How to make TikTok BAKED FETA PASTA at CAMP

This dish has become a staple of ours when we’re on the traveling on the road. It’s incredibly simple to prep, ingredients are easy, and readily available at pretty much any grocery story, it’s filling, and, well, it’s delicious.

Contrary to the viral TikTok videos (see the video that started it all here), you don’t need to bake this. Baking only double caramelizes the feta cheese on top and makes it “social media friendly”. I mean, who doesn’t like looking at some perfectly browned cheese?

Here’s my version of this (now) iconic dish and how, very easily, camp-ify it.

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 2
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min

• 2.5 cups of pasta

• 4 cups of cherry tomatoes (the more the merrier)

• 4 cloves of garlic (or more to ward away vampires)

• 1 8oz block of feta cheese

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1/4 cup fresh basil, plus more for serving fresh

• 1 tsp fish sauce (optional, but adds a large kick of umami)

• 1 Tbsp butter (option, but adds a ton of extra unctuousness)

• salt and pepper to taste

• chili flakes to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. You can do this in one pot, or two. It’s really up to you and how much dishes you want to clean afterwards.

2. Boil pasta as per instructions to the desired doneness. Just a bit past al dente is ours.

3. If you’re one-potting, drain the pasta and set aside on separate dish or bowl. Use a serving dish if you want to save on dish clean up

4. Put in olive oil, get it up to temperature.

5. Add in chopped garlic. Sauté.

6. When the garlic is just starting browning, place it in the block of feta cheese and tomatoes. Add a healthy pinch of salt and pepper. Cover and let simmer on medium-low for 15 minutes, or, until the feta looks completely melted.

7. The tomatoes will wilt down when ever the feta is properly melted. Add in chopped fresh basil and fish sauce.

8. Turn off the heat and mix in the pasta. Add in the butter at the end. Mix to incorporate.

9. Finally, adjust seasoning. Add in salt, pepper, and chili flakes to taste

Additional notes

• Toss in any desired proteins. Rotisserie chicken, or canned chick peas make for wonderful additions

• If using chick peas, heat up the chick peas along with the tomatoes and feta

• For a vegan option: use bean or rice based pastas, and skip adding butter. Use vegan fish sauce, or mushroom powder for added umami

• For added kid friendliness: serve with chicken tenders or nuggets. I mean, wouldn’t you want that as well?!