So, this was something that I learned how to make over Covid. I was in my second year of university, and while partying my way through the year in lockdown, I also learned this recipe from TikTok from all places. It went viral, as things do, and it’s something that I still cook today and enjoy with family or friends.

Feeds 4 (add more tomatoes or pasta accordingly)

Equipment:

1 x rectangle casserole dish

1 x wooden spoon

1 x cutting board

1 x knife

1 x medium saucepan

1 x frying pan

1 x sieve

1 x potato masher

1 x Cheese grater

Ingredients:

1 block of Feta Cheese (can be altered depending on food preferences).

1 or two bags of cherry tomatoes.

1/2 bag of spiral pasta.

2 or 3 spoonfuls of Garlic, I’ve used Lazy garlic that’s ready to cook.

3 chicken breasts.

1 spoonful of olive oil.

A jar of your favorite pasta sauce usually the cheaper the better. (I go for tomato and basil).

Salt and pepper, paprika, coriander, and thyme.

A handful of Fresh Basil leaves.

Parsley to sprinkle on top.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

1. Boil the kettle

2. Put a frying pan on a medium to high heat with some olive oil.

3. Dice up the chicken and season with salt and pepper; add paprika, thyme, and coriander if you like.

4. Get a (preferably) rectangle casserole dish and set it on the side.

5. Take out your block of feta cheese and place it in the middle of the casserole dish.

6. Then cut up all the tomatoes into halves or quarters and add around the feta cheese.

7. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, paprika and thyme.

8. Then place in the oven for 20 minutes.

9. Get out a saucepan and add half a bag of spiral pasta (or your preference), and pour kettle water into it until it’s covering the pasta. Sprinkle some salt and boil at medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes until it’s ready.

10. Fry the chicken breasts and stir around while keeping an eye on the pasta.

11. The oven should go off at the time the pasta is ready or just after. Put half a cup of pasta water to the side and drain the rest out of the saucepan.

12. Take the casserole dish out of the oven, and using the potato masher, mash the feta cheese and tomatoes together. It should look a bit of a mess!

13. Then add in as much pasta as you want to the feta cheese and tomato mix as well as the chicken.

14. Empty out a jar of your selected pasta sauce, then fill the empty jar with the pasta water saved from earlier and shake about. Empty the water out into the casserole dish and mix well.

15. Add a handful of basil leaves, either shredded up or full in the bowl and mix.

16. Put the casserole dish back in the oven for another 5-7 minutes.

17. Once the timer goes off, your dish is ready to be served!

18. Dispense into bowls or plates, add a sprinkle of parsley on top, add some grated cheese if you would like, season with some salt and pepper, and it’s ready to go!

19. Enjoy!

Take out the chicken, alter the cheese to vegan-friendly, or try something else. It’s a dish you can enjoy and alter to how you want.

This was written by our contributing writer, Shanai Besst.