Ingredients:

  • 1 (8 ounce/225g) block of feta cheese, preferably Greek feta in brine
  • 1 pint (500g) cherry tomatoes
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 pound (450g) pasta of your choice (penne, rigatoni, spaghetti, etc.)
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) reserved pasta water
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the feta block in the center of the baking dish.
  2. Scatter the cherry tomatoes around the feta block. Sprinkle minced garlic over the tomatoes.
  3. Drizzle the entire mixture with olive oil. Season with red pepper flakes (if using), oregano, salt, and pepper.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the tomatoes are bursting and softened and the feta is golden brown and melty.
  5. While the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining.
  6. Once the feta and tomatoes are done baking, carefully remove the dish from the oven. Use a fork to mash the feta and tomatoes together until you have a creamy sauce.
  7. Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish. Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly with the feta-tomato sauce. Add a little of the reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
  8. Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately. This feta pasta recipe is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.