Creamy pasta featuring baked feta, roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan, ideal for festive dining.
# Components:
→ Cheese & Dairy
01 - 7 oz feta cheese block
02 - 2 oz Parmesan cheese, finely grated
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 lb cherry tomatoes, mixed colors preferred
04 - 3 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
06 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
→ Pantry
07 - 12 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or rigatoni)
08 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Method Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Place the feta cheese block in the center of an oven-safe baking dish and arrange cherry tomatoes, garlic, and red onion around it.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over the cheese and vegetables; sprinkle with dried oregano, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until tomatoes burst and feta is golden at the edges.
05 - Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions; reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
06 - Remove baking dish from oven, gently mash feta with tomatoes and garlic using a large spoon until creamy.
07 - Add hot pasta to the baking dish, toss to combine, and gradually add reserved pasta water to create a smooth sauce.
08 - Serve immediately topped with grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
