This Lemon Ricotta Pasta Has a Sneaky Secret Ingredient
You may say we have now a factor for pasta right here at Camille Types. From lengthy spaghetti noodles to enjoyable and funky cavatappi to layered pasta bakes, the choices are countless. My strategy to pasta is easy: let each the season and pantry spark my creativeness and encourage just a little magic. Whereas I like pulling out all of the stops, I additionally know that elements needs to be allowed to shine as they’re. And that, pricey readers, is why we’re right here—to speak about this lemon ricotta pasta recipe that has turn out to be certainly one of my weeknight go-to meals.
Considered one of my favourite pasta recipes is that this dish impressed by the spaghetti alla nerano from Stanley Tucci’s Discovering Italy. Just a few weeks again, I discovered myself with some subpar zucchini behind my vegetable drawer. Considering again to the flavors of that dish, I wished to see if I might improve my zucchini right into a silky clean sauce, brightened up with a number of additional elements I had readily available. And similar to that, this magical lemon ricotta pasta was born. Sure—all due to a zucchini.
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The Present-Stopping Substances
Zucchini. Zucchini is the key star of this recipe, including an additional dose of greens with out anybody ever figuring out.
Ricotta. Creamy and silky, it provides a pleasant richness and clings to the noodles completely. Use the full-fat model, all the time.
Lemons. Lemon pasta is all the time a favourite combo of mine. The lemon brightens up the flavors on this recipe.
Onions and garlic. The bottom of all good issues: aromatics.
Artichokes. Whereas non-compulsory, I like including one thing briny to associate up with the lemon. It retains each chunk fascinating.
Kale. I’m all about including greens to my pasta. If I’m going to eat my greens, I would as effectively eat them alongside some carby goodness, proper? The kale provides this pasta a pleasant heartiness. Plus, it’s a great way to make use of up any wilting greens you might need.
Noodles. I like a bucatini, however use any pasta form you favor.
Suggestions for Success
I do know: nowhere on this recipe’s title does it point out that zucchini performs a key function. However earlier than you suppose I’ve tricked you, sit tight. Simply as some individuals prefer to sneak zucchini into their smoothies (yep, it’s a factor), I like hiding it in my pasta. Why? As a result of zucchini has this magical means to soften down when cooked. And naturally, I like discovering methods to include extra veggies into my meals (see: inexperienced sauce pasta). Bonus: this tips provides some heft to the lemon ricotta sauce.
Finely chop a bunch of zucchini and toss it in together with your oil and aromatics. Let it cook dinner lined, squishing down the zucchini each couple of minutes till you find yourself with a clean sauce-like texture. Add the ricotta and lemon and stir right into a thick sauce that may cling to each noodle. I just like the zucchini right here as a result of it provides this delicate sweetness when cooked down that helps stability out the lemon’s acidity and the richness of the ricotta. Belief me, should you’re attempting to sneak in veggies—for you or your choosy eaters—when you be taught this trick, you’ll by no means return.
The best way to Make This Lemon Ricotta Pasta Your Personal
Whereas I stayed easy with artichokes and kale, there are many choices for customizing this recipe with what you have got readily available.
- Use any greens you want. Spinach, frozen or recent, or perhaps a massive handful of chopped basil on the finish.
- Whereas I caught with simply kale and artichokes, you can additionally add peas, asparagus, chopped zucchini, leeks, and even some cherry or grape tomatoes.
- Toss in a little bit of pesto for an herby kick with the sauce. (This vegan pesto can be excellent.)
- I desire an extended noodle with the sauce to maintain it easy, however ziti or cavatappi could have all these crevices for the sauce to sneak into, so use what you have got.
Whereas I like consuming this pasta by itself, it will be scrumptious served up alongside salmon or with a recent inexperienced salad.
Extra Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
Nonetheless in search of inspiration? These recipes have you ever lined.
Camille’s Lemony Spring Pasta Salad
Ratatouille Pasta
Pesto Pasta Primavera
Miso Tomato Pasta
Scroll on for the recipe, and should you make this lemon ricotta pasta, you’ll want to depart a score and remark under!
Description
A simple weeknight pasta recipe full of recent spring taste.
- 2–3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 massive shallot or 1/2 small yellow onion
- 3 small inexperienced zucchini, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup entire milk ricotta
- juice of 2 lemons
- 1 cup artichokes, chopped
- 1/2 bunch of kale, chopped
- 1/2 pound pasta of alternative per individual (I used bucatini)
- Sauce. To make the sauce, add a number of tablespoons of oil to a big range high pan and produce to a medium warmth. Add the shallot with a big pinch of salt, and cook dinner for a few minute. Add the zucchini, with a pinch extra salt, pepper, and pink pepper flakes if desired. Cowl and cook dinner for about 10-Quarter-hour, stirring each couple of minutes and squashing down the zucchini because it softens so it “melts” right into a sauce. As soon as the zucchini is softened and mashed, add the ricotta and lemon juice. Stir to mix. Put aside whilst you cook dinner the pasta.
- Pasta. Prepare dinner the pasta in line with the bundle instructions. Reserve a cup of pasta water.
- Meeting. Add the kale and artichokes to the ricotta sauce, then add about 1/2 cup of pasta water to the sauce to skinny barely. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to mix, including extra pasta water if wanted.
- Serve. Serve sizzling and high with extra lemon juice and herbs if desired.
- Prep Time: Quarter-hour
- Prepare dinner Time: 20 minutes
- Class: Dinner
- Delicacies: Italian
