I Made BAKED FETA PASTA - Viral TikTok Recipe

feta cheese

🥗Healthier: goat cheese

💰Cheaper: ricotta cheese

Ricotta is less expensive and offers a creamy texture.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Canola oil is a budget-friendly option.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast provides a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

Trim off the ends of 8 ounces of asparagus and cut it into bite-sized pieces.

Peel and finely mince 4 garlic cloves, smashing them first for easier peeling.

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

In a 9 by 13 casserole dish, add 2 pints of cherry or grape tomatoes and the prepared asparagus.

Pour 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil over the veggies, along with half of the minced garlic.

Season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, then toss the veggies until coated.

Create a space in the center of the dish and place 8 ounces of feta cheese in the middle.

Drizzle 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over the feta and sprinkle with black pepper.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until the tomatoes start to burst.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil, add a generous amount of salt, and add 8 to 10 ounces of penne pasta.

Cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Reserve 1/2 cup of hot pasta water, then drain the rest of the pasta without rinsing it.

Once the bake is done, take it out of the oven and add the remaining minced garlic and 1/4 cup of finely chopped parsley.

Stir the mixture and mash the cheese into the olive oil until well incorporated.

Add the hot cooked pasta to the dish and mix until the noodles are evenly coated with the sauce.

Add some of the reserved hot pasta water to make the sauce creamier as needed.

Serve warm.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

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