Bouyourdi, the greek easy "tapa"

Bouyourdi is a very simple dish that is usually served in Greek mezze but also for breakfast or as a side dish. If desired, it can be made spicy using red chillies. Bouyourdi is usually prepared in individual clay pots 4 inches (10 cm) diammeter and 1 inch (2.5 cm)  deep. Also you can use french ramekin.

INGREDIENTS (4 servings)

  • 400 grams (14 oz) feta cheese
  • 4 ripe red tomatoes
  • 4 hot red chillies (or normal green or red peppers if you don't want it spicy)
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt
  • Oregano
  • 4 clay pots

The amount of ingredients must be distributed equally among the four services. So each casserole will have 100 grams (3.5 oz) of feta, one tomato and one red chilli.

In each clay pot pour a tablespoon of olive oil. Next we cover the base with slices of feta cheese (50 grams / 1.7 oz). On the cheese base we place the peeled tomato cut into slices. Cut the red chilli into slices or grate it, sprinkling it over the whole. We salt the tomato but very little, since the feta is very salty. Cut the rest of the cheese again into slices, placing it on top of the tomato. Finally, sprinkle a pinch of oregano over the pan (oregano is the most common seasoning in Greek cuisine. It is used in almost all recipes, although not always appropriately).

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees (374 F), inserting the pans until the cheese melts (between 5 and 10 minutes). We take it out and it is ready to be served immediately, always very hot.