Save A festive, creamy pasta dish featuring oven-roasted feta, bursting cherry tomatoes, garlic, and a snowy sprinkle of grated Parmesan, perfect for a holiday table.
Ingredients
- Cheese & Dairy: 200 g (7 oz) feta cheese block, 60 g (2 oz) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- Vegetables: 500 g (1 lb) cherry tomatoes, mixed colors preferred, 3 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced, 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional), Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Pantry: 350 g (12 oz) short pasta (fusilli, penne, or rigatoni), 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional), Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Step 2:
- Place the feta cheese block in the center of a baking dish. Arrange cherry tomatoes, garlic, and onion (if using) around the feta.
- Step 3:
- Drizzle everything with olive oil, sprinkle with oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper.
- Step 4:
- Bake for 25 30 minutes, until the tomatoes burst and the feta turns golden at the edges.
- Step 5:
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Step 6:
- Remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a large spoon, gently mash and mix the feta with the tomatoes and garlic until creamy.
- Step 7:
- Add the hot pasta to the baking dish, tossing everything together. Gradually add reserved pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
- Step 8:
- Serve immediately, topped with a generous snowfall of grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
Save Required Tools
Oven safe baking dish, Large pot, Strainer, Mixing spoon
Allergen Information
Contains milk (feta, Parmesan), wheat (pasta). Check cheese labels for vegetarian suitability if required. For gluten free, use certified gluten free pasta.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 510, Total Fat: 20 g, Carbohydrates: 62 g, Protein: 19 g
Save Recipe FAQs
- → How do I prepare the feta and tomatoes for baking?
Place the block of feta in the center of an oven-safe dish, arrange cherry tomatoes, garlic, and optional onion around it, then drizzle with olive oil and seasonings before baking.
- → What type of pasta works best for this dish?
Short pasta shapes like fusilli, penne, or rigatoni are ideal as they hold the creamy feta and tomato sauce well.
- → Can I make this dish vegan?
Yes, by substituting traditional feta and Parmesan with plant-based alternatives and omitting or replacing cheese accordingly.
- → How do I achieve the creamy sauce consistency?
After baking, mash the softened feta and bursting tomatoes together, then toss with cooked pasta, adding reserved pasta water gradually to reach a silky texture.
- → What herbs and spices enhance this flavor profile?
Dried oregano and red pepper flakes add warmth and depth, while fresh basil leaves provide a fragrant finish.