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Creamy Baked Feta Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

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An easy, comforting baked feta pasta dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and creamy feta cheese, perfect for quick dinners and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 7-ounce (200g) block of firm, full-fat feta cheese
  • 2 cups (300g) cherry tomatoes, fresh and ripe
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 12 ounces (340g) pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
  • Handful of fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • Zest of half a lemon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Place the block of feta in the center of a medium-sized ovenproof baking dish (about 9×13 inches). Surround it with the cherry tomatoes.
  3. Add minced garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of black pepper. Toss gently to coat the tomatoes without breaking up the feta block.
  4. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes until the tomatoes soften and blister and the feta is golden and creamy.
  5. While baking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente.
  6. Reserve about 1 cup (240ml) of pasta water before draining the pasta.
  7. Remove the baking dish from the oven and mash the roasted feta with the back of a spoon, mixing it with the tomato juices to create a creamy sauce.
  8. Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss well, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired creaminess is reached.
  9. Finish by stirring in fresh chopped basil and lemon zest.
  10. Serve immediately warm.

Notes

Use block feta, not crumbled, for a creamy sauce. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Avoid overbaking feta to prevent drying out. Lemon zest brightens the dish. For gluten-free, use brown rice or chickpea pasta. For vegan, use plant-based feta alternatives.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked feta pasta, cherry tomatoes, creamy pasta, easy dinner, quick pasta recipe, feta cheese, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/creamy-baked-feta-pasta-with-cherry-tomatoes-easy-recipe-for-perfect-dinner/