Ingredients
500 grams cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup plus 2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ cup dry white wine
400 grams chopped tomatoes from a can
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
500 grams fusilli or farfalle pasta
200 grams marinated feta (recipe follows)
1/3 cup black olives, pitted
3 Tbs pine nuts, dry roasted
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Basil leaves to garnish
Marinated feta
200 grams feta, crumbled
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp chili flakes
About ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Method
Marinate the feta cheese: Put all ingredients in a bowl. Make sure all the feta is coated in olive oil. Cover bowl and put in the fridge. You can prepare this a week in advance.
Roast the tomatoes for the pasta: Preheat oven to 175 C. Put cherry tomatoes in a roasting pan, cut side up. Drizzle with ¼ cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle the oregano. Roast for 35-40 minutes, until tomatoes are soft.
Make the sauce while tomatoes roast: Heat over medium heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant and beginning to colour. Add the wine and cook for a couple of minutes and add the chopped tomatoes and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, until sauce has thickened slightly
Assemble the pasta: Cook the pasta in plenty of water, seasoned with salt, until cooked al dente. Keep 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid and drain. Throw drained pasta in the large skillet with the tomato sauce. Mix well over medium-low heat for one minute.
Take skillet off the heat and add the roasted tomatoes, olives, half of the pine nuts and half of the marinated feta. Mix, check the seasoning and adjust if necessary. Transfer pasta in a serving platter. Scatter the remaining feta on top and the remaining pine nuts. Drizzle the feta oil, garnish with basil leaves and serve.
This pasta is great served also at room temperature or straight out of the fridge.
www.cuisonia.com, Galatia Pamborides
