Did you know that pasta and ricotta have been paired in Italian cuisine for over 500 years? You’ll love how this bright, lemony pasta dish transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy meal in just 20 minutes. The silky ricotta sauce, enhanced with fresh herbs and zesty citrus, creates a perfect balance of creamy and tangy flavors that’ll make you feel like a culinary expert. Let’s discover how this classic combination becomes your new weeknight favorite.
Key Takeaways
- Mix room temperature ricotta with lemon zest, juice, and olive oil until smooth, then toss with hot pasta and pasta water.
- Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, and thyme add vibrant flavor and color when folded into the pasta before serving.
- Cook pasta in well-salted water until al dente, reserving some pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency.
- Total preparation time is under 30 minutes, making this dish perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
- Season generously throughout cooking and garnish with extra herbs, lemon zest, and optional grated cheese before serving.
History
While the exact origins of lemon ricotta pasta remain unclear, this beloved Italian-American dish emerged from the tradition of simple pasta preparations in southern Italy, where fresh ricotta cheese has been a staple ingredient for centuries.
You’ll find that Italian immigrants brought their cherished ricotta-making techniques to America in the late 1800s, adapting local ingredients to create familiar comfort foods from home. The addition of bright citrus flavors perfectly complemented the mild, creamy cheese – a combination that gained popularity in both casual and upscale restaurants!
By the 1980s, lemon ricotta pasta had become a restaurant favorite, celebrated for its elegant simplicity.
Today, you’ll see countless variations of this dish, though the core ingredients remain wonderfully unchanged.
Recipe
This light and refreshing lemon ricotta pasta transforms simple ingredients into an elegant meal. The combination of creamy ricotta cheese and bright citrus creates a silky sauce that perfectly coats each strand of pasta, while fresh herbs add a vibrant finishing touch.
The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and quick preparation time, making it suitable for both casual weeknight dinners and sophisticated entertaining. In less than 30 minutes, you can create a restaurant-quality pasta dish that showcases the pure flavors of quality ingredients.
- 1 pound spaghetti or fettuccine
- 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup mixed fresh herbs (basil, parsley, chives), chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to boil and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, and olive oil, stirring until smooth.
Before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
Add the hot pasta directly to the ricotta mixture and toss well, gradually adding reserved pasta water until the sauce reaches a silky consistency.
Fold in the fresh herbs, season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.
For optimal results, allow the ricotta cheese to come to room temperature before mixing, as this ensures a smoother sauce.
The pasta water is essential for achieving the right consistency – add it gradually while stirring until the sauce perfectly coats the pasta.
If the dish becomes too dry after sitting, simply toss with a splash more pasta water to restore its creamy texture.
Store any leftover pasta water in case you need to reheat leftovers.
Cooking Steps
You’ll want to start by bringing a large pot of well-salted water to a rolling boil for your pasta.
While the pasta bubbles away, mix the creamy ricotta with bright lemon zest, juice, and olive oil in a spacious bowl until perfectly smooth.
Once your pasta reaches al dente perfection, toss it with the luscious ricotta sauce, adding splashes of reserved pasta water until silky, then crown your creation with a generous handful of fresh herbs!
Step 1. Boil Large Pot Water
Fill a large pot approximately two-thirds full with fresh, cold water and place it over high heat.
You’ll want plenty of room for your pasta to move freely as it cooks – a 6-8 quart pot works perfectly!
While you’re waiting for the water to boil, this is the perfect time to zest your lemons and prep your fresh herbs.
Once you see large bubbles rapidly breaking the surface, it’s time to add the salt.
Don’t be shy – you’ll want about 1-2 tablespoons of kosher salt to properly season your pasta water.
The water should taste as salty as the sea! This crucial step will help season your pasta from the inside out, creating a more flavorful final dish.
Step 2. Mix Ricotta With Lemon
While your pasta water comes to a rolling boil, let’s prepare the creamy lemon ricotta mixture that’ll become your luxurious sauce!
In a large mixing bowl, add 15 ounces of room-temperature whole milk ricotta.
Use a microplane or fine grater to zest both lemons directly into the bowl – you’ll want all those fragrant oils!
Now squeeze in the juice from both lemons and drizzle in 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil.
Using a whisk or spatula, blend everything together until you’ve got a smooth, silky mixture.
The consistency should be creamy but still have some texture from the fresh lemon zest.
Give it a quick taste – you want that perfect balance of bright citrus and rich, creamy ricotta!
Step 3. Combine Pasta With Sauce
Once your pasta reaches the perfect al dente texture, reserve a cup of that starchy pasta water before draining – it’s the secret to creating a silky sauce!
Add your hot pasta directly to the ricotta mixture and toss vigorously to coat each strand. You’ll see the warm pasta beginning to melt the creamy ricotta, creating a luxurious base.
Now’s the time to add that reserved pasta water – start with 1/4 cup and keep adding splashes while stirring until you achieve a smooth, glossy sauce that perfectly coats the pasta. The sauce should glide effortlessly, neither too thick nor too thin.
Give everything a final toss with your fresh herbs, watching as the bright green flecks distribute throughout the dish. Your lemon ricotta pasta is ready to serve!
Step 4. Garnish With Fresh Herbs
The finishing touch that brings your lemon ricotta pasta to life is a generous scattering of freshly chopped herbs! A vibrant mix of basil, parsley, and chives adds bursts of color and layers of garden-fresh flavor to your creamy pasta creation.
Roughly chop your herbs just before serving to preserve their bright flavors and aromatic oils.
You’ll want about 1 cup total of mixed herbs – try using 1/2 cup basil, 1/4 cup parsley, and 1/4 cup chives. Sprinkle them evenly over the pasta and gently fold them in with tongs.
The herbs will slightly wilt from the pasta’s warmth, releasing their essential oils and perfuming the entire dish.
Don’t forget to save a few whole herb leaves for an eye-catching garnish right before serving!
Step 5. Season With Salt Generously
Beyond those beautiful fresh herbs, proper seasoning makes all the difference in your lemon ricotta pasta!
You’ll want to be generous with salt at several key stages. Start by heavily salting your pasta water – it should taste as salty as the sea. Don’t worry, most of that salt stays in the water.
Next, taste your ricotta mixture before combining it with the pasta. Add salt gradually, as ricotta’s saltiness can vary by brand.
Once you’ve combined everything, taste again and adjust. The salt will enhance the bright lemon flavor and bring out the richness of the ricotta. Remember that pasta tends to mute flavors, so you’ll likely need more salt than you think.
Trust your taste buds and season confidently – they’re your best guide!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re craving a quick weeknight dinner or hosting an elegant gathering, this lemon ricotta pasta delivers bright, luxurious flavors that’ll impress anyone at your table!
The creamy richness of ricotta paired with zesty lemon creates a restaurant-worthy dish that’s surprisingly simple to master.
Remember to taste and adjust the seasoning before serving, as the perfect balance of salt, citrus, and herbs makes all the difference.
Don’t hesitate to experiment with different fresh herb combinations – mint adds a lovely freshness in summer, while sage works beautifully in cooler months.
You’ll find this versatile recipe becoming a regular part of your cooking repertoire, and your guests will surely ask for the recipe!
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to two days.
