Baked Feta Cheese with Canned Sardines and Olives

 

Baked Feta Cheese with Canned Sardines and Olives is an easy to make appetizer, ready to serve in less than 30 minutes with simple feta cheese, canned sardines, and olives. If you enjoy Mediterranean diet, this one is for you!

 

This baked Feta cheese is absolutely our favourite appetizer, and we prepare it quite often.

 

It is interesting to notice how the intensity of tastes varies depending on how ingredients are preserved: homemade marinated olives have intense flavours, especially if herbs are added to oil when preserving so the difference between homemade and store bought is quite noticeable. The same thing happens with preserved fish.

Anyway, it becomes an exciting journey to discover the flavours every time we prepare it, using the same recipe with the ingredients arriving from different sources.

 

This post seems like perfect occasion to write a word or two about sumac, red powdered spice coming from Middle East since I sprinkled feta with it. The jar of sumac we have on our spices’ shelves arrives from the most beautiful street market I have ever seen: La Boqueria, Barcelona.

 

I consider sumac to be Mediterranean spice but the use of it spreads much further, up to Central Asia and gives lemony taste to food. I used it instead of lemon slices when cooking Baked Feta Cheese with Canned Sardines and Olives so if you add slices of lemon to feta, the result is almost the same.

 

Sumac bushes can be found on Sicily and southern parts of Italy as well ( I didn’t know that, must say ). If you are into spices as we are, it is interesting to know sumac is one of za’atar ingredients together with dry thyme, oregano, marjoram, and black pepper.
The other ingredient mentioned (and used) is Mediterranean spices mix and you can easily make it yourself by combining 1 tps of dry oregano, basil, marjoram, summer savory, thyme, and sage.

Once feta is baked, serve it immediately to enjoy its creamy texture. The taste this dish releases is everything but dull and glass of white wine fits so beautifully to it that it really drives you far far away…
If you love canned sardines and Feta, here are some amazing links to find more ideas for summer appetizers that can easily turn into week dinner :

 

For 8 canned sardines recipes look here .

 

For 23 sardines recipes go to BBCgoodfood .

 

What can you do with feta cheese?

Feta is remarkably versatile and can be used practically anywhere that calls for a salty cheese. I crumble it over salads and soups, toss it with roasted vegetables, grains, and pastas, and use it in pies and galettes. Feta can also be served on its own with a plate of olives, peppers, olive oil, and fresh flatbread.

 

To find amazing For 61 Feta recipes look at Epicurious .

 

What are some suggestions for healthy food that is easy to get and require no cooking?

For 45 healthy recipes of that kind, go to Tasteofhome .

 

My short list of grocery items to keep at home that are both nutritious yet frugal?

Canned beans, dry tomatoes, canned sardines and tuna, rice, butter, eggs, pasta, nuts, flour, pulled turkey, onions, potatoes, oatmeal, CHOCOLATE, bottle of wine, prosciutto, bananas, oranges, cauliflower, cheeses, dried mushrooms, toast, pack of tortillas, fresh herbs growing on my balcony.

These are quite budget friendly ingredients I started to collect before covid era. I continue to keep the stocks since it is so much easier to create beautiful, budget friendly week dinner relaxed way. However, I enjoy going to street market on Saturday morning to get fresh crunchy vegetables and fruits during their season.