This super easy keto spicy baked feta pasta was inspired by the famous baked feta pasta seen all over social media, especially TikTok. This is a guilt-free, low-carb/keto and gluten-free version with an added ‘desi twist’ through the addition of Indian spices. It makes the perfect weeknight dinner and barely requires any effort.
What is Baked Feta Pasta?
The previous year has seen a rise of viral recipes, from the Dalgona coffee, the Pancake Cereal to recently, the Baked Feta Pasta.
Having been guilty to try the Dalgona coffee last year (and getting quite addicted to it!) I had to try out this new phenomenon that had me seeing tomatoes everywhere I look on social media.
I am a huge fan of FeelGoodFoodie’s recipes and this particular version has been inspired by hers. So you can imagine that when I saw her video, I was sold completely to the idea. Surely anything that she makes MUST be delicious.
The concept is fairly simple and doesn’t even require much work. Bung some tomatoes in a dish, add a block of feta, and drizzle with olive oil. You bake it at a high temperature until the tomatoes burst and mix it all to create a delicious creamy sauce.
Make it Keto/Low Carb and Add Some Masala!
Now I haven’t had pasta in the house for over two years since my husband decided to go partially Keto/Low Carb and live a healthier lifestyle as per Sunnah. I had to adapt the recipe to suit his dietary requirements as well as my personal preferences. Of course, having grown up in a desi household, the original recipe seemed waaay too bland for me. Like my mom would always say – ‘it needs more masala!’
I had to adjust the original recipe to suit both mine and his needs. Keto-friendly version for him and a spicier one for me. I have to say, I was not expecting it to be all that great so was pleasantly surprised at how delightful it turned out!
Ingredients needed to make Keto Spicy Baked Feta Pasta
- Pasta: You can use any pasta that you prefer. For a low carb/keto option, I used Shirataki Noodles, the brand Miracle Noodle. I have tried a few different brands of Shirataki Noodles but this one must be my favorite as it takes any flavor that you give it. I used one pack which is enough for two and the entire packet is about 2.5g of carbs in total! They have a variety of shapes (including rice) and the Fettucine style works perfectly for this recipe!
- Tomatoes: This recipe is done best when fresh cherry tomatoes are used. You can even use the mixed color varieties for a pop of color and flavor. I like to keep them whole as when they shrivel up and burst, they look gorgeous! Only use fresh tomatoes and not canned – tomatoes really are the essence of this recipe.
- Feta Cheese: I have seen people using crumbled feta for this recipe, but I don’t think that would give it enough flavor or texture. It is best to use an entire block of feta cheese due to it being less processed and when it is baked, it creates a creamier texture when you mash and mix it all together.
- Spices and Seasonings: The bare minimum would be good quality olive oil, salt, pepper, and lots of crushed garlic! You can go ahead and add a variety of herbs (oregano and basil work great) or Italian seasoning. For an extra kick, I like to add some chili powder or flakes. For my spicy baked feta pasta recipe, I added chili flakes, oregano, basil, and some chaat masala.
Extra Ingredients
- Additional Vegetables: For some more color and nutrients, add in some vegetables. I added a bunch of chopped spinach as I had some extra at hand. You could even add some sliced peppers, mushrooms, or even zucchini!
- Protein: Cooked chicken breast cut into small pieces or even shredded chicken from a leftover roast would be amazing in this recipe. You could even add some cooked shrimp. Just toss it in with the pasta at the end.
- Heavy Cream: If you would like your baked feta pasta even creamier then add in some heavy cream! This is particularly great if you are doing the Ketogenic diet and need some extra fats. Mix this in with the tomatoes and feta at the end after it comes out of the oven.
How to Make Keto Spicy Baked Feta Pasta
This recipe is for two people so feel free to adjust as per your needs
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Take an 8×8-inch or 6×8-inch baking dish and add in the tomatoes. There is no specific measurement for the number of tomatoes required, just crowd the entire dish with a layer of tomatoes.
- Drizzle some olive oil over the tomatoes, add salt and freshly cracked pepper, and the crushed garlic. Toss to equally combine.
- Now is the time to add in your additional vegetables (if using). Add it to the center and toss to make sure everything is well coated in olive oil.
- Place the block of feta cheese to the center of the dish and drizzle a little more olive oil over it.
- Add all your seasonings and spices over the feta and tomatoes
- Bake for 35 minutes. After it’s baked, broil it on high for 2-3 minutes until the feta slightly darkens and the tomatoes begin to blister.
- Whilst the tomatoes and feta are baking, make the pasta according to the instructions.
- As soon as the tomato and feta mixture comes out of the oven, mash it all with a fork immediately. You may find the dish quite watery at first but after mashing and mixing everything, it thickens into a beautiful, creamy sauce.
- Add the cooked Shirataki noodles/pasta into the dish and give everything a mix. For an extra touch and added flavor, garnish with basil leaves.
Keto Spicy Baked Feta Pasta is a guilt-free, super simple yet indulgent dish consisting of baked feta cheese, juicy cherry tomatoes, garlic, and spices for that extra kick! Perfect for quick and easy weeknight dinners!
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER
If you’ve tried this Keto Spicy Baked Feta Pasta, please leave me a comment below! I would love to know how you found it.
Also, please share your pictures of it on our Instagram page, @BalancedBayt, so that we can repost them and get everyone to make this delicious recipe!
