Mediterranean-inspired dish with baked feta, cherry tomatoes, olives, and perfectly cooked pasta.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables & Cheese
01 - 7 oz feta cheese block
02 - 18 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Pasta
04 - 10.5 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)
→ Olives & Herbs
05 - 3.5 oz pitted Kalamata olives, halved
06 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Fresh basil leaves, to serve
→ Seasoning
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Set the oven to 400°F to prepare for baking.
02 - Place the feta block in the center of a baking dish and surround it with halved cherry tomatoes and pitted olives.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over the feta, tomatoes, and olives. Sprinkle minced garlic, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the tomatoes burst and the feta is golden and softened.
05 - While baking, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
06 - Remove baking dish from the oven and mash the feta and tomatoes together with a fork until creamy.
07 - Add the drained pasta to the baking dish and toss to coat thoroughly. Add reserved pasta water gradually for a silkier consistency if needed.
08 - Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.
