
It takes minutes to prepare and only slightly longer to bake, making it one of the easiest possible things to put out when guests are due and you want something that looks considered without any real effort.
Key preparation steps
- Place a whole block of feta in a small baking dish.
- Bake briefly until warmed through and slightly softened.
- Drizzle generously with honey.
- Finish with sesame seeds and a little chilli, and serve warm.
Baking the feta
Place a whole block of feta, ideally in one piece rather than pre-crumbled, in a small ovenproof dish and bake in a hot oven for around ten to twelve minutes, just until it is warmed through and has softened slightly at the edges without fully melting or losing its shape entirely.
The honey and finish
Drizzle the warm feta generously with honey, warming it briefly first if it has crystallised so it pours easily. Scatter over toasted sesame seeds and a small pinch of dried chilli flakes, which adds a gentle warmth against the sweetness without overwhelming the dish.
Serving
Serve immediately while still warm, with good bread alongside for scooping up the softened cheese, honey and sesame together. This is a dish that is genuinely at its best in the first few minutes after coming out of the oven.
Tips from my kitchen
Use a whole block, not pre-crumbled feta
This lets it hold its shape and soften at the edges rather than collapsing into a puddle in the oven.
Toast the sesame seeds first
A brief dry-pan toast beforehand brings out real nutty flavour that raw seeds do not have.
Serve it immediately
This dish is at its best in the first few minutes out of the oven, while the feta is still warm and soft.
Feta Psiti me Meli Recipe (Baked Feta with Honey and Sesame)
Φέτα ψητή με μέλι · by Kalliopi Andreou · updated 2026-07-31
- Prep
- 5m
- Cook
- 12m
- Total
- 17m
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 200C fan 180C.
- Place the whole block of feta in a small ovenproof dish.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until warmed through and slightly softened at the edges.
- Warm the honey briefly if crystallised, then drizzle generously over the warm feta.
- Scatter with the toasted sesame seeds and chilli flakes.
- Serve immediately with bread.
Nutrition, per 1 portion
- Calories
- 218
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Sat fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
These figures are calculated estimates based on the ingredients listed, not laboratory analysis. Actual values vary with brands, cuts and portion size.
Frequently asked questions about Feta psiti me meli
Is this dish traditional or modern?
Genuinely modern, a relatively recent addition to Greek taverna menus rather than a dish with deep historical roots, though it uses entirely traditional ingredients in a new combination.
Can you make this on the grill instead of in the oven?
Yes, wrapped in foil on a barbecue for a similar amount of time works well, giving a slightly smokier result.
What do you serve with baked feta and honey?
Good crusty bread for scooping is essential, and it works well as part of a wider meze spread alongside olives and cured meats.
