Description
A creamy, tangy, and sweet pasta dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and a block of melted feta cheese. This viral recipe is incredibly easy to make, requires minimal cleanup, and is ready in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) block of feta cheese
- 2 pints (about 600g) cherry or grape tomatoes
- 3–4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4–5 garlic cloves, halved
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, torn
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 pound (450g) penne or rigatoni
- Salt and black pepper for seasoning
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place tomatoes in a single layer in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place the block of feta cheese in the center among the tomatoes.
- Scatter halved garlic cloves around the dish. Sprinkle with dried oregano, black pepper, and a pinch of salt.
- Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until tomatoes are blistered and feta is golden and puffy.
- While tomatoes bake, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente.
- Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water.
- Remove baking dish from oven. Mash the roasted tomatoes, garlic, and melted feta together with a large spoon until a chunky, creamy sauce forms.
- Add the drained hot pasta directly to the baking dish.
- Pour in the reserved pasta water and toss vigorously to emulsify the sauce.
- Stir in torn fresh basil and red pepper flakes. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not skimp on the olive oil as it helps roast the tomatoes and creates the sauce. Save the pasta water; the starch is crucial for emulsifying the thick cheese sauce. Mash the feta well to ensure a creamy texture. Feta is salty, so taste before adding extra salt. Do not freeze leftovers as the sauce may separate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 14
Keywords: baked feta pasta, viral recipe, easy dinner, one pot meal, pasta, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, weeknight dinner, gluten-free option, vegan option