Description
Whipped Feta And Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta is a quick, creamy pasta dish. You blend feta cheese with yogurt and lemon to create a smooth sauce base, then toss it with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic.
Ingredients
- 12 oz short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 8 oz feta, preferably in brine, drained
- 3 tbsp Greek yogurt or cream cheese
- 2–3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about 2–3 tbsp juice)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped, plus 2 tbsp oil from the jar
- 1/2 cup low-sodium pasta cooking water, reserved
- 1/4 cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente; reserve at least 1 cup pasta water and drain.
- Make whipped feta: In a food processor, blend feta, Greek yogurt or cream cheese, lemon zest and juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, and a pinch of pepper flakes until very smooth and creamy; adjust with a splash of pasta water or oil if needed to make a thick, spreadable sauce.
- Build tomato-garlic base: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp oil from the sun-dried tomato jar. Add shallot and garlic and cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook 2–3 minutes to infuse the oil.
- Combine: Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss. Off the heat, fold in the whipped feta, loosening with splashes of hot pasta water until glossy and silky. Season with salt and generous black pepper.
- Finish: Stir in herbs and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Serve immediately with a drizzle of olive oil and extra chopped sun-dried tomatoes on top.
Notes
- Using block feta yields a creamier whip than pre-crumbled; lemon and yogurt balance feta’s saltiness and create a velvety texture.
- Frying or gently crisping sun-dried tomatoes in oil with aromatics deepens flavor and perfumes the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to emulsify the sauce for a restaurant-style sheen and to help the whipped feta coat the pasta evenly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: No-Cook Sauce Assembly
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired