Is the Infamous Tik Tok Pasta Worth It?

   

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Short answer: yes.

Because I hate scrolling through people’s descriptions and inspiration to get to the actual recipe, I’m attaching the recipe first.

The Recipe:

Tik Tok Pasta

This magical five ingredient recipe will be a game changer for those weeknight dinners when you don't know what to make, or that magical recipe to break out during those Airbnb mini-vacations.

  • 9 x 13 inch baking pan
  • knife to cut garlic
  • spoon or fork to mix sauce
  • large pot to boil pasta
  • 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 block greek feta cheese
  • 12 oz pasta (bow tie or rigtatoni are my favs)

Optional Add-Ons

  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
  • 1 cup spinach
  • fresh basil leaves
  • kosher salt ((the feta will already be pretty salty))
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F / 204°C

  2. Peel and cut the garlic (large chunks are ideal)

  3. In the baking dish, combine the 2 pints of cherry tomatoes, garlic and 1/4 cup of olive oil

  4. Place the feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes and garlic and add the rest of the olive oil.

  5. Sprinkle dish with red pepper flakes and a little black pepper

  6. Option to add the spinach here (or saute and add later)

  7. Bake for 40 mintues until the garlic has softened and the tomatoes have burst their skins.

  8. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil

  9. Cook pasta according to directions.

  10. Once the dish is done baking, mash the feta and tomatoes with fork until combined.

  11. Add some pasta water if it looks a little dry.

  12. Combine sauce with pasta and serve.

A Brief History.

In Feb 2018, Tiiu Piret posted a version of the dish on her blog, but Finnish blogger Jenni Hayrinen is credited with making “unnifetapasta” (oven baked feta pasta) go viral a year later. In January 2021, MacKenzie Smith, posted a TikTok, which went absolutely viral, causing actual countries to RUN OUT of Feta or maybe just drove FETA sales prices up 300%.

My Take

For our family vacation a couple of weekends in this ADORABLE Airbnb, we wanted to respect quarantine rules and stay in the whole weekend. We brought up WAY too much food, including the five staples ingredients for the Tik Tok pasta. The end result: literally the loveliest, creamiest, and easiest home cooked meal of the weekend.

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