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Creamy Baked Feta Pasta Recipe with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil

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A quick and easy baked feta pasta with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil that creates a creamy, tangy sauce perfect for a comforting meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz block of full-fat feta cheese
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes (about 300 g), whole or halved
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Place the block of feta in the center of a medium-sized ovenproof baking dish (about 9×9 inches). Surround it evenly with cherry tomatoes.
  3. Drizzle olive oil over the feta and tomatoes, then scatter minced garlic and red pepper flakes over everything. Season lightly with black pepper; hold off on salt until tasting later.
  4. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes until tomatoes blister and collapse and feta softens and turns slightly golden on top.
  5. While baking, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions (usually 10-12 minutes) until al dente. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of pasta water.
  6. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Mash the feta and tomatoes together with a fork or spoon until creamy but still chunky.
  7. Add the drained pasta directly to the baking dish and stir gently to coat the pasta with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water little by little to loosen the sauce as needed.
  8. Sprinkle chopped fresh basil over the pasta and toss gently.
  9. Serve immediately, optionally drizzled with extra olive oil or garnished with more basil.

Notes

If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water or olive oil to loosen it. Avoid over-mixing to keep some texture in the tomatoes. Use block feta for best creamy melting. Add basil last to preserve its fresh flavor. For dairy-free, use vegan feta alternative and coconut cream. Reheat leftovers gently on stove with splash of water or olive oil to maintain creaminess.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked feta pasta, creamy pasta, cherry tomatoes, basil, easy dinner, comfort food, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/creamy-baked-feta-pasta-recipe-with-cherry-tomatoes-and-basil-easy-and-delicious/