Description
Baked Feta Chickpeas is a flavorful and wholesome Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and creamy baked feta cheese. Roasted until bubbly and topped with fresh basil, this recipe is an easy weeknight meal served with toasted bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 16 oz. cherry tomatoes, stemmed, washed
- 1 (14.5-oz.) can chickpeas, drained, rinsed
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 (4″ x 3″) block feta (about 8 oz.)
For Serving
- Fresh basil leaves
- Toasted bread
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Ingredients: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 400°F (200°C). In a 13″ x 9″ baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, drained and rinsed chickpeas, finely chopped garlic, 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, kosher salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper. Toss everything together to ensure it is well coated.
- Roast Tomatoes and Chickpeas: Place the baking dish in the oven and roast for about 15 minutes until the cherry tomatoes burst and start releasing their juicy sauce, infusing the chickpeas with flavor.
- Prepare and Add Feta: On a cutting board, slice the block of feta lengthwise into 4 planks approximately 3/4 inch thick. Nestle these feta planks into the tomato and chickpea mixture, then drizzle a little extra olive oil on top.
- Continue Roasting: Return the dish to the oven and roast for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the feta softens and the tomatoes become saucy and nearly all burst.
- Broil for Blistering Finish: Remove the dish from the oven and switch the oven setting to broil. Broil the feta and tomatoes for 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely until both are blistered and browned slightly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle fresh basil leaves on top, and serve immediately with toasted bread on the side for dipping into the delicious sauce.
Notes
- This dish is a perfect weeknight meal offering a comforting blend of roasted cherry tomato sauce and melted feta over protein-rich chickpeas.
- Serve immediately while hot with toasted bread to soak up the flavorful juices.
- You can adjust the spice level by varying the amount of crushed red pepper flakes according to your preference.
- For a vegetarian version, this recipe works perfectly as is.
- Make sure to watch the broiling step closely to avoid burning the feta and tomatoes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 481
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 977 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
