Sesame-crusted feta with black lime honey syrup

Chilling time: 30 minutes to overnight “Everything is betta with feta,” says Tara, voted the number one feta fan of all time, and, to be fair, she might be right. We try really hard not to show cheese favoritism (cheesism), but we’d be lying if we didn’t admit that feta makes a prominent appearance in the OTK fridge, its salty, tangy properties lending it well to multiple preparations. This dish is a little bit sweet, a lotta bit salty, a tiny bit bitter, and a whole bit crispy. It’s exactly what you’d serve for brunch (with bacon, if you like) and not much else, as it really is quite rich.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

1. Line a shallow baking dish (or baking sheet with a slight lip), about 12 x 8 inches/30 x 20cm in size, with parchment paper.

Step 2

2. Pat dry the feta pieces, then dip each piece in the flour, gently shaking off the excess. Coat in the egg, followed by the sesame seeds, making sure the feta pieces are completely coated. Transfer each piece to the prepared dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.

Step 3

3. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Drizzle the coated feta pieces with the oil and bake from cold, for 18 minutes, very gently flipping the pieces over halfway, or until golden and warmed through.

Step 4

4. While the feta is baking, put the honey and black lime, if using, into a small saucepan on medium-high heat. Once it starts to bubble, turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until it turns a deep amber caramel, about 6–7 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.

Step 5

5. Use a small, sharp knife to peel and segment the remaining two lemons and stir the segments into the cooled honey mixture.

Step 6

6. When ready, pour the syrup directly over the feta in the baking dish, sprinkle with the thyme, and serve at once, straight from the dish.

Step 7

Get ahead:

Step 8

– Coat the feta the night before, cover well, and keep refrigerated.

Step 9

Make it your own:

Step 10

– Leave out the black lime if you can’t find any—this dish is just as special without it.

Step 11

– Swap out the feta for halloumi cheese instead.