Baked Feta Pasta

Step 1

1 Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees

Step 2

2 In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, combine the tomatoes, garlic and 1/4 cup of the olive oil

Step 3

3 Sprinkle with some salt and toss to coat

Step 4

4 Place the feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes and garlic, top with the remaining olive oil, and sprinkle the entire dish with red pepper flakes and a little black pepper

Step 5

5 Bake for about 40 minutes, until the garlic has softened and the tomatoes have burst their skins

Step 6

6 Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil

Step 7

7 Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente

Step 8

8 Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and then drain the pasta

Step 9

9 Mash the feta and tomatoes with a fork and mix until evenly combined

Step 10

10 Mix the sauce with pasta, adding the reserved pasta water as needed if it looks a little dry

Step 11

11 Taste, and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired

Step 12

12 To serve, divide among bowls and top with plenty of basil leaves