Bow Ties With Pesto Feta And Cherry Tomatoes Recipes

Steps:

• For the pesto, place all ingredients with ½ cup of the oil in a blender and blend.
• Gradually drizzle in the remaining ¼ cup of oil until pesto is thick and smooth.
• This will make about 1 1/2 cups pesto.
• For the pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Stir in the bow ties and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 10 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and run it under cold water just until it stops steaming.
• Bounce the pasta around to get rid of as much water as you can.
• Dump the pasta into a large serving bowl.
• Stir in the pesto until the pasta is coated.
• Toss in the cherry tomatoes and the crumbled feta.
• Taste the salad and season it as you like with salt and pepper.
• You can make the salad up to about 1 hour before you serve it.
• If the salad looks a little dry, add some olive oil prior to serving.

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.

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the oregano, garlic, salt and pepper flakes in oil for 1 minute. Add wine or broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes., Stir in the tomatoes and cheese. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain pasta; toss with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with sunflower kernels and parsley.