Description
This Baked Goat Cheese Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring a creamy goat cheese and roasted tomato sauce baked to perfection. A simple and elegant recipe combining cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and aromatic herbs with tender pasta for a delicious meal perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Produce
- 500 g Cherry tomatoes
- 100 g Mushrooms
- 1 cup Baby spinach
- 5 Garlic cloves
- 1 cup Fresh basil
Dairy
- 200 g Goat cheese
Pasta and Grains
- 400 g Pasta
Oils and Vinegars
- 1/3 cup Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
Spices and Seasonings
- 1/3 teaspoon Chili flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt (plus 1 tablespoon for pasta cooking)
- 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 teaspoon Dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) to prepare for roasting the vegetables and baking the goat cheese.
- Prepare Vegetables: Place the cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach into an oven-safe baking dish, creating the base for the sauce.
- Season Vegetables: Toss the vegetables with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, minced garlic cloves, and dried oregano to evenly coat and infuse flavors.
- Add Goat Cheese: Place a block of goat cheese in the center of the baking dish, surrounded by the arranged cherry tomatoes, ready for baking.
- Finish Seasoning: Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the goat cheese and sprinkle chili flakes and additional dried oregano on top to enhance taste and heat.
- Bake: Bake the dish in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes until the tomatoes are soft and bursting, and the goat cheese is fully softened.
- Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling water seasoned with 1 tablespoon kosher salt until al dente, then drain well.
- Create Sauce: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Using a fork, mash the softened goat cheese and mix it thoroughly with the roasted vegetables to form a creamy, rich sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add fresh basil leaves and the cooked pasta to the baking dish. Stir well to combine, ensuring the pasta is coated evenly by the goat cheese and roasted vegetable sauce.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the pasta hot as a satisfying lunch or dinner, delighting in the luscious flavors and creamy texture.
Notes
- You can substitute the goat cheese block with feta or cream cheese for variation.
- Adjust chili flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated gently.
- Adding a splash of pasta cooking water when mixing can help loosen the sauce if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
