Description
Roasted savory baked apples with feta and cranberries sparkle as a delightful Mediterranean-inspired side dish. Warm herb-infused apples complement tangy cheese and tart cranberries, creating a perfect seasonal accompaniment you will savor with enthusiasm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 apples (firm, halved and cored)
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) feta cheese (crumbled)
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) cranberries (dried, chopped)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml / 1 fl oz) honey
- 1 tsp thyme leaves (fresh)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) olive oil
- Walnuts (chopped, optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), positioning rack in middle for optimal heat circulation and even cooking.
- Apple Transformation: Halve apples, meticulously removing cores to create smooth wells for filling, ensuring symmetrical and uniform shape.
- Surface Preparation: Massage olive oil across apple surfaces, coating thoroughly to promote caramelization and prevent drying during roasting.
- Flavor Composition: Layer apple cavities with a luxurious mixture of crumbled feta and cranberries, creating a harmonious blend of tangy and sweet elements.
- Baking Setup: Arrange apple halves cut-side upward in ceramic baking dish, maintaining spacing for consistent heat penetration and browning.
- Roasting Process: Bake for 15-20 minutes until apples turn tender and feta softens, developing rich golden edges and concentrated flavors.
- Final Embellishment: Drizzle with honey, allowing its golden streams to cascade over the apples, then sprinkle thyme leaves for aromatic complexity.
- Seasoning Finale: Enhance with subtle salt and black pepper, then optionally crown with crushed walnuts for textural intrigue before serving warm.
Notes
- Choose the Right Apples: Select firm, crisp varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith that hold their shape during baking and provide a perfect balance of tartness and structure.
- Precision in Coring: Use a melon baller or small spoon to create an even, smooth cavity without piercing the apple’s bottom, ensuring a stable base for the savory filling.
- Olive Oil Technique: Apply olive oil sparingly with a pastry brush, coating the entire apple surface to promote even caramelization and prevent drying out during roasting.
- Temperature and Timing: Watch carefully during the 15-20 minute baking window, as ovens vary; apples should be tender but not mushy, with feta just beginning to soften and melt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 192
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg