Description
This Baked Feta Pasta is a simple yet spectacular dish featuring creamy, oven-roasted feta cheese combined with juicy cherry tomatoes and perfectly cooked pasta. With minimal ingredients and a quick baking time, it creates a rich, flavorful sauce that will impress any pasta lover.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 block (200g) feta cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 300g pasta of your choice (spaghetti, penne, or fusilli)
- Fresh basil for garnishing
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the feta and tomatoes.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Place the block of feta cheese in the center of a medium baking dish, then surround it evenly with cherry tomatoes.
- Add Seasonings: Drizzle olive oil over the feta and tomatoes. Sprinkle garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper on top. Gently toss the tomatoes to coat but keep the feta block intact.
- Bake Feta and Tomatoes: Bake the dish in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, until the feta becomes soft and slightly golden, and the tomatoes have burst.
- Cook Pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, cook your pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Mash Feta and Tomatoes: Remove the baked dish from the oven and use a fork to mash the feta cheese and roasted tomatoes together, creating a creamy, rustic sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss everything together, adding the reserved pasta water gradually to achieve your preferred sauce consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Top with freshly torn basil leaves and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can use any pasta shape you prefer, such as spaghetti, penne, or fusilli.
- Adjust the amount of garlic powder and oregano to your taste.
- If you like spicy food, add more red pepper flakes to taste.
- Reserve pasta water helps loosen the sauce for better coating on pasta.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy texture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated with a splash of water or olive oil.
