Greek Meze and Appetisers
Feta Psiti me Ntomata Recipe (Greek Baked Feta with Tomato)
Φέτα ψητή με ντομάτα FEH-tah psee-TEE meh doh-MAH-tah · Feta psiti me ntomata
In short
Feta psiti me ntomata is a block of feta baked together with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, chilli and oregano until the cheese softens and the tomatoes blister and burst. It is a savoury, garlicky version of baked feta, entirely distinct from the honey and nut-topped version, and it has become a genuine modern staple of Greek meze spreads.
While feta baked with honey and nuts leans sweet, feta psiti me ntomata takes the same basic idea, a block of feta softened in the oven, and pushes it firmly savoury instead, surrounding the cheese with cherry tomatoes, garlic, chilli and oregano until everything blisters and softens together into a rich, spoonable meze.
This has become a genuinely popular modern staple, the kind of dish that appears constantly on contemporary Greek meze menus alongside older, more traditional plates, precisely because it needs almost no skill and gives a genuinely impressive result for very little active effort.
The tomatoes do real work here, releasing their juices as they blister and combining with the melting feta and olive oil into a light sauce that is genuinely made for mopping up with bread.
Key preparation steps
- Place a block of feta in a baking dish.
- Surround with cherry tomatoes, garlic, chilli and oregano.
- Drizzle generously with olive oil.
- Bake until the cheese softens and the tomatoes blister.
Assembling the dish
Place a whole block of feta in the centre of a small baking dish, and scatter cherry tomatoes, a few smashed garlic cloves and sliced chilli around it, then sprinkle generously with dried oregano and drizzle everything with a good amount of olive oil.
Baking
Bake in a hot oven for around twenty to twenty-five minutes, until the feta has softened and turned lightly golden in places and the tomatoes have blistered and started to burst, releasing their juices into the oil to form a light sauce.
Serving
Serve straight from the dish while still warm, mashing the feta lightly with a fork so it mixes through the burst tomatoes and oil, with plenty of good bread on the side for mopping up every bit of the sauce.
Tips from my kitchen
Use a good amount of olive oil
It combines with the tomato juices as they blister to form the light sauce this dish depends on. Skimping leaves it drier than it should be.
Do not skip the chilli if you like heat
It adds a gentle warmth that plays well against the feta's saltiness, though it is easy to leave out for a milder version.
Serve it warm, not piping hot
The feta firms up slightly as it cools from oven-hot, reaching its best, most spreadable texture a few minutes after coming out.
Feta Psiti me Ntomata Recipe (Greek Baked Feta with Tomato)
Φέτα ψητή με ντομάτα · by Kalliopi Andreou · updated 2026-07-31
- Prep
- 10m
- Cook
- 25m
- Total
- 35m
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 200C fan 180C.
- Place the feta block in the centre of a small baking dish.
- Scatter the cherry tomatoes, garlic and chilli, if using, around the feta.
- Sprinkle everything with the oregano and drizzle generously with the olive oil.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the feta is soft and lightly golden and the tomatoes have blistered.
- Season with black pepper, mash the feta lightly with a fork to mix through the tomatoes, and serve warm with bread.
Nutrition, per 1 portion
- Calories
- 268
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Sat fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 2 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 ntomata
What is the difference between this and honey-baked feta?
This version is entirely savoury, built around tomatoes, garlic and chilli, while the honey version leans sweet, topped with honey and nuts. Both start from the same basic technique of baking a block of feta until soft.
Can you use a different cheese?
A block of feta is traditional and holds its shape well while still softening properly. A very soft cheese would likely melt too much and lose its texture entirely.
What do you serve with feta psiti me ntomata?
Good crusty bread is essential for mopping up the sauce, and it works well as part of a wider meze spread alongside olives and dips.