Mediterranean-style pasta with baked feta, cherry tomatoes, olives, and fresh basil for a vibrant meal.
# What You 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, for garnish
→ Seasoning
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat oven to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Place feta block centrally in a baking dish. Arrange halved cherry tomatoes and Kalamata olives around it.
03 - Drizzle olive oil over feta, tomatoes, and olives. Sprinkle minced garlic, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper evenly.
04 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until tomatoes burst and feta is golden and softened.
05 - While baking, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
06 - Remove baking dish from oven. Mash feta and tomatoes with a fork to create a creamy sauce.
07 - Add cooked pasta to the sauce in the baking dish. Toss to coat thoroughly, adding reserved pasta water incrementally for desired sauce consistency.
08 - Top with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.
