So now what do I do with all this feta? Does it freeze?
I made a sort of Basque sauce poaching an egg last night, feta on top. Not all that different. But what a huge hunk of feta I have left. Not a big fan of it so I dunno.
Marg, I freeze feta cheese all the time and enjoy it on this recipe which I serve along with rice. Wigs
Shrimp Saganaki (Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta)
By Jennifer Segal, adapted from Betsy Goldstein's recipe
One of my go-to weeknight dinners: Greek shrimp nestled in a spiced tomato sauce, topped with chunks of feta, and then baked until golden.
Shrimp saganaki, the classic
Greek dish of shrimp in a spicy tomato sauce with
feta cheese, can be made almost entirely from pantry and freezer staples, so it’s one of my go-to meals when I have to hit the kitchen running. You begin by making a quick tomato sauce on the stovetop. Then you nestle the shrimp in the sauce, top it with chunks of feta, and slide the pan into the oven to bake. Before serving, you flash the pan under the broiler to brown the feta and then sprinkle fresh mint over top. All that’s left to do is set the pan in the center of the table for everyone to dig in. The sauce is plentiful and packed with flavor, so be sure to serve lots of crusty bread on the side to sop it up.
NOTE from Wigs: I tried this for the first time over 4th of July weekend a couple years ago, and it is a keeper. View original recipe with picture at:
Shrimp Saganaki (Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta) - Once Upon a Chef
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Total Time: 50 Minutes
INGREDIENTS
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil3/4 cup finely chopped shallots, from about 3 shallots
4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped (I minced. wigs)
1 (28-oz) can diced tomatoes (I used a 35-oz can of CENTO Italian Style whole tomatoes that I pulsed a couple times in the Cuisinart before using. wigs)
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (use less if you are heat-sensitive--Jenn Segal)
1 tablespoon honey
1-1/2 pounds extra large shrimp (26/30), peeled and deveined, thawed if frozen
6 ounces feta cheese (I used a 7-oz block & crumbled myself. wigs)
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh mint
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 400°F; set one oven rack in the middle position and another about 5 inches underneath the broiler. Heat the olive oil in a wide oven-proof skillet (see note) over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not brown. Add the tomatoes with their juices, salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes, and honey. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Off the heat, arrange the shrimp over the tomato sauce in an even layer. Crumble the feta over the shrimp, and then sprinkle with the oregano. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the shrimp are pink and just cooked (the cooking time will depend on the size of the shrimp). Turn on the broiler. Using an oven mitt, carefully transfer the pan to the higher oven rack and broil for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the feta is golden brown in spots. Using an oven mitt, remove the pan from the oven (and immediately place the oven mitt or a dishtowel over the handle of the pan because it's very easy to forget that it is burning hot). Let the shrimp rest for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with mint and serve.
Note: If you do not have an oven-proof skillet, simply transfer the tomato sauce to a 9-by-13-inch or equivalent broiler-safe baking dish and proceed from there.
PAIR WITH Crusty Artisan Bread