It’s always nice to take everyday ingredients and turn them into something really special. It can make any old day seem like the New Year. But, as it is New Year’s Day, these ingredients came together and made a perfect appetizer to share with friends, or — in our case — a special dinner for two with a salad.
Dressing up feta cheese and tinned sardines isn’t an original idea — but I have turned something quotidian into a special dish by adding roasted cherry tomatoes, home-brined capers, piment d’Esplette, and swirls of lemon zest to brighten the flavors.
This is very simple to make — and doesn’t use a lot of dishes— just a few measuring spoons. The tomatoes are roasted in the same baking dish that I use for the final presentation at the table — served with slices of crusty bread.
I paired this with two wines from my favorite winery in Lodi — Acquiesce. And I had the pleasure of sharing this dish with the winery owners themselves, Sue and Rodney, and our Provence WineZine pals, Susan and Towny. That was a real treat! To read more about the pairing, visit the Provence WineZine.
All my best wishes to you for a happy, peaceful, and healthy New Year! Thanks, as always, for your support of Cocoa & Lavender throughout the year.
~ David
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Ron
January 1, 2022 at 6:22 amHappy New Years to you guys as well. What a tasty looking appetizer or served as a main with a couple glasses of wine and lots of crusty bread. Take care and stay safe over your way.
Cocoa & Lavender
January 1, 2022 at 7:49 amThanks, Ron! To you both, as well — hoping that 2022 is much kinder to you! I think you will love this dish — we have been enjoying it as our supper quite often!
Chef Mimi
January 1, 2022 at 7:42 amWow! Yum! Gosh, I’m so articulate… but that’s what came to mind! Happy New Year!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 1, 2022 at 7:50 amI’m not looking for articulate, I’m looking for “Wow! Yum!” Thanks, Mimi – and a very happy New Year to you, as well.
Susan Manfull
January 1, 2022 at 7:50 amMTHIS is fantastic! My husband and I had the good fortune, as David wrote, to share this dish with David and Mark and the owners of Acquiesce Winery, Susan and Rodney Tipton. We loved it so much that we made it ourselves and, today, we are making it again. It is a very appealing medley of flavors that becomes fascinating with the wines we paired the dish with. (Do take a peek at David’s story of the pairing on my blog, ProvenceWineZine.com .)
Cocoa & Lavender
January 1, 2022 at 7:52 amThanks, Susan – it was so much fun to do this all together! And I’m glad you and Towny liked it so much! (I envy that big tin of sardines you have!)
Kerry Winkelman
January 1, 2022 at 12:26 pmI love sardines and feta! I’m looking forward to making this. Happy New Year!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 3, 2022 at 7:32 amThanks, Kerry — Happy New Year to you, as well! I really think you would like this combination.
Eha
January 1, 2022 at 3:33 pmSince opening one’s front door still leads to an uncertain world . . . how great to ring changes around ingredients always in hand at home to create something new and interesting ! Oh, an easy main meal for me also with lots of green leaves on the side ! Hope my genie did manage to cross all the seas between us with a huge basketful of warm wishes for the year just begun . . . ge well, be happy . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
January 3, 2022 at 7:33 amDo you were genie made it safe and sound with your lovely wishes! I never thought to call this “a dish from pantry staples”. But it really is, isn’t it? We can toss this together almost any time…
Ronit Penso Tasty Eats
January 2, 2022 at 4:04 pmBaked Feta cheese is so tasty in itself, but your additions elevate it to a new level.!
Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
January 3, 2022 at 7:34 amThanks, Ronit! There are so many possibilities with good feta cheese!
sippitysup
January 2, 2022 at 5:20 pmI’ve roasted feta before it scandalous how a quick blast of heat will transform a standard block of crumbly feta into an unexpectedly luscious treat. Happy new year to you. GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
January 3, 2022 at 7:34 amIt is pretty amazing, isn’t it Greg?
Christina Conte
January 2, 2022 at 8:16 pmAs perfect for the New Year as it would be for a light summer dish, David! Looks lovely, and that bread is the perfect accompaniment! Happy new year to you, and hope it brings us all we hope for (end of the pandemic, good health and travel, as a start)! xx
Cocoa & Lavender
January 3, 2022 at 7:35 amFrom your lips to God’s ears, Christina! I need a much better year, so let’s go 2022! Thanks for your kind comments about the feta with sardines!
John / Kitchen Riffs
January 3, 2022 at 9:20 amHappy New Year! And what a swell dish you’ve made to ring in the new year. It’d be a toss up for us whether to serve it to friends as an appetizer, or hog it all ourselves as a main course. Have to make it twice, I guess, and try it both ways. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
January 7, 2022 at 1:04 pmWe have definitely done both… sometimes one day right after the other! Thanks, John – and happy New Year to you and Mrs. KR.
Raymund
January 6, 2022 at 2:47 pmWow, this is a great combo, strong flavours but all delicious, definitely a crowd pleaser. Happy New Year
Cocoa & Lavender
January 7, 2022 at 1:05 pmThanks,. Raymund – happy New Year to you and your family, too! Itis a really great combination. And I can think of so many additional ways to enhance it.
Gloria Roa Baker
January 7, 2022 at 10:03 amWonderful and delicious !! Happy new year dear David!!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 7, 2022 at 1:05 pmThanks, dear Gloria! Hope your New Year has started well!
John
January 8, 2022 at 4:30 pmDavid, this looks divine. I can already taste it just by reading your ingredients. All I need is the Mediterranean or Adriatic breeze drifting over me, perhaps a chilled bottle of wine to enjoy, and I’d be in heaven.
Cocoa & Lavender
January 9, 2022 at 12:32 pmThanks, John – an Adriatic breeze with this (and the wine) would be lovely!
Inger
January 10, 2022 at 12:28 pmSimple and classy–perfect for New Year’s!
Cocoa & Lavender
February 7, 2022 at 9:29 amThanks, Inger — perfect for every other day, too! 😉
2pots2cook
January 13, 2022 at 2:32 amSo good to find this ! It is so easy to combine all these ingredients to create a magic ! Happy and healthy 2022. !
Cocoa & Lavender
February 7, 2022 at 9:29 amBest to you for 2022, as well, Davorka! It’s nice to have a dish like this that’s easy to throw together.
Sherry M
January 13, 2022 at 3:11 ami do love a sardine – those fishy darlings – but no to the tomatoes. i am not a fan of those little red squishy things 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
February 7, 2022 at 9:30 amWe all have our little “things,” don’t we, Sherry? Maybe you can use roasted bell peppers?
Valentina
January 16, 2022 at 1:56 pmHi David! I’m catching up on all of your tasty posts and it’s so fun. I make a baked Feta with a couple similar ingredients — but, I feeling much more interested in your recipe and will try it for sure. The sardines are luring me in. It just looks so incredible. Just give me a slice of a baguette and I’ll dig right in. 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
February 7, 2022 at 9:28 amIt’s such a nice combination of flavors — and makes me wonder why people wrinkle their noses at the mention of sardines! Thanks, Valentina — I hope you like it!
Marcelle
January 19, 2022 at 6:53 pmThis recipe for baked Feta looks absolutely packed with flavor, David. I really love Feta and briny foods like sardines, but Evan is not a fan of those things. Guess that means there will be more for me to enjoy. I can’t wait to try this!!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 23, 2022 at 9:25 amI should mention this in the post, but for those who don’t like sardines, I have used walnuts in their place. It was very successful!