Hurry The Food Up Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes For Busy People
Nobody will believe this feta and veggie bake is a diet recipe.
We originally wrote this recipe in a January, five years ago, to help folk get tasty and filling food without sacrificing flavour or satisfaction.
Since then we’ve updated and tweaked the recipe many times – to make it perfect! We’ve even created a new YouTube video featuring Kat (the original creator of the recipe) in her debut recipe video.
Way back in the day, the original text ran like this:
“It’s that time of year again. January is here and nearly gone, bringing it with it hopes and dreams for the new year, along with promises and (broken) resolutions – and everywhere you look the masses are there, shouting about the newest diet fad, the best sit-up regime or the latest superfood.
It’ll die down, it always does. History has a habit of repeating itself. But if you’re serious about eating better and looking after your body, don’t join in.”
Don’t make short term pacts that are unrealistic and punishing – you’ll just end up hating food or yourself.
Adapt. Eat a little healthier every day. To put it bluntly, cut out the shit. Eat some real food.
Take a look at this melted feta and veggie bake. The taste is taken care of – we don’t post rubbish meals.
The feta is the most unhealthy part – and 75g per serving isn’t exactly terrible anyway.
After that – well, you’re eating veg. Delicious roasted veg that’s cooked soft and loaded with flavour. It’s a filling (and did we mention tasty?) meal that you can feel great about eating.”
And it still stands true today!
What our readers are saying
I was unsure of how this was going to taste, it was delicious! My kids loved it as well!
– Ruby ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just made this dish for my mother and I and we ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. Who says vegetarian food has to be boring? Thanks for the great recipe. For sure will use it al the time!!
– Emily ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the first recipe that I have tried off your site and it was a huge success! My husband is very particular regarding food and he thought it was very tasty, especially next day for lunch. I doubled the recipe, used vegan feta, and added oyster mushrooms for a fancier dinner. I will definitely be trying more of the delicious recipes from your site!
– Natasha ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Health Benefits – Feta and Veggie Bake
Where to start with this one? The whole meal packs less than 500 calories (without rice), so you’re already on to a winner there.
It’s ridiculously high in vitamins A, C and B6 (what else would you expect from a load of veg?) so that means you can expect stimulated cell growth and production, more white blood cell activity (Vitamin A – Harvard Nutrition), and healthier teeth, skin and bones to name but a few (Vitamin C – Harvard Nutrition).
If that’s not enough for you, this meal also packs 15g protein per serving (or more with rice).
That’s really high (worth two eggs or so!) and if you’re getting into shape and want the best for those muscles, this is the way to go.
I did it myyyyyyy wayyyyyy!
And finally – don’t forget, you can use whatever veggies you have to hand, or that need using in the fridge! Our veggie bake changes pretty much every time, as we throw in whatever we have that’s hanging around. Just get them chopped up small and you’re on your way!
- Olives
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Bell peppers
- Jalapenos
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Whatever else you love, these all go great!
Need basil?
And the icing on the cake? It’s got basil in it! We’re huge fans of basil here – check out this basil pesto page for more health benefits and another basil recipe – it’s an awesome way to get more into your diet!
Enjoy!
Dave, Hauke and Kat
A massive shoutout goes to Kat (Dave’s better half) for all of her hard work, trial and error (and eating of course) in developing this baked feta recipe. Thanks Kat!
Melted Feta and Veggie Bake
Ingredients
- ½ cup brown rice (uncooked) (this is optional, and our favourite side)
- 5 oz low fat feta cheese (use regular if you prefer)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp basil, dried (fresh is fine)
- 2 tbsp parsley, dried (fresh is fine)
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 onion (red or white)
- 1 bell pepper, red (your fave colour)
- 2 good handful cherry tomatoes
- 1 chilli / jalapeño
- 1 handful olives
- 10 tbsp water
- salt to taste
Optional
- 4 tbsp hummus
- 1 handful mushrooms (sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F).
- Cook the brown rice according to package instructions.
- Cut the cheese into two equal, thin pieces and lay in baking tray.
- Layer half the dried herbs over the cheese.
- Chop all veg (and garlic) into small pieces and chuck in a bowl.
- Add the oil, salt, water and the other half of the herbs and mix well. (If using fresh herbs all go into this mix so they won't burn).
- Place the veg mixture on and all around the cheese.
- Bake for 30 mins or until veg becomes soft.
- Serve with brown rice and hummus.
- Done!
Looks good! What is pfefferonen? I’ve never heard of that. Maybe we call it something different here? or maybe I’m lacking culinary knowledge. I don’t know.
Hi Heather! Thanks for reading and pointing out the pfefferonen issue!!! Well, it’s German. We had a hard time to find out how it’s called in English. So we wrote it down in German and forgot all about it. I exchanged it now to jalapeños which is actually Spanish, but that should do for English speakers as well, haha 😉
I love the bright colors in here! I love baking feta, it doesn’t melt completely and always keeps its consistency. Stunning pictures. Pinning!
Thanks for the props on the photos! I thought they were quite alright as well. Funny enough foodgawker didn’t like them 😉
Why is there so much fat and calories in a serving?
Hi Rosanne, the calories include a portion of brown rice, so you can cut down if that’s necessary. The fat comes mostly from the feta and oil (that’s cheese for you!) – you could absolutely skip the oil to save on fat and more calories 🙂
Thanks Kat from me too… This is quite interesting recipe, and you don’t even need to know to cook, students will love it 🙂
Now, my native language isn’t German, but I think that word in plural form you searched is die Pfefferoni and it can be then easily translated as the pepperoni or chili peppers.
Yeees, defintely a great recipe for students 😀
And thanks for helping us out for finding the right word. I think it’s chili peppers!!
I love all the veggies in this – I could eat the whole entire dish – and with only 500 calories in it – that wouldn’t do too much damage! 🙂
Another winner – thank y’all!
True, actually to feel completely full I’d also eat the entire dish, if you don’t add anything else 🙂
Just made this dish for my mother and I and we ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. Who says vegetarian food has to be boring? Thanks for the great recipe. For sure will use it al the time!!
Wow, thanks so much for your feedback! Glad you and your mum liked the recipe! 😀
Everyone I fall off the healthy lifestyle wagon (12 hr work days and take out/minimal exercise) this site reminds me of how easy it is to just cut the crap and take care of myself again. This is so easy and so tasty!
Ich hab euch verliebt!!! ❤❤❤ I’ve already lost 4kg this year using your meal plan!
Aislinn, yeeeeesss!!! So great to hear and thank you so much for writing us. Reading this are definitely our highlight moments of the day! Keep rocking!
Wir haben dich auch Lieb, Aislinn! And really pleased to hear of your successes! Thanks for being around with us!
This is the first recipe that I have tried off your site and it was a huge success! My husband is very particular regarding food and he thought it was very tasty, especially next day for lunch. I doubled the recipe, used vegan feta, and added oyster mushrooms for a fancier dinner. I will definitely be trying more of the delicious recipes from your site!
I really liked this but I did remove the chilli to suit my girlfriend and used some balsamic vinegar instead. I also added some quinoa to bulk it up a bit to be a more substantial main course. I will definitely make again.
Cheers Martin! Ha yes, chilli isn’t for everyone. Nice idea with the quinoa, we often have it with garlic bread. Glad you enjoyed!
I was unsure of how this was going to taste, it was delicious! My kids loved it as well!
wohooo!! Yes, also a fave of mine! We gonna make a vid of this one in our next video sesh 🙂
What kind of olives did you use in the recipe?
Hi Erica, honestly – it varies every time! Generally my favourite (olives soaked in spices) or whatever we have leftover in the fridge 🙂
Delicious! But turned out a bit watery for me – so I shall add less water next time.
Cool you made it, Fiona! Good to know about the water, I think it must depend on the veggies themselves. Good idea to try a little less next time 🙂
Wow! This is incredible! I made extra because I had faith this would be amazing. I used the leftovers to make omelets for breakfast this morning! 100% one of my new favorite dishes.
Woohoo! Really happy to hear that! Thanks for letting us know 🙂
Woow, happy to see such awesome recipe.
It was really tasty and quick to make! Instead of chilli, I added balsamic vinegar and smoked paprika. I will be making this again. Thank you!
Yay, that’s awesome to hear! Really glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for writing – the balsamic vinegar and smoked paprika sound like declicious additions!