Description
A creamy, tangy, and incredibly easy weeknight dinner made by roasting cherry tomatoes and a block of feta cheese, then blending them with pasta water for a rich sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni pasta
- 1 pint (250g) cherry tomatoes
- 7–8 oz (200g) block of Greek feta cheese
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3–4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 cup pasta water (reserved from cooking pasta)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Drain brine from feta and pat dry. Rinse and pat dry cherry tomatoes.
- Place cherry tomatoes in a 9×13 baking dish in a single layer. Place the block of feta in the center.
- Drizzle generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Add minced garlic on top of feta and around tomatoes.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until tomatoes are burst and feta is golden and soft.
- While tomatoes roast, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Remove baking dish from oven. Blend tomatoes and feta with an immersion blender until smooth, or mash with a fork. Stir in a splash of pasta water to loosen.
- Add drained pasta to the baking dish with the sauce. Toss to coat. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Top with fresh chopped basil and serve immediately.
Notes
Use a block of feta, not crumbled, for better melting. Save the starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. If the sauce is too watery, let it simmer longer. For a richer finish, stir in a tablespoon of cold butter at the end.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 12
Keywords: baked feta pasta, cherry tomato pasta, viral recipe, easy dinner, weeknight meals, creamy pasta, gluten-free option