Baked Feta Pasta

Description:

This is the story about another viral TikTok trend that I kinda sorted wanted to hate...but didn't. It's not that I didn't think the idea sounded delicious.
It's just that the whole thing seemed too simple. Obviously roasting a block of feta with bursting tomatoes is going to be amazing.
But is it good enough to break the internet?

Ingredients:

• 2 pt. cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 shallot, quartered
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt
• 1 (8-oz.) block feta
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 10 oz. pasta
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
• Fresh basil, for garnish

Steps:

1. Step:

   Preheat oven to 400°. In a large ovenproof skillet or medium baking dish, combine tomatoes, shallot, and garlic.
   Drizzle with about 1/4 cup oil and season with salt. Toss until fully coated.

2. Step:

   Place feta in the center of the tomatoes and shallots and drizzle top with another 1/4 cup olive oil.
   Top with thyme sprigs. Bake until tomatoes are bursting and feta is melty, 30 to 35 minutes.

3. Step:

   Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
   Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.

4. Step:

   Remove thyme from baking dish and add pasta.
   Stir until fully combined and season with more salt.
   If pasta seems dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
   Garnish with lemon zest and basil before serving.