Pea & Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Printer-friendly)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz rigatoni

→ Ricotta & Lemon Mixture

02 - 9 oz ricotta cheese
03 - 1 lemon, zested
04 - 2 tbsp lemon juice (from about half a lemon)
05 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
07 - 1.5 oz grated Parmesan cheese
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Vegetables

09 - 7 oz 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 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.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemon cuts through ricotta's richness in ways that feel like sunshine on a plate
  • It comes together in the time it takes pasta water to boil
  • Spring flavors work any time of year when you need something bright
02 -
  • The pasta water is crucial for transforming ricotta from crumbly to creamy
  • This dish waits for no one so have everyone at the table before you toss
  • Room temperature ricotta mixes more easily than cold straight from the fridge
03 -
  • Grate your lemon zest before juicing to make life easier
  • Save extra pasta water in case you need more than you expect
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