Feta and tomatoes are just meant to go together – what a great combination! The feta and tomato pasta recipe that went viral on tiktok this year has turned out to become a favorite for us, as well as many of our friends. Greek cooks have been combining and baking feta and tomatoes for many years! We have made an appetizer out of baked feta and tomatoes over the years, and you can certainly do that with this recipe as well. We have made different versions of this dish that include roasted peppers, onions, and herbs, as well as serving it with roasted chicken, shrimp, and even steak.
Let’s look at the health benefits of the main ingredients in this recipe:
Feta cheese. Feta cheese is Greek brined curd white cheese made from sheep’s milk or a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk. Its flavor is tangy and salty which we love! It is often served with olive oil and/or olives and aromatic herbs such as oregano, basil, and parsley. Interesting that feta has been a protected designation of origin (PDO) product within the European union since 2002. In 2013 an agreement with Canada was made so that they could also produce feta. Otherwise, feta will be labeled “feta-style” cheese if made in other markets. Feta contains calcium and is lower in fat and calories than many other cheeses.
Tomatoes: We have used all sorts of tomatoes in this recipe, including large beefsteak, heirloom, and cherry tomatoes. We prefer cherry tomatoes as they blend better when serving in pasta. Tomatoes are moderately high in vitamin C and high in water, low in fat, and contain lycopene which in some studies has shown to function as an antioxidant.
Olive oil: We absolutely love good olive oil. It is a major component of the healthy Mediterranean diet, and we include it daily in our diets. We have been on several bicycling trips over the years and have tasted olive oil made fresh from the olive groves – so good! We recommend using cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is rich in Vitamin E and good fats.
Herbs: We grow herbs in pots in the backyard including oregano, basil, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, mint, and thyme. Our favorite way to consume these herbs is to make “the green stuff” which is to combine a large handful of the above herbs, chop in food processor, add 4-5 cloves of garlic, EVOO, pinch of salt and pepper, lemon juice and/or splash of wine vinegar and blend together. So refreshingly delicious!
Here’s the simply delicious recipe:
What you need:
- 4 ounces feta cheese
- 15 ounces cherry tomatoes
- fresh herbs
- EVOO
- salt/pepper
- 1 box pasta (penne, spaghetti, orecchiette – we use gluten free)
- 1 small hot pepper or red pepper flakes
- Optional – serve with a protein such as grilled chicken, shrimp, steak – cooked separately.
What to do:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread tomatoes on baking dish, toss with olive oil and herbs. Place feta in the middle of the dish, top with olive oil and herbs. Bake for 35 minutes. Start cooking pasta as this bakes. Remove from oven and smash feta-tomatoes, tossing to combine. Add to drained pasta, adding a little pasta water if needed to thin the sauce. Garnish with fresh herbs and/or shredded parmesan. If omitting the pasta and serving as an appetizer, accompany with some crusty bread. We make our own gluten free bread, and it is delicious with this recipe!
Cheers! We hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do!