ROASTED TOMATO & "FETA" PASTA SAUCE (dairy or dairy-free; pasta optional)

Baked Feta Pasta Sauce with cavatappi pasta.

This is my version of the TikTok Baked Feta Pasta that went viral in early 2021. It’s super tasty and incredibly easy to make. The key is to use fresh, high quality ingredients. You definitely want ripe baby tomatoes, fresh garlic and herbs, and a premium extra-virgin olive oil for this!

The pasta is actually optional here. I love to serve this rich, flavourful sauce over spiralized or roasted vegetables or konjac noodles, or with crusty bread for dipping.

Baked Feta Pasta Sauce with shrimp, served over a combination of spiralized zucchini and konjac noodles.

Ingredients for 4 to 6 servings:

• 3 pints (750 grams) grape or cherry tomatoes

• 4 cloves garlic, smashed

• 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• Kosher salt and fresh black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, divided)

• 1 block (8-oz. or 200 grams) Spread’Em Kitchen semi-soft fermented vegan cheese or cream cheese or feta cheese, drained 

• optional cooked protein of choice (meatballs, shrimp, chicken, tofu, etc.)

• fresh basil leaves (optional)

• for serving: 8 oz dry pasta of choice, cooked al dente according to package directions, or spiralized zucchini or konjac noodles or roasted vegetables or crusty bread

Baked Feta Pasta Sauce using dairy-free cheese with added meatballs.

Directions if using Dairy-Free Cheese or Cream Cheese:

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. In a large cast-iron skillet or baking dish, combine the tomatoes, garlic, and most of the olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and most of the red pepper flakes. Bake for 25 minutes.

3. Remove skillet from the oven and place the dairy-free cheese block or cream cheese in the middle of the tomatoes. Drizzle with the rest of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and the remaining red pepper flakes.

4. Return skillet to the oven and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is soft and the tomatoes have burst. 

5. Mash the tomatoes and cheese with a fork and stir in basil and optional protein.  Adjust seasoning to taste and serve with more fresh basil and your choice of pasta, noodles, crusty bread, or roasted or spiralized vegetables.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.

Baked tomatoes and dairy-free cheese, before being mashed into sauce.

Directions if using Feta:

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. In a large cast-iron skillet or baking dish, combine the tomatoes, garlic, and most of the olive oil. 

3. Place feta in the middle of the tomatoes and drizzle with the remaining oil.  Sprinkle the tomatoes and feta with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

4. Bake for 35 minutes or until the feta is soft and the tomatoes have burst.

5. Mash the tomatoes and cheese with a fork and stir in basil and optional protein. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve with more fresh basil and your choice of pasta, noodles, crusty bread or spiralized or roasted vegetables.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.

Baked Feta Pasta Lunchbox. The sauce was made using dairy-free cheese, with added green peas and cooked shrimp.