This is a version of the viral Baked Feta Pasta (#uunifetapasta) dish that is credited to Finnish blogger, Jenni Hayrinen, and has logged some 52 million views on TikTok and caused stores to run out of block feta. It’s super simple and super good.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb dried pasta of your choice (e.g. spaghetti, rotini, penne, etc)
- 1 ½ block (~7oz / 200g) Greek Feta Cheese in brine (see photo)
- ~½ cup olive oil
- 1 large box (~500g) cherry tomatoes
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
- ground black pepper
- salt
- fresh basil leaves
- Optional – 1 sliced red chili pepper or dried chili flakes
Equipment:
- 9” x 13” casserole dish (or any large size casserole dish)
- knife
- chopping board
- large spoon
- large pot/saucepan (to boil pasta)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and use middle rack.
Generously coat the bottom of the casserole dish with olive oil. Place the whole feta blocks in the middle. Add cherry tomatoes around the feta and top with the sliced garlic . Pour more olive oil on top of everything. Using a large spoon, gently mix tomatoes around to ensure they are covered with olive oil. Season lightly with salt and ground black pepper. Bake for 15-20 minutes in the middle rack of the oven or until tomatoes are close to bursting out of their skins.
Raise heat to broil and move the dish to the upper rack of the oven for 10 minutes, or until the feta and tomatoes are nicely browned.
Cook pasta as directed. Drain cooked pasta, but reserve some of the pasta water.
Remove pan from oven and using a large spoon, break up the feta and mix with the tomatoes. Add pasta and mix gently. Add a little pasta water if desired. Add basil and mix gently.
Serve with a baguette and some sauteed veggies or a salad for a quick and simple meal.