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Original Baked Feta Pasta Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 101 reviews

This Original Baked Feta Pasta is a simple and flavorful one-pan dish featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and creamy baked feta cheese combined with al dente bowtie pasta. Baked until bubbling and slightly browned, then tossed with garlic, fresh basil, and olive oil, this recipe offers a rich and tangy sauce, perfect for a comforting yet easy meal. Optionally, a touch of balsamic glaze adds sweetness to balance tart tomatoes.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 1 lb bowtie or orzo pasta

Sauce and Toppings

  • 2 pints (20–25 oz) cherry tomatoes
  • 1 8 oz block feta cheese
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 pinches red pepper flakes
  • 1 handful fresh basil leaves
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
  • Balsamic glaze (optional, for sweetness)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Tomatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a baking dish, add the cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup olive oil, and a good pinch of kosher salt. Toss gently to coat the tomatoes evenly.
  2. Add Feta and Season: Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the baking dish. Drizzle a splash of olive oil over the feta and sprinkle with a few pinches of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
  3. Bake Initially: Bake the tomatoes and feta for 30 minutes at 400°F to allow the tomatoes to burst and the feta to soften.
  4. Cook Pasta: While the feta and tomatoes bake, prepare the bowtie pasta according to package instructions, cooking it al dente. Reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining.
  5. Increase Oven Temperature: After the initial baking time, increase the oven temperature to 450°F (230°C) and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the feta and tomatoes start to brown and caramelize.
  6. Add Fresh Flavors: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Immediately add in the finely chopped garlic and fresh basil leaves. Stir well; the residual heat will mellow the garlic’s raw bite.
  7. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Stir the cooked pasta into the baking dish with the tomato and feta mixture, tossing everything together. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. If the sauce feels too dry, add up to 1/4 cup reserved pasta water to loosen it and create a silky texture.
  8. Optional Sweetening: If your tomatoes are particularly sour or tart, drizzle some balsamic glaze over the dish before serving to add a hint of sweetness that balances the flavors.

Notes

  • Using cherry tomatoes in season yields the best natural sweetness, but balsamic glaze can help balance tartness in off-season tomatoes.
  • Bowtie or orzo pasta are recommended for their shape, which holds the sauce well, but feel free to use your preferred pasta.
  • When adding garlic after baking, do so immediately while the dish is hot to gently mellow the garlic without cooking it harshly.
  • Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency for a perfect creamy finish.
  • This dish is best served fresh and warm for optimal texture and flavor.

Keywords: baked feta pasta, roasted cherry tomatoes, feta cheese pasta, Mediterranean pasta recipe, easy baked pasta, one-pan pasta dish

Find it online: https://thedishspot.com/original-baked-feta-pasta-recipe/