Baked Feta Pasta

Ingredients

• 8 oz feta cheese block
• 2 lb cherry tomatoes
• 4 garlic cloves
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 12 oz pasta (e.g., penne, farfalle)
• ¼ cup fresh basil (optional)
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a large oven-safe dish, combine cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes.
3. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until tomatoes have burst and feta is soft and slightly golden.
4. While the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
5. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Mash the feta and tomatoes with a fork to create a creamy sauce.
6. Add the cooked pasta and fresh basil (if using) to the baking dish. Toss to combine, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency. Serve immediately, optionally with red pepper flakes.