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Creamy Lemon Feta Pasta Recipe

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4.5 from 20 reviews

Creamy Lemon Feta Pasta is a luscious, tangy, and flavorful dish featuring roasted feta cheese blended with olive oil, garlic, and fresh lemon juice to create a silky sauce that clings perfectly to al dente pasta. Garnished with fresh herbs and cracked black pepper, this easy-to-make recipe delivers a comforting Mediterranean-inspired meal in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Pasta & Sauce

  • 8 oz pasta such as penne or rigatoni
  • 1 block feta cheese 7-8 oz, full-fat in brine
  • 0.33 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
  • 3-4 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 large lemon zest and juice
  • 0.5 cup pasta water reserved

Garnish

  • 1 handful fresh herbs dill, parsley, or basil
  • freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Zest and juice the lemon and set aside. Thinly slice the garlic cloves carefully to ensure even roasting.
  2. Roast the Feta and Aromatics: Place the block of feta cheese in an oven-safe baking dish. Pour 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil around the feta. Scatter the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes in the oil around the cheese. Drizzle some additional olive oil over the feta and season with freshly cracked black pepper. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes until the feta softens and develops a light golden color.
  3. Cook the Pasta: While the feta roasts, cook the pasta in the boiling salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
  4. Create the Creamy Sauce: Remove the baking dish with feta from the oven. Immediately add the lemon juice and half of the lemon zest to the hot feta and olive oil mixture. Use a fork or whisk to vigorously mash and blend the feta, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice together into a smooth, creamy sauce.
  5. Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the hot drained pasta directly into the baking dish with the feta sauce. Pour in 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water and toss thoroughly with tongs or a large spoon. Add more pasta water as needed to achieve a silky, evenly coated consistency.
  6. Garnish and Serve: Taste the dish and adjust seasoning as needed, though additional salt is likely unnecessary. Garnish with the remaining lemon zest, a handful of fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, or basil, and an extra drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

  • Use full-fat feta in brine for the creamiest texture and best flavor.
  • Reserve pasta water carefully as it helps achieve the perfect sauce consistency.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
  • Fresh herbs like dill, parsley, or basil provide bright herbal notes – feel free to mix or substitute based on availability.
  • This dish is best served immediately as the sauce thickens when cooled.
  • If you prefer a smoother sauce, use a whisk vigorously or a fork to mash the feta completely.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute the pasta with gluten-free pasta variety.

Find it online: https://hotsavors.com/creamy-lemon-feta-pasta-recipe/