Description
Lemon Ricotta Pasta is a vibrant and creamy vegetarian dish made with spaghetti, whole-milk ricotta, fresh lemon juice and zest, Parmesan cheese, and baby spinach. This quick and easy recipe combines simple pantry staples to deliver a deliciously tangy and comforting pasta meal perfect for busy weeknights, ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound spaghetti (or pasta of choice)
- Salt (for pasta water)
Ricotta Sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Vegetables
- 1 (5-ounce) container baby spinach
Instructions
- Cook 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 before draining the pasta, then return the drained pasta to the pot and cover it to keep warm.
- Prepare Ricotta Sauce: In a high speed blender, combine the ricotta, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon zest and juice, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce is very smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the ricotta sauce, ½ cup of the reserved pasta water, and the baby spinach to the cooked pasta in the pot. Set the pot over low heat and gently cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta absorbs some of the sauce and the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Add additional pasta water as needed to achieve the desired sauce consistency.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Lemon Ricotta Pasta is a quick and easy vegetarian recipe ready in just 25 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Using whole-milk ricotta ensures the sauce is creamy and rich.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to taste for desired heat level.
- Reserve some pasta water to help loosen the sauce and ensure it coats the pasta well.
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
