Baked Feta Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 shallot, quartered
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 pints of cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
• Salt to taste
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1, 8 oz. block feta
• 3 thyme sprigs
• 12 oz. pasta, dry
• 1 lemon, zested, optional
• Fresh basil for serving, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Set aside a large oven safe dish.
2. Add shallot, garlic, and tomatoes to the dish and drizzle with 7 tablespoons olive oil, salt and red pepper flakes and toss.
3. Next put the feta in the middle of the dish and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place the thyme sprigs on top of tomato mixture.
4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until tomatoes are bursting and feta is golden.
5. In the meantime, cook the pasta as directed on your packaging. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and set aside when draining water from pot.
6. Add the cooked pasta, reserved pasta water and lemon zest to the tomato dish. Stir to combine and top with basil if desired. Serve.

Nutrition per serving: 490 calories, 54 g carbohydrates, 35 mg cholesterol, 28 g fat, 7 g fiber, 15 g protein, 470 mg sodium, 5 g sugar.

Recipe from: delish.com