Pan-fried feta with honey and thyme
I love warm, grilled feta, and usually prepare it in my oven on a lined baking tray, drizzled with olive oil and herbs – very easy. But it’s just as easily done in a pan over any heat source. Feta doesn’t melt completely like most other cheese, but it does tend to stick to a frying pan. Yet, with a light coating of egg and storebought crumbs, you can achieve a crispy outer layer and a warm, soft inner. I give instructions for panfrying (with a light crumb coating) as well as oven grilling (without a crumb coating); the choice is yours. Serve it warm with toasted bread.
Serves 6 (as a snack) Preparation time 5 minutes Cooking time 4–8 minutes
YOU NEED
• 200 g firm feta (rounds or square slabs)
• 1 egg, lightly whisked
• cup (80 ml) store-bought or homemade breadcrumbs (see tip)
• 2-3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) extra virgin olive oil
• a few sprigs fresh thyme, woody stalks discarded, plus extra for serving
• 1-2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) honey, for drizzling
THIS IS HOW
For pan cooking Have the feta, whisked egg and breadcrumbs (each in separate bowls) ready next to your frying station. Heat the oil in the pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, dip each slab of feta into the egg and then into the crumbs until well coated, then place in the hot pan. Fry on both sides until golden brown (about 2 minutes a side). Sprinkle lightly with some of the thyme leaves, then remove with a spatula and place on a serving plate. Scatter with more thyme leaves, followed by a drizzle of honey and a grinding of black pepper. Serve warm with some crostini as part of a mezze spread, or as a snack.
For oven grilling (without a crumb coating) Preheat the oven grill and insert an oven rack about 10 cm from the top of the grill. Place the feta rounds on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper, then drizzle lightly with olive oil, sprinkle with thyme leaves and a grinding of black pepper. Grill until golden brown (about 8 minutes), then remove from the oven and transfer to a serving plate. Drizzle with honey and scatter with more thyme leaves.
Tip
If you don’t have breadcrumbs, crush some cornflakes in a plastic bag; they also work well as a crispy (gluten-free) coating. >