Italian Chef Reacts to Viral BAKED FETA CHEESE PASTA from TikTok

Ingredients

• 400 g Casarecce Pasta (short pasta, cooked al dente)
• 200 g Feta Cheese (block, preferably smooth variety)
• 300 g Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
• 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (divided, generous drizzle)
• 2 cloves Garlic (crushed)
• 1/4 cup Fresh Basil (roughly chopped)
• to taste Salt
• to taste Black Pepper (freshly ground)
• 120 ml Pasta Water (reserved from cooking pasta)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven

   Set the oven to 200 °C (400 °F) and let it fully preheat while you prepare the ingredients.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: 200°C

2. Prepare Tomatoes and Feta

   Halve the cherry tomatoes and place them in a single layer in a baking dish. Drizzle 2 Tbsp olive oil over the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper. Place the block of feta in the center of the dish, drizzle the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil on top, and season generously with pepper.

   Time: PT10M

3. Roast Feta and Tomatoes

   Bake the dish for 35 minutes, until the tomatoes are caramelized and the feta is soft and golden around the edges.

   Time: PT35M

   Temperature: 200°C

4. Cook Pasta

   While the feta roasts, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the casarecce and cook al dente according to package directions (about 10‑12 minutes). Reserve 120 ml of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.

   Time: PT12M

5. Add Garlic and Basil

   Remove the baking dish from the oven. Sprinkle the crushed garlic and chopped basil over the roasted tomatoes and feta, then stir gently to combine and let the cheese melt further.

   Time: PT3M

6. Combine Pasta and Sauce

   Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish. Pour in the reserved pasta water and toss everything together until the feta forms a creamy sauce that coats the pasta.

   Time: PT5M

7. Finish and Serve

   Plate the pasta, drizzle with a little extra olive oil if desired, and garnish with additional fresh basil leaves.

   Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

450

Protein

15 g

Carbohydrates

60 g

Fat

15 g

Fiber

4 g