GREAT APPETIZER: OVEN BAKED FETA WITH TOMATOES & PEPPERS

Great appetizer: Oven Baked Feta with Tomatoes & Peppers image

Provided by Marilena Leavitt

Categories Appetizer

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

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8 ripe pearl tomatoes, or, 1 large vine-ripened tomato
4 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil
--- sea salt & crushed red pepper flakes
½ medium green bell pepper (or 2 sweet banana peppers)
2 thick slices of Greek Feta (about 6 oz.)
1 tsp. dried Greek oregano
4 slices of hearty multigrain bread, grilled

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 425˚F.
Slice the pearl tomatoes horizontally (each one in four pieces) and place on paper towels to drain. (If you are using one large tomato, cut the end pieces and slice the rest in six slices). After 3-4 minutes, turn them over and place on new paper towels. Cut the pepper into four rings and set aside.
Oil well a small, shallow ceramic baking dish (or four individual ceramic ramekins) and place half of the tomato slices at the bottom. Sprinkle with some sea salt and crushed pepper flakes. Top with half the bell pepper slices.
Arrange the two Feta pieces on top of the tomato/pepper layer, place the remaining tomato slices on top of each piece of cheese, and place the rest of the bell pepper rings on the tomato. Drizzle liberally with the extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with oregano and some more pepper flakes, and transfer to the middle of the oven.
Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the feta turns a light-golden color and the oil is sizzling. If you want to deepen the color, you can place the dish under the broiler for 1-2 minutes at the end of the cooking time.
Brush some olive oil on the slices of good, multigrain bread, and grill on both sides. Serve the baked feta immediately with some warm grilled bread.