Cooking is more than just preparing a meal; it’s an art that engages all your senses, and the satisfaction is even greater when you grow your own ingredients. Today was the first harvest of our little garden, and I had to make one of my all-time favorites, Feta Pasta. We’ll explore how to create this simple, yet delicious, dish using my Lodge 3 QT Dutch Oven —a versatile and dependable kitchen essential. Let’s embark on a flavorful journey through the steps of crafting Feta Pasta with the Lodge Dutch Oven.
Feta Pasta Recipe
What You’ll Need:
- 1 block of Feta cheese
- 2 cups of Roma tomatoes
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 12 ounces of penne pasta
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Step-by-Step Cooking:
1. Preheat and Prepare:
Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C).
In your Dutch oven, combine the Roma tomatoes, sliced into chunks, garlic cloves, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Toss everything together to coat.
2. Feta Cheese Nest:
Create a space in the center of the tomatoes for the feta cheese block.
Place the feta cheese block in the center and drizzle a bit of olive oil on top.
3. Bake to Perfection:
Cover the Dutch oven with its lid and place it in the preheated oven.
Bake for 35 minutes.
4. Pasta Preparation:
While the cheesy-tomato goodness is baking, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
5. Combining the Magic:
Carefully remove the Dutch oven from the oven using oven mitts.
Using a fork, gently mash the softened feta cheese and garlic cloves, and mix it with the roasted tomatoes until well combined.
6. Pasta Fusion:
Add the cooked pasta to the tomato and cheese mixture in the Dutch oven.
Toss everything together to ensure the pasta is well coated.
7. Garnish and Serve:
Cut some fresh basil leaves and scatter them over the pasta.
Serve the Feta Pasta in individual plates or bowls.
Crafting Feta Pasta with a Lodge Dutch Oven transforms a simple meal into a culinary masterpiece. So, gather your Dutch oven, homegrown ingredients, and embark on a flavorful journey. Your taste buds will thank you for this delightful adventure in cooking.
Here is the printer-friendly version of the recipe for your convenience:
Print
Feta Pasta with Roma Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 block of Feta cheese
- 2 cups of roma tomatoes
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 12 ounces of penne pasta
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In your Dutch oven, combine the Roma tomatoes, sliced into chunks, garlic cloves, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Toss everything together to coat.
- Create a space in the center of the tomatoes for the feta cheese block.
- Place the feta cheese block in the center and drizzle a bit of olive oil on top.
- Cover the Dutch oven with its lid and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for 35 minutes.
- While it’s baking, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Carefully remove the Dutch oven from the oven using oven mitts.
- Using a fork, gently mash the softened feta cheese and garlic cloves, and mix it with the roasted tomatoes until well combined.
- Add the cooked pasta to the tomato and cheese mixture in the Dutch oven.
- Toss everything together to ensure the pasta is well coated.
- Cut some fresh basil leaves and scatter them over the pasta.
- Serve the Feta Pasta in individual plates or bowls.