Viral Baked Feta Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
This
incredibly simple and flavorful pasta dish took the internet by storm for a
reason! It's minimal effort for maximum reward, resulting in a creamy, tangy,
and utterly satisfying meal.
Yields: 4
servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35-40 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 (8 ounce / 220g) block of good quality feta cheese
(packed in brine is best)
- 2 pints (about 4 cups / 600g) cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) good quality extra virgin olive oil,
plus more for drizzling
- 4-5 cloves garlic, smashed or roughly chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or 1 teaspoon fresh,
chopped)
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a
little heat)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 12 ounces (340g) pasta of your choice (penne, rigatoni,
rotini, cavatappi work well)
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Reserved pasta water (about 1/2 cup)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat
your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare Baking Dish: Place
the block of feta cheese in the center of a 9x13 inch (or similar sized)
oven-safe baking dish. Scatter the cherry tomatoes and smashed/chopped
garlic cloves around the feta.
- Season: Drizzle
generously with olive oil over the feta and tomatoes. Sprinkle with dried
oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and freshly ground black
pepper.
- Bake: Place
the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the
tomatoes have burst and are soft, and the feta is softened and slightly
golden on top.
- Optional: For
a more golden feta, you can switch to the broiler for the last 2-3
minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Cook Pasta: While
the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook the pasta according to package
directions in well-salted water until al dente. Before draining, reserve
about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta.
- Create the Sauce: Once
the feta and tomatoes are done, carefully remove the baking dish from the
oven. Immediately, use a fork or spoon to mash the softened feta and burst
tomatoes together, incorporating the garlic and olive oil to create a
creamy sauce.
- Combine: Add
the cooked pasta directly to the baking dish with the feta-tomato sauce.
Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce seems too
thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches
your desired consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Taste
and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed. Garnish
generously with fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately.
