Greek Bouyourdi - Baked Cheese with Peppers and Tomatoes

Elena Butuc

Bouyourdi is a very popular Greek appetizer (it can be found in the menu of almost any tavern) and I've discovered it on our little holiday in Greece. The Bouyourdi recipe is very easy and it's actually nothing more than melting some cheese with peppers and tomatoes in the oven. Everything drizzled abundantly with, of course, plenty of olive oil and sprinkled with as many Greek-like spices as you can find around your house. It is served warm, even hot, placed in the middle of the table so that everybody can spread it on some pita breads or on freshly baked bread.

Just to make sure I find the best recipe, I tried Bouyourdi in 2 taverns, but they were completely different... So I looked it up on the internet and, from everything I've seen, I've learned there is no one and only recipe. Now matter how you do it, it's still good and I asure you you will like it.

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Ingredients

Metric US

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Feta cheese

250 g

semi-soft fresh white cheese, slightly salted and more matured

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Yellow cheese

100 g

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Garlic cloves

1 piece

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Bell pepper

1 piece

you can combine with roasting peppers and a hot pepper as well

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Extravirgin olive oil

100 ml

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Oregano

1 tsp

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Ground black pepper

0.25 tsp

optionally, chilli flakes, be careful, it's going to be hot

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Salt

0.5 tsp

Step by step

Greek Bouyourdi - Baked Cheese with Peppers and Tomatoes - Step 1

For this recipe pick any high sided dish or pan which can go in the oven. Here in my kitchen in Greece, I only had a simple aluminum round tray of about 26cm in diameter. It was perfect.

You can also choose Jenna/glass or ceramic dishes etc.

Greek Bouyourdi - Baked Cheese with Peppers and Tomatoes - Step 2

Be generous and drizzle with a lot of good quality olive oil.

By the way! Should you be in Greece on holiday and you have a car, you should definitely get olive oil for the whole year. I recommend asking for orchards around the area and buy directly from the source. I paid 4.3 Euros/litre.

Greek Bouyourdi - Baked Cheese with Peppers and Tomatoes - Step 3

Crumble the cheese with your hands and spread evenly in the tray.

Sprinkle with a bit of oregano, ground black pepper and a chilli pepper if you want and if you have (but it's going to be hotter).

Greek Bouyourdi - Baked Cheese with Peppers and Tomatoes - Step 4

Cut small slices of tomatoes and top the cheese with them.

I've seen that many people peel the tomatoes, I don't and this wasn't a problem :)

Greek Bouyourdi - Baked Cheese with Peppers and Tomatoes - Step 5

Do the same with the peppers, cut in small slices and place them near the tomatoes. If you also have roasting or chilli peppers, now it's the time to use them.

I would recommend adding a little salt over the vegetables (not too much, as the Telemea cheese is already salted) and some more oregano or black pepper. And a few more drops of olive oil wouldn't do much harm, but it's up to you.

Greek Bouyourdi - Baked Cheese with Peppers and Tomatoes - Step 6

Spread some grated yellow cheese on top of everything and bake in the preheated oven to 200 degrees C for 30 minutes, or until the crust becomes slightly brown.

Greek Bouyourdi - Baked Cheese with Peppers and Tomatoes - Step 8

Remove from the oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes, so that you don't burn your tongue :) But don't let cool completely, as the cheeses will get harder and the feeling won't be the same.

Place it in the middle of the table and serve with tasty bread and a lot of appetite because it's very, very good.

Enjoy!

Quantity: 500 g (3-4 servings)

Prep time: 30 min