Lemon Ricotta Pasta
The cheese sauce for this lemon ricotta pasta comes together quickly, making it a great option for busy weeknights.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 pound cavatappi or rigatoni
- 1 1/4 cup whole milk ricotta
- 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice from approximately 1 lemon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
- 4 cups coarsely chopped baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Right before the pasta has finished cooking, reserve and set aside 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain and give a quick rinse to prevent the pasta from sticking together.1 pound cavatappi or rigatoni
- Purée ricotta and lemon juice in a blender until very smooth, 1-2 minutes.1 1/4 cup whole milk ricotta, 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- Place the same pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute or until fragrant.1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, 2-3 cloves garlic
- Stir in whipped ricotta, 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the mixture is simmering, remove from heat and stir in the parmesan until smooth.1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Stir in the spinach and cooked pasta, mixing until evenly coated and spinach has wilted, then add additional pasta water if desired to thin out the sauce.4 cups coarsely chopped baby spinach
- Top each serving with additional grated parmesan and chopped parsley.2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Notes
- If the spinach is not wilting easily, you can briefly return the pot to medium heat and cover for 1-2 minutes. Alternately, mix the spinach into the cheese sauce before adding the pasta, as it will be hotter.
