Baked Feta Pasta

A whole block of feta roasts in the center of a dish of cherry tomatoes until the cheese slumps and the tomatoes burst, and the two get stirred together into an instant creamy sauce with nothing more than a spoon. This is the dish that broke TikTok in 2021 and still earns its keep on a weeknight.

Ingredients

• 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 (8 oz) block feta cheese
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 10 oz dried pasta, such as cavatappi or penne
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400 F. Put the cherry tomatoes and smashed garlic in a baking dish and toss with about 1/3 cup of the olive oil, the red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
2. Clear a space in the center and set the block of feta there. Drizzle the remaining oil over the cheese and turn it once to coat.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until the tomatoes have burst and wrinkled and the feta is soft and lightly golden at the edges.
4. While it bakes, cook the pasta in well-salted water until just al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
5. Take the dish from the oven and mash the softened feta into the tomatoes with a fork, stirring until it forms a creamy sauce. The smashed garlic cloves will break up easily.
6. Add the drained pasta and toss to coat, loosening with a splash of the reserved pasta water until the sauce clings nicely.
7. Stir in the fresh basil and lemon zest and serve hot.

Tips

• Use a block of feta packed in brine rather than pre-crumbled, which is drier and will not melt into a smooth sauce.
• A handful of baby spinach stirred in with the hot pasta wilts in seconds and stretches the dish into a full meal.