Baked Feta Pasta with Vegetables
I've given the baked feta pasta trend a no-tomato spring/summer twist. It's full of veggies like asparagus, zucchini, corn, and peppers and baked until golden brown and delicious.
grape tomatoes
1
pint
asparagus, trimmed and chopped
1
bunch
zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut in 1/4 inch slices
1
medium
yellow onion, chopped
1
medium
red bell pepper, chopped
1
medium
fresh sweet corn, kernels cut from the cob
1
ear
extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed
4
tablespoons
red pepper flakes, plus more as needed
1
teaspoon
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
block feta cheese
1
(16 ounce) package
fresh thyme
4
sprigs
rigatoni pasta
1
(16 ounce) package
lemon
½
medium
fresh parsley, chopped
¼
bunch
grated Pecorino Romano cheese, or more to taste
1
tablespoon
 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  Combine grape tomatoes, asparagus, zucchini, onion, bell pepper, and corn kernels in a large baking dish. Drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper flakes, sea salt, and pepper. Toss to coat and make a well in the center of the dish. Place feta blocks in the well. Drizzle feta with more olive oil and season with sea salt, pepper, and a pinch of pepper flakes. Nestle thyme sprigs into vegetables around the dish.
  Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until vegetables are soft and feta is lightly browned, about 40 minutes.
  When vegetables and feta have cooked for 25 minutes, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Set aside.
  When vegetables and feta are finished cooking, turn the broiler to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) and broil vegetables for 1 minute for some final browning.
  Squeeze lemon over vegetables and feta; stir in parsley until incorporated. Stir in rigatoni and reserved pasta water to help feta coat pasta evenly. Season with salt and pepper as needed and sprinkle with Pecorino Romano cheese.
