Peppery Pasta With Feta Cheese Food

MINI WHEELS PASTA SALAD WITH RED PEPPERS AND FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook Piccolini¿ Mini Wheels according to the package directions.
• Drain and toss with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Allow to cool on a sheet tray.
• Char the skins of the red bell peppers over an open flame on the stove top and put then into a plastic bag to steam. Once steamed peel away the charred skin and cut into thin strips.
• Saute the garlic and chili flakes in the remaining olive oil over medium heat for about two minutes.
• Add sliced black olives, julienne red peppers and chopped capers; saute an additional 3 minutes.
• Season to taste.
• Add lemon zest and saute 1 minute. Allow mixture to cool down.
• Crumble the feta cheese and mix in with the cooled sauce mixture.
• Transfer Piccolini¿ Mini Wheels to a large bowl. Toss salad to combine, allow to rest for 1 hour before serving.
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BAKED FETA PASTA {RED PEPPER OR TOMATO}

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In 2-quart or larger baking dish*, place feta block in the center, then arrange peppers or tomatoes (or combo) around the feta.
• Sprinkle garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning over the peppers/tomatoes. Drizzle all with olive oil.
• Bake for about 40-45 minutes at 400 degrees or until the vegetables are roasted (starting to char a little in places) and the feta is soft and browning on top.
• During the bake time, bring pot of salted water to boil (I use 4-6 qt water and 2 generous teaspoons salt.) Cook the pasta when the bake time has about 8-10 minutes left.
• Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain pasta.
• Stir together baked feta and peppers/tomatoes. I like to smush the tomatoes to release their juices. Add pasta and 1/4 cup pasta water and stir together. The starchy pasta water will help bind it all together. Add more pasta water as needed - a little at a time. It will thicknen up as you stir and as it sits. (FYI - the peppers aren't as juicy as the tomatoes - so you may need a little more of the pasta water.)
• Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve!

PEPPERY PASTA

Steps:

• In a large straight-sided saute pan over medium heat, add the olive oil, pepper and a pinch of salt. Heat and toast the pepper until the oil is fragrant with the pepper scent, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain in a colander and allow the moisture to evaporate from the pasta for a couple of minutes.
• Add the pasta to the pan with the olive oil, raise the heat to medium-high and continuously toss the pasta with tongs to coat with the olive oil and pepper. Remove from the heat, add the lemon zest and cheese, toss and then transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

POPEYE PASTA WITH FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in boiling water and first amount of salt in a large uncovered pot or Dutch oven for 6 minutes until tender but firm. Drain. Return to pot.
• Add first amount of olive oil. Toss. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, saute tomato and garlic in second amount of olive oil in large frying pan for about 2 minutes until tomatoes have released their juices.
• Add next 6 ingredients. Heat and stir for about 1 minute just until spinach is wilted and heated through.
• Pour over pasta. Add feta cheese. Toss well.
• Note: In place of fresh marjoram, you could replace with 3/4 teaspoon dried marjoram and you can replace garlic cloves with 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder.

PASTA WITH CHICKEN, ROASTED RED PEPPERS & FETA

Steps:

• Cook and stir garlic in 2 Tbsp. of the oil in skillet on medium heat 3 minutes. Add peppers, chicken breast strips and remaining 2 Tbsp. oil. Cook 2 minutes or until heated through.
• Cook pasta as directed on package; drain.
• Toss vegetable mixture with hot pasta and feta cheese. Sprinkle with parsley.

ONE-PAN FETA PASTA WITH CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a shallow 2-quart casserole or gratin dish, or an 11-by-7-inch baking dish, combine tomatoes, garlic, thyme, rosemary and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Toss with 1/4 cup of the olive oil to coat. Place the feta in the middle of the dish, and top with the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. Sprinkle the black pepper and red-pepper flakes over everything. Bake for about 40 minutes, until the garlic has softened and the tomatoes have burst their skins.
• Add the pasta to the pan in an even layer and sprinkle with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Pour the boiling water on top. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, carefully submerge pasta. Cover tightly with foil and bake until pasta is al dente, 17 to 19 minutes. Remove from oven and let the pasta stand, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes to absorb the excess liquid.
• Stir in basil until everything is well incorporated, and the tomatoes and cheese create a creamy sauce. When serving, top with more black pepper, oil and flaky sea salt.

ROASTED RED PEPPER FETTUCCINI WITH CREAMY FETA SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook fettuccini according to package directions.
• While pasta cooks:
• Melt butter in large skillet. Saute garlic until fragrant. About 2 minutes.
• Add, red peppers, cream, feta and 1/4 cup parmesan.
• Saute for about 4-5 minutes until flavors meld.
• Using an immersion blender or regular blender - puree until almost smooth. A few chunks of red pepper is kinda nice.
• Add chopped basil - salt and pepper to taste.
• Drain pasta. Add pasta to sauce in skillet.
• Toss and top with additional fresh basil and grated parmesan.

ROTINI WITH PEPPERS, ONIONS, AND FETA

Steps:

• Cook onions, bell peppers, anchovy paste, salt, and pepper in oil in a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove lid and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• While onions are browning, cook rotini in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
• Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander. Cook pasta with onion mixture in pot over high heat, tossing and adding enough reserved cooking water to keep pasta moist, 1 minute.
• Transfer pasta to a serving bowl and toss with dill, two thirds of feta, and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle remaining feta on top.

BAKED FETA PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Toss the cherry tomatoes and olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and several grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Transfer to a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish, place the feta in the center of the tomatoes and season with a pinch of black pepper. Bake until the tomatoes have burst and the feta has softened, about 30 minutes. Raise the heat to 450 degrees F and continue to cook until the tomatoes and feta are golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 13 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then thoroughly drain the pasta.
• As soon as the tomatoes and feta come out of the oven, stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Use the back of a spoon to smash the tomatoes and feta into a smooth and creamy sauce (it's okay if some of the oil isn't fully integrated). Add the pasta and half the basil and toss until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, stir in some pasta water a couple tablespoons at a time. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the remaining basil and a pinch of sea salt.

BAKED PEPPERS WITH FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F
• Place the peppers in a baking dish, cut side down. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Tuck the basil and garlic between the peppers. Scatter the feta on top.
• Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

PEPPERY PASTA WITH FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add both bell peppers and garlic. Sauté until peppers begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Mix in peperoncini and basil, then tomatoes. Simmer until sauce reduces slightly, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Add pasta and toss until sauce coats pasta. Add feta and toss mixture to blend.