Ouzomezes Tou Teli

In Greek, "mezes" is a tasty side dish, served to accompany (or precede) a main course, or a drink. "Ouzomezes" is a meze appropriate for accompanying ouzo. This particular dish I first tasted in a tavern that serves mostly pork steak. The owner's name is Telis, whence the name of the recipe: Telis' ouzomezes (in Greek, "ouzomezes tou Teli").

Of course, this is my version of the recipe. The original uses hot peppers and skips the hot chilli sauce. I don't think it has garlic either. For the rest, it is more or less the same.

Feta cheese, around 200 gr.

3 medium-sized tomatoes

2 sweet peppers

1 clove garlic (optional)

Olive oil

Hot chilli paste (optional)

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Oregano, 2-3 tsp.

Preheat the oven to 200 deg. Celsius (400 deg. Fahrenheit).

Wash well the peppers and tomatoes, then dice them. Cut the garlic in slices. Crumble the feta cheese.

Put the pieces of tomatoes, peppers, garlic and feta in a suitably large bowl. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper, oregano and salt (don't overdo it: feta is already salty enough).

Mix well the ingredients, then add the hot chilli paste (if desired) and the olive oil. Mix well once again.

cover a second bowl with parchment paper. Push the paper in so it follows the shape of the bowl. transfer the mixture from the first bowl. Cover with the paper, then wrap in a piece of tin foil.

Put the package inside an oveproof dish and place in the oven. Let it cook for 35 minutes.

Remove from the oven, unwrap the tin foil and paper, then place back in the oven and let it cook for another 20 minutes.

You can serve it as is, or transfer it to another dish.

Enjoy!