Description
Lemon Ricotta Pasta is a vibrant and creamy vegetarian dish featuring silky ricotta blended with fresh lemon, Parmesan, and garlic, tossed with tender spaghetti and baby spinach. This quick and easy recipe combines simple pantry staples to deliver a zesty, satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights, ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound spaghetti (or pasta of choice)
- Salt, for pasta water
Sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Vegetables
- 1 (5-ounce) container baby spinach
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot covered.
- Prepare the sauce: In a high-speed blender, combine the whole-milk ricotta, freshly grated Parmesan, olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon zest and juice, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture is very smooth and creamy.
- Toss pasta with sauce and spinach: Add the ricotta sauce mixture, ½ cup of reserved pasta water, and the baby spinach to the pot with the cooked pasta. Place the pot over low heat and cook, stirring gently, until the pasta absorbs some of the sauce and the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Add additional pasta water as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- This Lemon Ricotta Pasta is a zesty and creamy vegetarian meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Using whole-milk ricotta creates a rich and smooth sauce, but part-skim ricotta can be substituted for a lighter version.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the level of heat according to your taste.
- Reserved pasta water is key for achieving the perfect sauce consistency; add it gradually until you reach your desired creaminess.
- For added protein, you can mix in grilled chicken or sautéed shrimp, though this will change the vegetarian status.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 431 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 447 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 29 mg
