Description
When Baked Feta Pasta first went viral, friends couldn’t stop talking about this simple Finnish-inspired dish that turns basic ingredients into something special. Creamy feta melts perfectly with ripe tomatoes, creating a quick and delicious pasta that makes weeknight dinners a total breeze.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 block (8 oz / 226 g) feta cheese
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
Base Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 34 cloves garlic
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat your oven to precisely 400°F (200°C), preparing a ceramic or glass baking dish for the roasting process.
- Scatter 2 cups cherry tomatoes and 4 cloves minced garlic across the baking dish. Drizzle 3 tablespoons olive oil evenly over the vegetables.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper across the tomatoes. Gently toss to distribute seasonings.
- Position the entire 8-ounce feta block directly in the center of the tomato mixture. Drizzle an additional tablespoon of olive oil over the cheese.
- Roast the feta and tomatoes in the 400°F oven for exactly 30 minutes, watching the tomatoes burst and the cheese turn golden.
- During the final 10 minutes of roasting, cook 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Retain ½ cup pasta water before draining.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven. Immediately crush the feta and tomatoes together, creating a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Add hot pasta directly into the baked feta mixture. Stir gently, incorporating reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Tear fresh basil leaves over the pasta. Grate parmesan cheese on top for additional flavor complexity.
Notes
- Fresh basil brings a bright, herbal note that cuts through the richness of the cheese and makes the dish feel lighter and more vibrant.
- Letting the tomatoes roast until they burst creates a deeper, more concentrated sauce with incredible depth of flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular pasta with zucchini noodles or your favorite gluten-free pasta alternative.
- If your feta seems extra salty, rinse it briefly before baking to help balance the overall seasoning of your dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 462 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 606 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg