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–+ servings

Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This Lemon Ricotta Pasta is light, fresh, and deliciously creamy! Made with just 5 simple ingredients, it's delicious all on its own and makes the perfect base for any of your favorite proteins!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 427kcal
Author: Cathy Trochelman

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces dry angel hair pasta see notes below
  • 16 ounces ricotta cheese I used BelGioioso Ricotta con Latte
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water more to taste
  • 1 lemon zest & juice
  • 2 cups fresh baby arugula
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Garnishes: fresh basil red pepper flakes, salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, cook the noodles al dente according to package instructions. Drain, being sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water for the sauce. Pasta water can be saved in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup. Transfer the drained noodles back to the pan.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Whisk in 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water.
  3. Add the arugula and sauce to the noodles in the pan. Heat on medium-low, stirring regularly, until pasta is fully coated and sauce is heated through. (*If sauce is too thick, slowly add additional pasta water to achieve desired consistency.)
  4. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Garnish with fresh cracked pepper, fresh basil, and/or crushed red pepper flakes to taste. Enjoy as is or topped with your favorite proteins or veggies.

Notes

Recipe Variations

  • Use any type of pasta noodles (fettuccine, rigatoni, spaghetti, penne, cavatappi)
  • Substitute baby spinach or baby kale for the baby arugula
  • Add fresh basil or tarragon
  • Use vegetable or chicken broth in place of pasta water
  • Add additional seasonings as desired (I would suggest 1/2 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, or red pepper flakes)
  • Substitute crumbled feta for the Parmesan
  • Add 1 can of chopped artichoke hearts
  • Stir in additional grilled or sautéed veggies (mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes)
  • Top with your protein of choice (Blackened Salmon or Blackened Chicken are our favorites!)
*NOTE: Angel Hair Pasta typically comes in 16 ounce boxes, so you'll have to measure out approximately 3/4 of the box for this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 808mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g