Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Spinach
This Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Spinach is a quick, creamy weeknight pasta made with whole-milk ricotta, fresh spinach, garlic, Parmesan, and bright lemon zest. An easy lemon pasta recipe that comes together in about 20 minutes, creamy without cream.
Ingredients
- 220 g spaghetti pasta or linguine, penne, fusilli.
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil plus extra for drizzling
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes plus more for garnish
- 200 g fresh baby spinach washed
- 250 g whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 50 g grated parmesan cheese plus extra to serve
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt plus more as needed
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring, until just wilted.
- In a bowl, mix the ricotta, grated Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, kosher salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the spinach, then spoon in the ricotta mixture and toss to coat.
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water as needed and toss until the sauce becomes creamy and evenly coats the pasta.
- Remove from the heat, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve with extra Parmesan, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Notes
Creamy Without Cream: I like using whole-milk ricotta and pasta water to create a silky sauce without adding heavy cream.
Spinach Timing: I add the spinach just until wilted so it stays bright and fresh, not watery.
Finishing Touch: I always finish this vegetarian lemon pasta recipe with extra lemon zest and olive oil for a fresh, polished result.
Nutrition
Calories: 634kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 810mg | Potassium: 680mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 6818IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 411mg | Iron: 3mg
