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Baked Feta Pasta

This viral Tik Tok recipe with origins in Finland, is definitely one you must try! It entices the senses with its creamy, bright and spicy sauce. YUM!
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Finnish, Tik Tok
Keyword: Baked Feta Pasta, Pasta, Tik Tok

Ingredients

  • 8 oz block Feta cheese
  • 2 c ripe cherry tomatoes
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil plus 2-3 T more to drizzle on the block of Feta
  • 1/2 t sea salt
  • 1 t freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 t dried oregano
  • 2t-1T lemon zest
  • 1/2 t red pepper flakes
  • 1 lb. pasta
  • 1/2 c reserved pasta cooking water
  • 1/3 c basil chiffonade

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • In a 13" x 9" x 2" baking dish, or one similar in size, pour in the 1/4 cup of olive oil.
  • Place the block of feta in the center of the dish and distribute the tomatoes evenly around its perimeter.
  • With a wooden spoon, roll and gently toss the tomatoes in the oil to coat.
  • Grind the black pepper and sprinkle evenly over the tomatoes and block of feta along with the sea salt, oregano and lemon zest.
  • Sprinkle the red pepper flakes over the feta and drizzle with 2-3 T of additional olive oil.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes until tomatoes are soft with a roasted skin. The feta should be a little toasted in appearance as well. You may put oven on convection setting for the last 3-5 minutes until desired roasted appearance is evident.
  • Prepare pasta and pot of salted water to cook just prior to removing dish from the oven.
  • For the basil chiffonade, layer fresh basil leaves on top of each other and roll to a cigar shape. Slice into thin strips and toss to loosen. Measure about 1/3 cup of chiffonade to toss in LAST before serving.
  • Once removed from the oven, take out the garlic cloves with a spoon and squeeze out their contents back into the pan. With the back of a wooden spoon, smash the tomatoes, garlic and feta.
  • Stir to combine into a delectable sauce. Pour in the cooked(hot) pasta and mix to coat. Sprinkle on the basil chiffonade and stir to distribute evenly before serving. If sauce seems to thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water and stir until a smoother desired consistency is reached.