Pea & Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Printer Friendly)

Creamy ricotta with zesty lemon and sweet peas coat al dente rigatoni in this vibrant Italian-inspired dish.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 ounces rigatoni

→ Ricotta & Lemon Mixture

02 - 9 ounces ricotta cheese
03 - 1 lemon, zested
04 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
05 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
07 - 1.5 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Vegetables

09 - 7 ounces frozen or fresh green peas

→ Garnish

10 - Extra grated Parmesan, to serve
11 - Fresh basil or mint leaves (optional)
12 - Lemon zest (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
02 - While the pasta cooks, blanch the peas in the boiling water for 2–3 minutes (add during the last 2–3 minutes of the pasta's cooking time if using frozen peas). Drain with the pasta.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, grated garlic, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy. If needed, add a splash of pasta water to loosen the mixture.
04 - Add hot, drained pasta and peas directly to the bowl with the ricotta mixture. Toss well, adding a little reserved pasta water as needed until the pasta is evenly coated in a silky sauce. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan, fresh herbs, and more lemon zest if desired.

# Pro Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 25 minutes but tastes like something from a proper Italian restaurant
  • The creamy ricotta sauce clings to every ridged piece of rigatoni without any heavy cream needed
  • Frozen peas work just as well as fresh so you can make this year round
02 -
  • The pasta water is crucial because it thickens the ricotta sauce and helps it cling to every piece of pasta
  • Room temperature ricotta mixes much more smoothly than cold straight from the fridge
  • Add the pasta water a little at a time because too much will make the sauce runny instead of creamy
03 -
  • Grate the garlic on a microplane so it virtually disappears into the sauce
  • Save extra pasta water just in case you need more than you initially reserved
  • Finish with freshly cracked black pepper right before serving for the best aroma
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