While ‘Honey Sesame Encrusted Cheddar Gruyere Spaghetti‘ may not roll off the tongue, what it’s title lacks in brevity, it makes up for in flavor.

POV: You’ve scrolled past the infamous “Tik Tok Pasta” in search of something more complex. Tik Tok pasta took the internet by storm, largely due to it’s simplicity. What’s not to like? One pan (sans cooking the pasta itself) results in a simple and delicious dish. Simple. Delicious. Easy.

The goal of this recipe is to keep the simplicity of the Tik Tok pasta all the while adding a more complex flavor profile.

What’s the same…

• Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are utilized as the base of the sauce. Smaller tomatoes cook and burst faster.
• Olive Oil & Garlic: Self-explanatory.
• One-Pan & Oven Baked: No excessive dishes here. Bake the sauce and the cheese in one pan.

What’s different…

• Artichokes: Adds extra layer of nutty earthiness to the dish. Soaks up the flavor of the cherry tomatoes and other seasonings.
• Paprika: Provides flavor & color of sweet peppers.
• Honey & Sesame: An iconic flavor duo.

Cheddar-Gruyere Substitute:

I’ll go on record now and say that Cheddar & Gruyere (individually and especially together) are some of the best melting cheeses in existence. If you’re trying to achieve the sort of “melt” which results in a cheese pull from your plate on the table in front of you to the ceiling, cheddar and gruyere is what you want.

When you melt the cheddar-gruyere, the crispy honey sesame stays on the cheese. This add texture along with flavor. For more info on Cheddar & Gruyere, consult my Cheese 101 lesson on it at Charcuterie University.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz block of Woodriver Creamery Fenugreek Cheddar Gruyere
• 10 oz of cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup of artichoke hearts
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• S&P to taste
• 1 TBSP of EVOO
• 1 1/2 TSP of Paprika
• 8 oz of spaghetti
• 1 TBSP of sesame seeds
• 1 TBSP of chopped basil

1. Heat oven to 350. Add cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts & garlic cloves to pan. Add EVOO, paprika, and S&P to taste. Cook for 15-20 minutes. 
2. Lightly heat honey.  Coat Woodriver Creamery Fengreek Cheddar Gruyere with honey by lightly brushing the surfaces.  Dip and sesame seeds and repeat until process is complete.  
3. Remove cherry tomato & artichoke mix from oven. Stir mixture until cherry tomatoes are burst. 
4. Heat oven to 400, add honey sesame coated cheese in the center and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and sesame seeds are golden. 
5. Remove from oven, and swirl until cheese is fully incorporated. Add cooked spaghetti. 
6. Garnish with basil, serve and enjoy!