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This Tomato and Feta Appetizer comes together quickly and is fresh and delicious!
I've got a trick for you to stick up your sleeve. It's a trick that just might get you out of a pinch. It's a delicious appetizer that you can throw together in minutes. You know, when unexpected guests suddenly arrive or when you're serving guests after a long day at work. Maybe you're like me; I sometimes forget to plan an appetizer when entertaining guests for dinner.
I've served this appetizer several times lately and each time it's flown off the plate and drawn rave reviews. It's fresh, bright and loaded with fabulous flavor. In fact, it's so delicious that when I made it the last time (to take photos for you), Scott and I enjoyed it so much that we just decided to call it "dinner". See what we go through, how we suffer for you? 🙂
Seriously, just stock your pantry and fridge with a few ingredients and you can pull this one together in the blink of an eye; drizzle olive oil generously on a pretty plate. Add chopped tomatoes, bell pepper, and green onion. A sprinkle of Greek seasoning and fresh oregano comes next and then a handful of crumbled Feta. Top it all of with lemon zest, freshly ground black pepper and more fresh oregano.
That's it, though you can mix and match ingredients as you please. Sometimes I add chopped cucumber or substitute it for the bell pepper. A scatter of Kalamata olives is a delightful touch and other fresh herbs will add more vibrant flavor. It's delicious with crostini or pita chips but would also be wonderful served with slices of fresh baguette.
See why you need to stick this one up your sleeve? You just never know when magic will be required and this rabbit can be pulled out the hat in a zip, a delicious zip!
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil use your best for this
- 3 medium Roma tomatoes chopped fairly small
- ½ medium bell pepper any color, chopped fairly small
- 4 green onions sliced thin
- Greek seasoning available in the spice section of most grocery stores
- ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh oregano
- ¾ cup crumbled Feta cheese
- zest of 1 lemon
- freshly ground black pepper
- optional ingredients; chopped cucumber zucchini, fresh corn, avocado, cannellini beans, chickpeas, finely chopped prosciutto, fresh basil, thyme or rosemary,
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Pour olive oil onto a serving plate or platter.
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Add chopped tomatoes, and bell pepper. Add optional ingredients as desired. Sprinkle generously with Greek seasoning, most of the fresh oregano and most of the green onion.
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Top with Feta, lemon zest, freshly ground black pepper and the rest of the oregano and green onion. Add optional ingredients as desired. Serve with fresh bread, crostini or pita chips.
If you have any leftovers, warm a pocketless pita in a pan with a small amount of olive oil till golden. Top with hummus and a large scoop of this yummy stuff. Add a bit of leftover grilled or rotisserie chicken- oh my! Please invite me for lunch if you're serving this!
Pondside says
The picture alone would have been enough to set me drooling, but then the recipe. This is a keeper, I'm sure!
Gloria Baker says
Just beautiful!
Betty says
Who would even need dinner after this? Perfect!
Kitchen Riffs says
This is terrific! And I particularly like it, because appetizers are my weakness. Great flavors and looks gorgeous. What more could one want? Thanks for this.
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
I just want to reach into the screen and grap a mouthful of that feta. Oh the feta! I can see why you wanted it for dinner. Yum!
bellini says
Everything I love in one quick spoonful!
Mi Ka says
I love this greek touch! I will try it soon 😉
Best wishes from Spain!
Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking says
Chris, this looks sensational! So fresh, easy and elegant for entertaining. I love your suggested additions, too!
Ms Lemon of Make Mine Lemon says
I am constantly looking for a dish like this - something for unexpected company. Oh, and thanks for taking one for the team.
Angie Schneider says
SUMMER! A gorgeous salad, Chris.
Ginny says
I read somewhere that Feta and Goat's cheese are much healthier for you than other cheeses.
Kim - Liv Life says
Fun, fast and fantastic... with a description like that, it's a must save!! Printed and pasted in my recipe book for those "I didn't plan for this" occasions. The tomatoes are starting to really come in beautifully in the markets now, I'm excited!
rosaria williams says
Oh yum!
Sandra Lee says
This would be so good to have right now, especially with hummus!
Cuisine de Provence says
This looks extremely delicious - now if only the tomatoes around here would be ripe ones... So I guess I still have to wait a little while before trying this.
The Mom Chef says
I ALWAYS forget the appetizer when I have guests. This is a perfect way to fix my faux pas (at least that one). It looks delicious.
Mijú says
Que buena con el orégano fresco 🙂
Un saludito
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
I could make a meal out of this beautiful dish too, Chris. This is my favorite summertime appy/lunch/dinner...anytime treat.
twodogsinthekitchen says
I do a similar dish with tomatoes, feta and black olives with a balsamic dressing. I love simple dishes like this and they are so good! I would call that dinner too 🙂
Lulu says
Appetizers are the weakest part of my culinary skills, so a new recipe is a gift, and I love that this one is healthy, easy to make and looks delicious.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
I love how fresh it looks! Yum with a slice of fresh crusty bread. Dinner (skip the appetizer) is ready!
Lenia says
Beautiful, healthy, delicious, with a greek touch!What's more to ask?
Kisses!
La Table De Nana says
Almost like a buschetta topping but Greek sladish:)
Looks so good..and well worth eating again to show us the great shots:)
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
With fresh bread or pita chips, I could make a meal out of this! Love!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
So freshlicious, Chris! I'll need a fork to dig in this beauty. I'm in love with the second picture. You got the right angle and closed up very well emphasizing all the goodness of this salad. Have a great week, dear!