Creamy Feta Pasta with Tomatoes (Print)

Rich, tangy pasta with roasted tomatoes and creamy feta. Ready in 45 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 lb cherry tomatoes
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - Handful fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dairy

07 - 7 oz block feta cheese

→ Spices & Seasonings

08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large baking dish, combine cherry tomatoes, garlic, red onion, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
03 - Create a well in the center of the vegetables and place the feta cheese block. Drizzle additional olive oil over the feta.
04 - Roast for 30–35 minutes until tomatoes burst and release their juices, and the feta becomes golden and soft.
05 - While the feta roasts, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
06 - Remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a fork or spoon, mash the feta and tomatoes together until combined into a smooth, creamy sauce.
07 - Add the drained pasta and most of the basil to the baking dish. Toss thoroughly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired sauce consistency.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil leaves and freshly ground black pepper.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The oven does almost all the work while you pour yourself a glass of wine
  • That moment when you mash the roasted feta into burst tomatoes is pure magic
02 -
  • Don't skip the pasta water, it's what transforms this from good to absolutely silky
  • The feta might look weirdly firm when it first comes out, but keep mashing and it will become luscious
03 -
  • Room temperature feta melts more evenly, so take it out while you prep other ingredients
  • Use the biggest baking dish you have so everything roasts in a single layer

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