Festive Mediterranean pasta with baked feta, bursting cherry tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan garnish.
# Needed Ingredients:
→ Cheese & Dairy
01 - 7 oz feta cheese block
02 - 2 oz Parmesan cheese, finely grated
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 lb cherry tomatoes, mixed colors preferred
04 - 3 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
06 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
→ Pantry
07 - 12 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or rigatoni)
08 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Place the feta cheese block in the center of an oven-safe baking dish. Arrange cherry tomatoes, garlic, and red onion (if using) around the feta.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over the feta and vegetables. Sprinkle dried oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper evenly.
04 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until tomatoes burst and feta edges turn golden brown.
05 - While baking, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water following package instructions. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water and drain.
06 - Remove baking dish from oven. Carefully mash and blend feta with tomatoes and garlic to create a creamy sauce.
07 - Add hot pasta to the baking dish and gently toss with the sauce. Gradually add reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky consistency.
08 - Serve immediately, topped with a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
