If you're a TikTok subscriber, chances are you've seen this viral recipe for baked feta pasta pass by at least once.
The original recipe first appeared on Finnish blogger Jenni Häyrinen's website in 2019 and was an instant hit in Finland. Since then, a multitude of variations have made the rounds on social media, from Finland to Australia and eventually the United States. People are adding vegetables, legumes of and spices, among others.
But it's on the TikTok platform that the idea is getting a boost in popularity right now
This recipe is super simple, it is not too expensive and we often already have the ingredients at home.
Here is the basic recipe. Of course, you can adapt it to your taste. For a stronger feta taste, use more cheese, or less tomatoes.
Ingredients:
1/2 box of pasta cooked according to package instructions (penne, fusilli, shells, farfalle...)
1 block of feta cheese
1 package of grape or cherry tomatoes
1/2 red bell pepper
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
4 cloves of garlic (optional)
Fresh basil leaves (optional)
Oregano (optional)
A little crushed red pepper (optional)
Note: You can modify the recipe to suit your taste, adding spinach, parmesan cheese or legumes, for example.
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C) and start cooking the pasta.
2. Place the feta cheese in the middle of an ovenproof dish and place the tomatoes all around.
3. Pour a little olive oil, salt and pepper over the cheese and tomatoes and gently toss the tomatoes to coat.
4. Place the dish in the oven for 30 minutes. (During this time, remove the pasta from the heat, drain and set aside).
5. After 30 minutes, turn on the broiler for about 10 minutes to get that golden brown look on the melted cheese.
6. Remove the cheese and tomatoes from the oven and mix together.
7. Add the pasta and mix.
8. Garnish with fresh basil and/or crushed red bell pepper and serve.
Will this recipe be as popular in your family as it is on TikTok?
Here's a video version of the recipe that includes spinach: