Pea & Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Printer-friendly)

Creamy ricotta with zesty lemon and sweet peas coating perfectly al dente rigatoni for a fresh Italian dinner.

# What You'll 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)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 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.
05 - Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan, fresh herbs, and more lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The ricotta creates an incredibly creamy sauce without any heavy cream or butter
  • It comes together in the time it takes to boil pasta, making it perfect for weeknight dinners
  • The bright lemon and sweet peas taste like spring on a plate
02 -
  • The pasta water is crucial, it creates the emulsion that transforms ricotta from grainy to velvety
  • Room temperature ricotta blends much better than cold straight from the fridge
  • This sauce waits for no one, so have your plates ready and serve it right after tossing
03 -
  • Buy ricotta from the deli counter rather than tubs, it's noticeably creamier and fresher
  • If the sauce feels too thick, add pasta water one tablespoon at a time until it flows freely
  • This pasta doesn't reheat well, so plan to cook exactly what you'll eat
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