Description
A delightful dish featuring zesty lemon, creamy ricotta, and nutritious spinach, perfect for quick weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 lb (8oz/220 grams) pasta (e.g., spaghetti, linguine, penne, fusilli)
- 1 cup (9oz/250 grams) whole-milk ricotta
- 8 oz (230 grams) fresh baby spinach, washed
- 1/3 cup (35 grams) grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- 1 unwaxed lemon, for zest and juice
- 3 lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 garlic clove, grated or pressed
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente.
- Make the ricotta sauce: While the pasta cooks, in a medium bowl, combine ricotta, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon zest, and juice. Season with 1/4 tsp salt and a good pinch of pepper. Mix until well combined and adjust seasoning to your taste.
- Add the spinach: In the last minute of the pasta cooking time, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then add spinach to the pot. Submerge the spinach in the boiling water for about a minute.
- Drain and combine: Drain the pasta and spinach, returning both to the pot. Add the ricotta sauce and some of the reserved pasta cooking water. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly, adding more cooking water as necessary for a smooth, creamy texture.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and lemon wedges for added zest if desired.
Notes
For extra creaminess, mix in a bit of heavy cream or crème fraîche if desired. Adjust garlic to taste, and feel free to swap spinach for kale or add other ingredients based on preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling and Combining
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg