# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables & Cheese
01 - 7 oz feta cheese block
02 - 18 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Pasta
04 - 10.5 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)
→ Olives & Herbs
05 - 3.5 oz pitted Kalamata olives, halved
06 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
→ Seasoning
10 - Salt, to taste
11 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How To Make It:
01 - Set the oven to 400°F to prepare for baking.
02 - Place the feta block in the center of a baking dish and surround it with halved cherry tomatoes and Kalamata olives.
03 - Drizzle the ingredients with olive oil, sprinkle minced garlic, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes if using, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
04 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the tomatoes burst and feta becomes soft and golden.
05 - While baking, cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve half a cup of pasta water before draining.
06 - Remove the baking dish from the oven, mash the feta and tomatoes together with a fork to create a creamy sauce, then add the cooked pasta and toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water gradually for desired sauce consistency.
07 - Top with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately while warm.
