Description
A comforting and creamy pasta dish made with ricotta cheese, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
- Salted water for boiling
- 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil, or baby spinach
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Lower heat, add ricotta, Parmesan, zest, and lemon juice to the skillet, stirring to create a creamy sauce.
- Gradually mix in the reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
- Toss the drained pasta in the skillet until each piece is coated with sauce.
- Serve immediately, garnishing with fresh basil or extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
For a unique twist, try roasting garlic or adding seasonal vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 30mg