Description
This baked feta pasta features creamy, tangy feta cheese melted into a silky sauce with blistered cherry tomatoes, garlic, and aromatic basil served over tender pasta. It’s the perfect easy vegetarian dinner for busy weeknights that looks and tastes far more impressive than the minimal effort required.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried pasta, any short shape like penne or rigatoni
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes, about 4 cups, halved
- 1 (8 ounce) block feta cheese, keep it intact for dramatic presentation
- 1/2 cup olive oil, quality matters, use extra virgin
- 3 garlic cloves, minced finely
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, added after baking for bright flavor
- Optional toppings, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, or fresh mint
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and position the rack in the center.
- Combine tomatoes and oil: In a large baking dish, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, 1/2 cup olive oil, salt, and black pepper, stirring gently to coat everything evenly.
- Create a space for cheese: Make a small well in the center of the tomato mixture and nestle the entire block of feta cheese into it, letting the tomatoes and oil surround it.
- Bake the tomatoes: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the tomatoes begin to blister and soften, and the feta starts to look creamy and golden around the edges.
- Cook the pasta: While the tomatoes and feta bake, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, add the pasta, and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually 8-12 minutes.
- Reserve pasta water: Before draining, scoop out and save at least 1 cup of the starchy pasta water for creating the sauce.
- Combine pasta and tomatoes: Remove the baking dish from the oven and add the hot cooked pasta directly to it, stirring gently to break up the feta cheese and distribute it throughout.
- Create a silky sauce: Add pasta water one ladle at a time, stirring until you achieve a creamy, silky sauce that coats the noodles, using as much or as little water as needed.
- Final touches: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed, then fold in the fresh basil just before serving to preserve its bright, fresh flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes