Baked Feta & Tomato Pasta

Seasonings

Amounts for 4 servings. Healthy should never mean bland — build flavor with herbs, spices, and aromatics first, then salt lightly at the end.

• Garlic3 cloves, minced

  Bloom in the pan first for depth.

• Yellow onion1 medium, diced

  The savory base of the dish.

• Dried oregano2 tsp
• Ground cumin1 tsp
• Fresh dill2 tbsp, chopped
• Lemon1, zested and juiced
• Extra-virgin olive oil2 tbsp

  Drizzle raw at the end.

• Aleppo pepperadjust heat1/2 tsp (optional)
• Fresh garlic4 cloves, thinly sliced
• Kosher saltto taste

  Season in layers, tasting as you go.

• Black pepperto taste

  Freshly cracked right before serving.

Heat is optional: leave the chili out entirely, add half for a gentle warmth, or double it if your table likes fire.

Instructions

1. 1

   Prep first, cook second. Measure out 1 lb pasta, 8 oz feta cheese, 2 pint cherry tomatoes, 0.25 cup olive oil, and 1 bunch basil, and set them by the stove in the order you'll use them.

2. 2

   Get your seasonings ready too: garlic (3 cloves, minced), yellow onion (1 medium, diced), dried oregano (2 tsp), ground cumin (1 tsp), fresh dill (2 tbsp, chopped), lemon (1, zested and juiced), extra-virgin olive oil (2 tbsp), aleppo pepper (1/2 tsp (optional)), and fresh garlic (4 cloves, thinly sliced). Keep salt and pepper within reach — you'll season in layers as you go, not all at the end.

3. 3

   Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) with a rack in the center position, and let it heat a full 15 minutes before anything goes in — the beep comes early.

4. 4

   Start the flavor base: cook garlic (3 cloves, minced) and yellow onion (1 medium, diced) over medium heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring often, until soft and fragrant. Garlic goes in during the last 30 seconds so it never burns.

5. 5

   Add dried oregano (2 tsp), ground cumin (1 tsp), and fresh garlic (4 cloves, thinly sliced) straight into the hot pan and stir for 30–60 seconds until you can smell them. This "blooming" step is what separates a flat dish from a deeply seasoned one — add a splash of water or oil if the pan looks dry.

6. 6

   Put the feta block in a dish surrounded by tomatoes and oil.

7. 7

   Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes until the tomatoes burst. Bake on the center rack and rotate the pan halfway through so it cooks evenly. Ovens vary — start checking 5 minutes early.

8. 8

   Cook the pasta and reserve a cup of the water.

9. 9

   Mash everything into a sauce, toss with pasta and basil.

10. 10

    Don't leave anything on the counter: stir in 8 oz feta cheese in the last 3–5 minutes of cooking so it warms through without overcooking.

11. 11

    Taste before it leaves the pan. Off the heat, finish with fresh dill, lemon, extra-virgin olive oil, aleppo pepper, kosher salt, and black pepper, then adjust salt and pepper a pinch at a time until the flavors pop — fresh herbs and acid go in last so they stay bright.

Other ways to cook it