Tomato Feta Pasta Bake
While baked feta and tomatoes has become a new classic pasta sauce, achieve even deeper flavor with fire-roasted tomatoes.
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) Contadina® Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, not drained
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
3 Tbsp. Contadina® Tomato Paste
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1 block (8 oz.) feta, drained
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
12 oz. uncooked penne or rotini pasta (4 cups)
1 bag (5 oz.) baby spinach
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
Preheat oven to 400°F. Add contents of diced tomato cans, onion, 3 Tbsp. olive oil, tomato paste and garlic to a 9x13-inch (3 qt.) baking dish; stir to combine. Place feta in the center; top with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and red pepper flakes. Bake 25 minutes until tomatoes are bubbling and feta is soft. Stir together thoroughly.
While sauce bakes, bring a pot of water to a boil; cook and drain pasta according to package directions.
Add pasta, spinach and lemon juice to hot tomato-feta sauce in baking dish; stir until coated. Sprinkle with basil before serving.
VARIATIONS: Prepare recipe as directed, except:
For Tomato Feta Gnocchi Bake, substitute cooked gnocchi in place of pasta.
For Tomato Goat Cheese Pasta Bake, substitute 8 oz. goat cheese in place of feta.