Name: Baked Tomato and Feta Rice
Ingredients: Long Grain Rice: 2 cups, the foundation of our dish, providing a fluffy and absorbent base to soak up all the delicious flavors. Opt for long grain for the best texture.; Cherry Tomatoes: 500g, the star of the show, bursting with sweetness and acidity when roasted, creating a rich and vibrant sauce. Choose ripe and plump tomatoes for the best flavor.; Block Feta Cheese: 200g, the creamy and salty counterpoint to the tomatoes, melting beautifully in the oven and adding a luxurious texture. Use a block of feta for baking; pre-crumbled feta may dry out.; Olive Oil: ¼ cup, essential for roasting the tomatoes and rice, adding richness and helping everything caramelize beautifully. Extra virgin olive oil is recommended for its flavor and health benefits.; Garlic: 4 cloves, minced, adding a pungent and aromatic base note that complements the tomatoes and feta perfectly. Freshly minced garlic is always best for flavor.; Dried Oregano: 1 teaspoon, providing a classic Mediterranean herb flavor that enhances the tomatoes and feta. Dried oregano is convenient, but fresh oregano can also be used.; Dried Basil: 1 teaspoon, adding a sweet and slightly peppery note that balances the oregano and complements the tomato flavor. Dried basil is readily available and works well in baked dishes.; Red Pepper Flakes (Optional): ½ teaspoon, for a touch of heat to cut through the richness of the feta and tomatoes. Adjust the amount to your spice preference or omit entirely if you prefer a milder dish.; Vegetable Broth or Water: 4 cups, the liquid used to cook the rice, infusing it with flavor and ensuring it cooks perfectly in the oven. Vegetable broth enhances the savory notes, but water works well too.; Fresh Parsley (for garnish): ¼ cup, chopped, adding a fresh, herbaceous finish and a pop of color to the dish. Fresh parsley brightens up the flavors and adds visual appeal.; Salt and Black Pepper: To taste, essential for seasoning and balancing the flavors of all the ingredients. Season generously to enhance the natural flavors of the tomatoes and feta.

Ingredients

Long Grain Rice: 2 cups, the foundation of our dish, providing a fluffy and absorbent base to soak up all the delicious flavors. Opt for long grain for the best texture.
Cherry Tomatoes: 500g, the star of the show, bursting with sweetness and acidity when roasted, creating a rich and vibrant sauce. Choose ripe and plump tomatoes for the best flavor.
Block Feta Cheese: 200g, the creamy and salty counterpoint to the tomatoes, melting beautifully in the oven and adding a luxurious texture. Use a block of feta for baking; pre-crumbled feta may dry out.
Olive Oil: ¼ cup, essential for roasting the tomatoes and rice, adding richness and helping everything caramelize beautifully. Extra virgin olive oil is recommended for its flavor and health benefits.
Garlic: 4 cloves, minced, adding a pungent and aromatic base note that complements the tomatoes and feta perfectly. Freshly minced garlic is always best for flavor.
Dried Oregano: 1 teaspoon, providing a classic Mediterranean herb flavor that enhances the tomatoes and feta. Dried oregano is convenient, but fresh oregano can also be used.
Dried Basil: 1 teaspoon, adding a sweet and slightly peppery note that balances the oregano and complements the tomato flavor. Dried basil is readily available and works well in baked dishes.
Red Pepper Flakes (Optional): ½ teaspoon, for a touch of heat to cut through the richness of the feta and tomatoes. Adjust the amount to your spice preference or omit entirely if you prefer a milder dish.
Vegetable Broth or Water: 4 cups, the liquid used to cook the rice, infusing it with flavor and ensuring it cooks perfectly in the oven. Vegetable broth enhances the savory notes, but water works well too.
Fresh Parsley (for garnish): ¼ cup, chopped, adding a fresh, herbaceous finish and a pop of color to the dish. Fresh parsley brightens up the flavors and adds visual appeal.
Salt and Black Pepper: To taste, essential for seasoning and balancing the flavors of all the ingredients. Season generously to enhance the natural flavors of the tomatoes and feta.

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Instructions

Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Choose a 9×13 inch baking dish or a similar sized oven-safe dish. The size is important to ensure even cooking of the rice.
Combine Ingredients in Baking Dish: In the prepared baking dish, add the long grain rice, cherry tomatoes, block of feta cheese, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Distribute the ingredients evenly in the dish.
Drizzle with Olive Oil and Season: Drizzle the olive oil over all the ingredients in the baking dish. Season generously with salt and black pepper. Don’t be shy with the seasoning, as it will flavor the entire dish.
Pour in Broth or Water: Pour the vegetable broth or water into the baking dish. Ensure the liquid is evenly distributed over the rice and other ingredients. The liquid level should be slightly above the rice.
Bake Until Rice is Cooked: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. This will trap the steam and ensure the rice cooks properly. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. Check for doneness by gently fluffing the rice with a fork; it should be soft and not crunchy.
Remove Foil and Bake Further (Optional for Browning): If you prefer a slightly browned top and more roasted tomatoes, carefully remove the aluminum foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the tomatoes are softened and slightly blistered and the feta is melted and slightly golden. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
Mash Feta and Tomatoes (Partially): Once baked, remove the dish from the oven. Use a fork to gently mash some of the feta cheese and roasted tomatoes into the rice. You don’t need to mash everything completely; leaving some chunks of feta and whole tomatoes adds texture and visual appeal. This step creates a creamy and flavorful sauce that coats the rice.
Fluff Rice and Garnish: Fluff the rice with a fork to distribute the mashed feta and tomatoes evenly. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the top for garnish. This adds freshness and a pop of color.
Serve Hot: Serve the Baked Tomato and Feta Rice hot as a main course or a side dish. It pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken, fish, or vegetables. Enjoy the delicious combination of creamy feta, sweet tomatoes, and fluffy rice!

Nutrition

Serving Size: one normal portion
Calories: 350
Protein: 12g