Bruschetta with Whipped Feta and Semi-Dried Cherry Tomatoes
Toasted baguette slices topped with creamy whipped feta blended with yogurt and lemon zest, finished with oven-roasted Piccolo cherry tomatoes, garlic, and rosemary. A sophisticated appetizer combining soft, spreadable cheese with tangy semi-dried tomatoes and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
- 12 Piccolo cherry tomatoesstandard cherry tomatoes1:1vegetable
longer drying time needed
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tsp rosemary leaves, finely chopped
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- flaky sea salt, to season
- freshly ground black pepper, to season
- 2 ¾ oz feta
- 2 tbsp natural yogurt
- ½ lemon, zest only
- 1 baguette
- olive oil, for drizzling
- 1 tbsp oregano leaves, fresh, to garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 300°F.
- 2
Halve cherry tomatoes horizontally and toss with chopped garlic, rosemary, and olive oil. Arrange cut-side up on a baking tray, season with salt and pepper.
- 3
Bake tomatoes for 35-45 minutes until starting to dry out.
- 4
While tomatoes roast, blend feta, yogurt, and lemon zest into a spreadable paste.
- 5
Slice baguette into 8 thick slices, drizzle with olive oil.
- 6
Toast bread slices in a hot griddle pan or under a grill until lightly toasted.
- 7
Spread whipped feta over toasted bread, top with semi-dried tomatoes.
- 8
Drizzle with olive oil and scatter fresh oregano leaves.
Tips
Feta-yogurt blend does not need to be completely smooth; rustic texture is acceptable.
Use a griddle pan for better browning of bread than oven-toasting alone.
Good to Know
Store whipped feta separately from tomatoes in airtight containers, refrigerated, up to 3 days. Assemble immediately before serving.
Prepare whipped feta up to 1 day ahead. Semi-dry tomatoes up to 2 days ahead. Toast bread no more than 2 hours ahead to maintain crispness.
Serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Assemble just before serving to prevent bread from becoming soggy.
Common Mistakes
Over-roasting tomatoes removes moisture too completely, resulting in tough texture rather than semi-dried consistency.
Blending feta mixture too long creates dense paste instead of spreadable texture.
Toasting bread too dark causes bitter flavor that overpowers delicate feta filling.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
longer drying time needed