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Baked Feta Pasta

Baked Feta Pasta
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Baked Feta Pasta is a creamy, tangy, and effortless Mediterranean-inspired pasta dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and velvety baked feta cheese. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or casual entertaining, it combines simple ingredients to create a vibrant, comforting bowl bursting with flavor and luscious texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 block (about 7 oz/200 g) feta cheese (preferably a good-quality block)
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, ripe and firm
  • 8 oz (225 g) short pasta such as penne, rigatoni, or fusilli
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3–4 garlic cloves, peeled
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Red pepper flakes (optional), to taste

Fresh Herbs & Garnishes

  • 1/4 cup fresh basil or oregano leaves, chopped
  • Extra olive oil for drizzling
  • Optional: shaved Parmesan or toasted pine nuts for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven and prepare the ingredients: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Rinse the cherry tomatoes and peel the garlic cloves. Place the block of feta cheese in the center of a baking dish and arrange the cherry tomatoes and whole garlic cloves around it.
  2. Drizzle olive oil and season: Generously drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the feta and tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Lightly toss the tomatoes to coat them with oil without moving the feta block.
  3. Bake until creamy and bursting: Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the feta is softened and golden at the edges, and the tomatoes are blistered, juicy, and bursting.
  4. Cook the pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some pasta water for the sauce.
  5. Combine and stir to create the sauce: Remove the baked feta and tomatoes from the oven. Use a fork or spoon to mash and mix the softened feta, roasted tomatoes, and garlic into a creamy sauce. Add the drained pasta to the dish and toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water gradually if you prefer a saucier consistency.
  6. Add fresh herbs and serve: Stir in a generous handful of chopped fresh basil or oregano. Drizzle a little extra olive oil on top, serve immediately, and enjoy every creamy, flavorful bite.

Notes

  • Choose block feta cheese for better melting and a smooth sauce texture compared to crumbled feta.
  • Do not overcrowd the cherry tomatoes to allow even roasting and bursting.
  • Reserve some pasta water to help the sauce cling better to the pasta.
  • Fresh basil is traditional, but you can experiment with thyme or parsley for different flavor profiles.
  • Serve immediately to enjoy the sauce at its creamiest and most comforting.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked feta pasta, feta pasta, baked pasta, roasted tomato pasta, Mediterranean pasta, easy pasta recipe, creamy pasta, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://ninagourmet.com/baked-feta-pasta/