Are you a fan of easy and quick meals? Me too! Life can get busy and I’m always looking for ways to make it easier, especially when it comes to breakfast, lunch and dinner. When I heard about the new Pure Flavor® Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes, I knew exactly what dish I wanted to use them in. Baked Feta Pasta!
You may have seen this pasta dish making its way around the globe on TikTok and Instagram, but you’ve never seen this version of it before. That’s because it has a secret ingredient that adds a distinct sweetness to this world-famous Tomato Feta Pasta: Pure Flavor® Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes.
Let me tell you, it’s totally deserving of all the attention! After this dish went viral, there were places in the world that sold out of feta cheese! Can you believe it?! It’s not a surprise to me, though, because with its combination of creamy cheese, savory garlic, and super sweet grape tomatoes, this is a perfect weeknight meal everyone in the family can enjoy time and time again.
Let’s talk about flavor for a moment – and when I say flavor, I’m really talking about Cloud 9® Tomatoes. These are a totally new tomato variety from Pure Flavor® that’s just hitting grocery store shelves now and is already winning awards for amazing flavor, like the 2021 Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute in Brussels. This prestigious recognition was recently awarded by a jury of head-sommeliers and chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants. It’s clear that this new variety from Pure Flavor® is so much more than just another red snacking tomato!
This trendy Tomato Feta Pasta recipe is the perfect dish to get your first taste of this amazing tomato. It only has a few ingredients, so the sweetness of each tomato really shines. The feta becomes rich and creamy as it bakes, the tomatoes release their delicious juice and the garlic softens up thanks to the olive oil.
Once it’s all mixed together, it creates an amazing sauce for pasta. The saltiness of the feta compliments the sweetness of the tomatoes perfectly. I tend to add my own little twist when I’m creating a recipe and so I thought to myself, what goes really well with feta cheese? Olives! So, I jazzed up this recipe with olive tapenade that I think you’re going to love.
Are you hungry yet? I know I am, so let’s get cooking!
For all the busy moms and dads out there, it’s basically hands off as most of the magic happens in the oven. That’s a win in my books! I can have dinner cooking away in the oven while I help out with homework.
My kids love tomatoes, but these Cloud 9® Tomatoes take flavor to a new level and are their absolute favourite. They have a unique fruity taste that makes them great for fresh and healthy snacking, so I like to put a small bowl out for them to enjoy as a treat while they’re working away on their studies after school.
While the kids are busy snacking, you can preheat your oven to 400°F and boil the pasta. When it comes to the pasta, I like to use a pasta that has either curves or edges like lumaconi snail shell pasta so that each can hold some of the fresh pasta sauce. You can totally use whatever you have on hand, it’ll be just as good!
In a baking dish, add those super sweet fruity grape tomatoes around a big block of Greek feta cheese. Traditionally, feta cheese is made with sheep’s milk. That’s the kind you want to use tor this recipe because, when baked, it stays smooth and creamy. Toss in some garlic cloves for good measure, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
All that’s left to do is bake for about 25 minutes and, when it’s ready, break down the feta with a fork. Stir in basil, spinach, olive tapenade and pasta to complete this family favorite.
If you want to turn this delightful dinner into a quick app to enjoy in the afternoon, all you need to do is old off on the pasta and instead serve with fresh bread for dipping.
Can I just take a moment to tell you how delicious this was?
The burst of flavour from the Cloud 9® Tomatoes mixed with the olive tapenade, melted feta and pasta shells, wow! Your family will love you for it!
Actually, I think I’m going to go make some more right now. Be right back!
To try this yourself, check out the full recipe by clicking here.
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