Baked Feta Potatoes with Roasted Garlic, Lemon, and Basil Recipe
Baked Feta Potatoes is a delicious and hearty dish featuring cubed baking potatoes par-boiled and roasted with aromatic herbs, garlic, and a block of creamy feta cheese. This recipe combines crispy golden potatoes with roasted garlic, fresh basil, and a touch of honey and chili flakes for a comforting, flavorful meal perfect for dinner or as a side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes and Seasonings
- 2 large baking potatoes
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp red chilli flakes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Additional Ingredients
- 1 200g block of feta
- 1 head of garlic (top cut off)
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup (20g) fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200C (390F) to get ready for roasting the potatoes and garlic.
- Par-Boil Potatoes: Wash and cube the potatoes, place them in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Par-boil for 8 minutes, then drain and allow them to steam dry for 3 minutes.
- Season Potatoes: Add the par-boiled potatoes to a baking dish. Sprinkle with thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, and drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir to coat evenly.
- Prepare Garlic: Drizzle the garlic head with olive oil, wrap it tightly in foil, and place it in the baking dish among the potatoes.
- Roast Potatoes and Garlic: Roast in the oven for 40 minutes until the potatoes are golden, crispy, and nearly cooked through.
- Add Feta and Lemon: Remove the baking dish from the oven and take out the garlic. Place the feta block in the center of the dish, seasoning it lightly by dipping one side in the herbs and flipping it over. Squeeze juice of half the lemon over the feta.
- Continue Roasting: Return the baking dish to the oven and roast for an additional 15 minutes to soften the feta and finish cooking the potatoes.
- Prepare Roasted Garlic: Once cooled, squeeze the roasted garlic out of its skins and mash with the flat of a knife to create a smooth garlic paste.
- Combine Flavors: Mix the mashed garlic, juice from the other half of the lemon, and fresh basil into the potatoes and feta gently to combine all the flavors.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle honey over the top and sprinkle with red chili flakes. Serve warm and enjoy your baked feta potatoes.
Notes
- Par-boiling helps ensure the potatoes cook evenly and become crispy on the outside without being raw inside.
- Adjust the amount of chili flakes according to your heat preference.
- For a milder garlic flavor, use only 1-2 teaspoons of the mashed roasted garlic instead of the whole head.
- Fresh basil can be substituted with fresh oregano or parsley if preferred.
- Use a baking dish large enough to spread the potatoes in a single layer for even roasting.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness rather than in a microwave.
