Tik Tok’s Feta Pasta
I’ve got Greek heritage on my dad’s side, and it’s always the food I love to make and eat most. Growing up, Greek food was an absolute treat left for visit’s to my nana’s, cold days when my dad would make his famous Lemon Greek Soup, and the summer Greek festivals. So naturally when I saw a pasta that used a whole block of feta, I had to try it.
Things I take very seriously in my house are pasta and feta. I used my homemade pasta recipe (that you can find here), and if it were a perfect world I would have gone to get a block of feta in the brine. However, it’s -8 degrees in Chicago so I got my groceries delivered. I used Mt Vikos brand feta, which for being a grocery store brand is actually pretty amazing. Never ever ever buy those feta crumbles from the grocery store… disgusting.
My review: Much like most tik tok users, this recipe has a little growing up to do - it’s still finding itself. Is it easy to make? Yes. Could it use more flavor? 1000% yes. I strictly followed the tik tok to give an honest review, but if I make it again I’ll be vamping it up. My fiancé liked it, but had the same sentiments. Definitely not the best we’ve ever made.
NOTE: I say I used 2 tbsp of Olive Oil. This is always a guess for me. I judge my use Olive Oil from the heart… not a specific measurement.
Tik Tok Feta Pasta Recipe:
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 8 oz block of Feta (I used Mt Vikos brand from my local grocery store)
2 tbsp of olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan
2 cloves of roasted garlic (find my recipe here and see my notes on why I used roasted as opposed to fresh above)
2 tbsp freshly chopped basil
Chopped chili pepper (optional)
Homemade Pasta (find my recipe here)
Set your oven to 350F degrees.
Oil down the bottom of a baking dish using olive oil. Put the block of feta in the center of the dish and surround with your tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. I think the original poster topped the feta with a chopped chili pepper. Tik tok has since abandoned this, but I would recommend adding this back in (again to give some flavor, ANY flavor).
Bake for 40 minutes or until the feta becomes melted and the tomatoes are blistering.
Mash the feta and tomatoes. Mix in your cream, parmesan, basil and roasted garlic. Stir in the pasta to coat in this sauce and eat up!
My Add-ins/changes to save this dish:
Chicken breast
1-2 tbsp butter
Swap the roasted garlic above for fresh garlic cloves (smash, then mince)
While the feta and tomatoes are cooking in the oven, bake some chicken breasts stove top in olive oil, seasoned in salt and pepper.
In another smaller pan, about 5-10 minutes before the feta is done, warm the butter on medium-high heat until it begins to brown. Add in the garlic and cook until it also begins to brown, about 1 minute.
Stir in your cream. As soon as cream starts to boil, add in parmesan and reduce to low heat stirring to melt the parmesan.
Bring your tomatoes and feta out of the oven and pour the cream sauce from the pan over the top. Mash together. Cube your chicken and add to the mixture as well as the basil.
Stir in the pasta to coat. Serve, and hopefully enjoy more than the plain old tik tok version!
