Baked Feta and Pistachio Dip

This is one of those really simple little dishes that manages to feel far more special than the effort involved. A block of feta baked until soft and spreadable is always a good place to start, but when you add roasted pistachios, garlic, fresh mint, lemon zest, and crunchy breadcrumbs, it becomes something properly memorable. You’ve got the saltiness of the cheese, the nuttiness of the pistachios, the freshness of the herbs, and that lovely contrast of crisp topping against the warm, creamy feta underneath. It’s exactly the sort of thing that works beautifully as a starter, part of a sharing board, or set in the middle of the table with plenty of crusty bread for everyone to dive into. Simple, generous, and full of flavour.

Timings:

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 10–15 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 200g feta cheese block

• 80g pistachio nuts

• 1 garlic clove

• 30g fresh mint

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 40g panko breadcrumbs

• 3 tbsp olive oil

  
  

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C.

2. Add a splash of olive oil to a non-stick frying pan and roast the pistachios for 2–3 minutes until golden.

3. Finely chop the garlic, roasted pistachios, lemon zest, and fresh mint together.

4. Add the panko breadcrumbs and mix everything together well.

5. Drizzle a little olive oil over the block of feta.

6. Place the feta oil-side down into the pistachio topping mixture.

7. Transfer the feta to a non-stick baking tray.

8. Spoon the remaining breadcrumb and pistachio mixture over the top.

9. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the feta is soft and spreadable.

10. Serve warm with crusty bread.

    
    

Chef’s Tip:

Roasting the pistachios first really brings out their flavour, so don’t skip that step. And serve the dip while it’s still warm, when the feta is beautifully soft and easy to scoop up with torn pieces of bread.