Amazing 25-Minute Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Enjoy a light and creamy pasta dish featuring bright lemon and smooth ricotta cheese. This recipe balances richness with fresh flavor, making it a perfect, satisfying meal that never feels heavy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (linguine or spaghetti recommended)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (whole milk preferred)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, whisk together the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a large bowl.
- Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Do not let it brown.
- Pour the warm garlic oil and the cooked garlic into the ricotta mixture. Stir well to combine.
- Add the drained pasta directly to the bowl with the ricotta mixture.
- Toss everything together. Add the reserved pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the sauce coats the pasta smoothly and thickly.
- Season generously with salt and black pepper.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs.
Notes
- Whole milk ricotta provides the creamiest texture.
- Taste the sauce before adding too much salt; Parmesan adds saltiness.
- For extra brightness, add a small pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: Estimate based on portion
- Sugar: Low
- Sodium: Moderate
- Fat: Moderate
- Saturated Fat: Moderate
- Unsaturated Fat: Low
- Trans Fat: Zero
- Carbohydrates: High
- Fiber: Low
- Protein: High
- Cholesterol: Moderate