Try making this baked feta pasta salad

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This baked feta pasta salad recipe is one of the quick and easy recipes that you can make at home and turn into a fulfilling dish for dinner.

I am not going to introduce you to the Baked Feta Pasta as I am sure you have all seen the trending videos on Instagram and Tiktok this year. The videos went so viral that barely very few people did not get the chance to view them on social media. Although the original viral recipe is about the main dish with baked feta pasta, I am sharing through this blog a tweaked recipe: the baked feta pasta salad.

This recipe is one of the quick and easy recipes that you can make at home and turn into a fulfilling dish to serve for dinner. It makes a staple among the best healthy dinner ideas to enjoy with your family both on cold or hot days.

Boil your pasta, bake a block of feta cheese with olive oil, herbs, garlic, and onions, chop the vegetables of your choice, add your preferred seasoning, then mix and serve. How simple is that?

What are the ingredients of the baked feta pasta salad?

• Pasta: One of the two initial ingredients of this recipe is pasta. The majority of the pasta types fit perfectly in this recipe. I love doing it with the fusilli or farfalle but you can opt for any type you want!
• Feta cheese: This is the second main ingredient of this recipe. Feta cheese bakes perfectly and gives a tangy delicious flavor to the salad. You can replace the feta cheese with goat cheese and get the almost same outcome.
• Vegetables: The original viral recipe calls for tomatoes that are baked along with the cheese. Indeed, tomatoes are a perfect fit and give this acidic sour taste to the salad. Cherry tomatoes are the best when it comes to this family. I love to add also chopped cucumber, corn Kernel, and pickled green olives.
• Herbs & seasonings: Salt and pepper to taste are definite. Opt as well for herbs such as basil, oregano, or thyme. You can swap these herbs as well with sweet paprika powder, or if you are a chili lover, sprinkle some chili flakes or cayenne pepper!
• Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is the name of the game. Do not use sunflower, corn, or canola oil. The olive oil adds a special taste to the salad.
• Lemon Squeeze: For this salad, we are not adding a separate dressing. The seasoning, olive oil, and lemon squeeze will join hands to substitute the dressing and do the magic when it comes to the overall taste.
• Garlic & onions: To intensify the flavors, we will add 2 garlic cloves and onion powder while baking the feta, then add 1 smashed garlic clove upon mixing the salad.

How to make this Baked Feta Pasta salad recipe?

After preheating the oven to 200°C., add the garlic cloves and feta cheese block to a baking dish. Then add the olive oil, and seasonings, and toss to coat.

Bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente.

Once the pasta cools and the feta is perfectly baked and smashed, start combining the ingredients of the salad: Pasta, feta, tomatoes, cucumber, corn, and pickled olives.

Then season the salad with thyme or oregano, lemon juice, and olive oil and mix well.

If the salad doesn’t look creamy enough, add a spoon of pasta water at a time, and toss to coat the ingredients perfectly.

Finally, your dish will be ready to serve. Enjoy your meal.

Tips for the best outcome!

• Save half cup of pasta water: You may not use this amount. However, upon mixing the salad you want to check if it becomes stuffily dried and makes your decision accordingly. The pasta water will help you ensure your ingredients are well coated with the feta and other flavors.
• Baking half of the garlic: Garlic is a great add-on to this recipe. It pairs perfectly with the feta; hence, it is important to bake a few cloves along. However, to strengthen the garlic flavor, it is equally important to add a smashed raw garlic clove to the salad at the time of mixing.
• Substituting the Feta cheese: Do not randomly substitute the feta in this recipe. Try using goat cheese or the Bulgarian as a substitute. Mozzarella, cheddar, or similar kinds will melt and will make you end up with a messy salad.
• Pasta type: You can use any type of pasta. However, I strongly recommend using short pasta for this salad. Being a salad dish, short pasta is easy to both stir and eat with ease.

Baked feta pasta variations:

• Baked feta pasta with chicken: Load your salad with protein by adding grilled chicken breast cut in cubes or strips to your pasta. With the right chicken seasoning, you will end up with a fulfilling salad dish for your lunch or dinner.
• Baked feta pasta with shrimps: Not a fan of chicken? No problem. How about adding fried or grilled shrimp to your salad. You will satisfy your hunger with a delicious dish loaded with vitamins and minerals at a low-calorie intake.
• Baked feta pasta with pesto: If you love pesto like me, then please try this variation. Since I made it at home I became addicted.
• Orzo baked feta salad: You can easily opt for orzo instead of the famous regular pasta types you are used to having. Orzo pairs well with creamy textures such as baked feta and rewards you with a delicious dish to serve to your family and guests.

Looking for a few quick easy recipes? Here are some suggestions:

• Chicken tenders
• Authentic garlic focaccia
• Homemade ravioli
• Shepherd pie

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