mediterranean baked feta with tomatoes

This in a foil packet on a grill + some hearty olive oil-brushed bread, grilled and rubbed with a clove of garlic = the perfect kind of summer afternoon.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/3 cup chopped, pitted Kalmata olives
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (oops, I forgot this)
• 2 tablespoons finely-chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 8- to 10-ounce block feta
• Crackers, flatbread*, pita chips, or crostini, for dipping

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix the tomatoes, olives, onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon of the parsley, oregano, olive oil and a few grinds of pepper.
2. On a grill: Heat your grill to medium-high. Set the feta block in the middle of a piece of foil. Pile the tomato mixture on top of the feta. Fold up the edges of the foil so that it will hold in any liquid as it cooks. Place the packet straight on a grill for 15 minutes to warm it through. Remove from grill and transfer to plate or serving dish.
3. In the oven: Heat oven to 400°F. Check to see that your dish is oven-proof. ( I didn’t !) Place the block of feta in the middle of your dish. Pile the tomato mixture on top of the feta. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Both methods: The feta will not melt, just warm and soften. Garnish with parsley and serve with crackers; eat immediately. As it cools, the feta will firm up again. We found that the dish could be returned to the oven to soften it again. We did this with leftovers, too.