Frederic Melton
Baked feta pasta is a viral sensation that has taken the world by storm. The original recipe involves baking a block of feta cheese with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and seasonings, and then tossing it with cooked pasta. However, there are many variations of the dish that have emerged, including the addition of different types of pasta, meat, vegetables, and herbs. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and versatility, allowing home cooks to get creative and make it their own. With its salty and cheesy flavours, it's no wonder that this dish has become a favourite among food enthusiasts worldwide.
How to cook feta cheese pasta
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of dish | Pasta, baked |
| Main ingredients | Feta cheese, tomatoes, pasta |
| Other ingredients | Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, sugar, balsamic vinegar, spinach, chicken, shrimp, walnuts, whipping cream, parsley, mint, chickpea penne, gluten-free pasta, goat cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, burrata cheese, garlic and herb Boursin cheese, meat (chicken, ground beef, Italian sausage, ground turkey), vegetables (asparagus, broccoli, frozen artichoke hearts, zucchini, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash) |
| Oven temperature | 400°F |
| Baking time | 20 minutes, then 5 minutes under the broiler |
| Pasta cooking instructions | Boil pasta to al dente in salted water, reserving some pasta water |
| Serving instructions | Serve immediately, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days |
| Recipe origin | Went viral on TikTok in 2021, based on a recipe from 2012 |
| Recipe variations | Use any type of pasta, add protein and/or other vegetables, substitute feta with other cheeses |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right pasta
When it comes to choosing the right pasta for your feta cheese and tomato dish, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, this dish is all about personal preference, so feel free to experiment with different pasta shapes and sizes to find your favourite.
That being said, there are some general recommendations to keep in mind. Firstly, short pasta shapes are often recommended for this dish. This is because they tend to be easier to toss in the baking dish, and they can also trap the sauce inside, creating a more flavourful bite. Examples of short pasta shapes include penne, rigatoni, rotini, bow tie, cavatappi, and macaroni. Medium-sized pasta can also work well, and some recipes specifically recommend spaghetti. If you want to reduce the carbs, you could even try zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
Another factor to consider is the type of flour used to make the pasta. Regular pasta is made from wheat flour, but gluten-free options are also available and can be used in this dish. For example, one recipe variation uses chickpea penne.
Finally, don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different types of pasta to find your favourite. After all, the beauty of this dish is its simplicity and versatility.
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Preparing the ingredients
To prepare the ingredients for feta cheese pasta, you will need the following:
- Feta cheese: Use a block of feta cheese, preferably made from sheep or goat's milk, as feta-like cheeses made from cow's milk may not melt as well and can result in a grainy texture. You can also try using goat cheese, cream cheese, or ricotta cheese instead of feta.
- Pasta: Any type of pasta can be used, but shorter tubular shapes like penne, cavatappi, rigatoni, rotini, bow tie, macaroni, or spaghetti are recommended as they are easier to toss in the baking dish and the sauce can cling to them more easily. If you want to reduce carbs, you can also use zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
- Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are commonly used, but you can also use regular tomatoes.
- Olive oil: This is used for coating the ingredients and creating a sauce.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic, basil, and red pepper flakes are commonly used, but you can also add Italian seasoning, sugar, oregano, thyme, parsley, mint, or other herbs of your choice.
- Optional ingredients: You can add protein like cooked meat (chicken, ground beef, Italian sausage, ground turkey), shrimp, or walnuts. For extra vegetables, you can add spinach, asparagus, broccoli, frozen artichoke hearts, or zucchini.
Once you have gathered all the ingredients, follow these steps to prepare them:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Chop or quarter the shallot and smash or grate the garlic cloves.
- Place the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings in a baking dish. You can also add other ingredients like shallots, sugar, or Italian seasoning at this point. Stir or toss everything together to combine.
- Make space in the centre of the dish and place the block of feta cheese in the middle. Drizzle or pour the remaining olive oil over the cheese.
- (Optional) While the oven is preheating, you can start cooking the pasta according to the package instructions. Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente, reserving some of the pasta water before draining if you plan to use it in the sauce.
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Baking the feta
Baked feta pasta is a simple recipe that became a viral sensation on TikTok. It involves baking a block of feta cheese with cherry tomatoes to create a salty, cheesy sauce to mix with pasta.
To bake the feta, preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the cherry tomatoes in an oven-safe baking dish. Pour over olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined. Place the block of feta in the middle of the baking dish, surrounded by the cherry tomatoes. You can flip the feta a couple of times to coat it with the olive oil and seasoning, or just add a touch more olive oil and some black pepper.
Bake in the oven for 35 minutes, until the tomatoes burst and the feta melts. You can also broil the feta for the last 5 minutes of cooking to achieve a golden crust.
While the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook your pasta in a pot of salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking liquid if you want to add it to your sauce.
Once the feta and tomatoes are baked, remove them from the oven and add some fresh garlic and basil leaves. Mix it all together so that the garlic softens from the heat of the dish. You can also add some spinach at this stage if you want to boost the veggie content.
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Cooking the pasta
To cook the pasta for feta cheese pasta, start by preheating your oven to 400°F. While the oven is heating up, you can prepare the ingredients for the pasta. Boil pasta to al dente in salted water. It is recommended to use 1 tablespoon of salt for 3 or 4 quarts of water. You can use any pasta shape you like, but short tubular pastas such as macaroni, cavatappi, penne, bow tie, or rigatoni are great options as they are easier to toss in the baking dish and the sauce can hide inside them. Boil the pasta according to the instructions on the package.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and immediately add it to the pan of tomatoes and feta cheese. If you would like a thinner sauce, you can add a few tablespoons of pasta water at a time to reach your desired consistency.
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Combining ingredients
To make baked feta pasta, you'll need to combine your ingredients in two separate mixtures: one for baking in the oven and one for cooking on the stovetop.
For the oven mixture, you'll need an oven-safe baking dish. First, preheat your oven to 400°F. Place your cherry tomatoes in the baking dish. If you'd like to add extra vegetables, you can include chopped shallots, spinach, or even a few handfuls of another vegetable of your choice. Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables, and season with salt and pepper. If you'd like to add extra spice, you can include red pepper flakes or chilli flakes. Toss the mixture until it is well combined.
Next, place a block of feta cheese in the centre of the baking dish. If you'd like to experiment with different cheeses, you could try goat cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, burrata, or garlic and herb Boursin cheese. Drizzle the cheese with olive oil, and scatter thyme sprigs over the tomatoes.
While the cheese and tomatoes are baking in the oven, you can prepare your pasta on the stovetop. Boil your pasta of choice in salted water until it reaches al dente consistency. Short tubular pastas such as macaroni, cavatappi, campanelle, rigatoni, rotini, penne, or bow tie are great options, but you can use any pasta you'd like, including gluten-free options. If you want to make the dish lower in carbohydrates, you could try zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash. Reserve about half a cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta, as this will help to stretch your sauce and coat your pasta more smoothly and generously.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, basil, and pasta.
You can use any type of pasta you like. However, short tubular pastas such as penne, spaghetti, bow-tie, macaroni, cavatappi, or rigatoni are ideal for this dish as the sauce can cling on to more of the pasta.
Boil pasta to al dente in salted water. Generously salt the pasta water for the most tender and flavorful pasta.
You can add some pasta water to the sauce to make it smoother and more generous. You can also add olive oil to reconstitute the sauce.
