BAKED FETA PASTA

Method

1. Preheat

2. the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).

3. Prepare

4. the Baking Dish:

5. In a

6. large oven-safe baking dish, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, minced

7. garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss

8. to coat the tomatoes evenly.

9. Make

10. a space in the center of the dish and place the block of feta cheese

11. there. Drizzle a little olive oil on top of the feta and sprinkle with

12. salt and pepper.

13. Bake:

14. Place

15. the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the

16. tomatoes burst and the feta is soft and golden on top.

17. Cook

18. the Pasta:

19. While

20. the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook the pasta according to the package

21. instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Reserve 1 cup of

22. pasta water, then drain the pasta.

23. Combine

24. Ingredients:

25. Once

26. the feta and tomatoes are done baking, remove the dish from the oven. Use

27. a fork to mash the feta and mix it with the burst tomatoes, creating a

28. creamy sauce.

29. Add

30. the drained pasta to the baking dish, tossing everything together. If the

31. sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until you

32. reach your desired consistency.

33. Serve:

34. Serve

35. the baked feta pasta immediately, garnished with fresh basil and grated

36. Parmesan cheese, if desired.

37. Tips for the Perfect Baked Feta Pasta

38. Use

39. Good Quality Feta: The better the feta, the creamier the sauce. Opt

40. for Greek feta for a rich flavor.

41. Customize

42. Your Veggies: Add spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers for extra

43. veggies.

44. Pasta

45. Variations: Feel free to experiment with different pasta shapes or

46. whole grain options.

47. Vegan

48. Option: Replace feta with vegan feta or cashew cream for a dairy-free

49. version.

50. Make

51. Ahead: You can prepare the tomato and feta mixture ahead of time and

52. bake it right before serving.