A RIFF ON THE FAMOUS TIKTOK PASTA
Iam admittedly terrible at keeping up with trends. There is, however, one viral recipe that I fell for when it seemed like just about everyone else did: baked feta pasta.
The Tiktok recipe by Finnish food blogger Jenni Häyrinen has become — at least in my kitchen — a classic.
The combination of warm, melty feta cheese, juicy tomatoes and al dente pasta is not only comforting, but also ridiculously easy to make, as the sauce comes together in the oven.
While the original recipe is almost perfect, I think the tweaks I’ve made over time result in the best version yet.
Baked feta pasta went viral on Tiktok in 2021. It involves baking a block of feta cheese with cherry tomatoes and olive oil until the cheese becomes soft and golden brown and the tomatoes burst. The feta melts into a creamy, tomato-studded sauce when tossed with hot pasta.
Garlic and fresh basil round out the dish.
My version stays true to the original recipe, but adds a couple of additional ingredients to the mix that gives it more depth.
A few tips
Opt for feta packed in brine, which is softer than blocks that are sold simply wrapped in plastic. I find it melts into an even creamier sauce for the pasta.
The original recipe calls for adding raw minced garlic to the pasta at the last moment, but roasting the whole smashed garlic with the feta and tomatoes softens the allium’s flavor.
Save some pasta water. Depending on the moisture from your particular feta and tomatoes, you might not need to use it. But it’s worth saving some before you drain the pasta in case you need it to loosen and smooth out the sauce.
A finish of grated lemon zest works with the basil to keep the pasta feeling bright while still remaining rich and creamy.