Baked Pasta Dish with Feta Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes,
Fresh Basil, & Garlic
Do you love yummy pasta and cheese dishes?! This easy and healthy recipe creates a a super tasty pasta dish that you’ll really enjoy! This is a super easy and really tasty pasta sauce or a cheesy dip (if that is what you like). It is so easy to make, and it seems like you worked really hard in the kitchen, even though you didn’t! The final outcome is comfort food at its best!
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Package Pasta (you choose the shape)
- 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil ~ and more for a finishing touch
- 2 Boxes of Cherry Tomatoes (about 20 – 25 ounces)
- 1 8 Ounce Block of Feta
- 2 Cloves of Garlic, finely chopped
- A Few Pinches of Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Handful of Fresh Basil Leaves
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions:
While your oven is heating up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, mix together olive oil, cherry tomatoes, and a bit of salt and pepper in a baking dish that is 9 by 13 inches. Stir everything together until the tomatoes are covered in olive oil. Clear a space in the middle of the baking dish by pushing the tomatoes aside. Place the block of feta cheese in the empty space and cover the top with olive oil. Put the tomatoes and cheese dish in the already hot oven and bake it for 30 minutes.
Cook the Pasta…
Follow the package directions to cook the pasta and drain. In case the sauce is dry, you’ll want to keep about a half cup of the pasta water.
Bake for 30 minutes then increase the cooking temperature to to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue baking for another 5 to 10 minutes. The cheese should be nice and brown and the tomatoes brown and bursting open. Remove the dish from your oven, stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and keep stirring so the lingering heat releases their flavors. Next, mix in the cooked pasta. Stir thoroughly so the cheesy tomato sauce completely coats the pasta. Add the fresh basil, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste for the perfect finishing touch. Enjoy!
Create Your Own Version…
Create your own version by adding your favorite meat. Or, add extra veggies with or without meat. Or, keep it simple and serve a salad along with the original pasta and cheese dish and some garlic toast. You can even skip the pasta and enjoy an amazing cheesy tomato dip with chunks of French bread for a lip-smacking good time. Or, keep it as is and enjoy a fabulous cheesy pasta dish.
You can even make a healthy, vegan option if that is what you prefer. Use a whole grain pasta and swap the block of feta for an 8 to 10 oz container (about 1 1/4 cups) of your favorite hummus flavor.
Now for the Finishing Touch ~ Wine!
Every month I get a delivery of amazing, fine wines direct to my front door. This is all thanks to my membership in a wonderful Wine-of-the-Month Club. After reading the tasting notes for my February 2021 delivery, I chose to pair this dish with the amazing Midweek Sauvignon Blanc 2018. The tasting notes that are available for all of our wines helped me realize this wine would be the perfect compliment to a mild cheese dish. Plus, the combination of this wine and the cheesy pasta dish is the perfect antidote to the Wednesday, mid-week slump!!!
Do you want more recipes and wine pairings just like this one? If so, join us every Saturday morning at 10:00 am mountain time for Wine and Brunch (Zoom ID# 267 159 642). Watch the cooks prepare their recipes and explain their wine pairing choices. If you are unable to log into Zoom, catch the live feed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/RoryRicord.
In addition to providing amazing wines each month, this wine-of-the-month club provides an amazing financial opportunity as well. To get more information about this amazing opportunity and compensation plan, join us every Monday night at 7pm mountain time (MT) for a zoom webinar (ID# 267159642). If you are unable to log into Zoom, catch the live feed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/RoryRicord.