Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Printable)

Bright spaghetti coated in creamy lemon ricotta sauce. Ready in 25 minutes. Perfect for quick dinners and light meals.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz spaghetti
02 - 1 tablespoon kosher salt for pasta water

→ Ricotta-Lemon Sauce

03 - 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
04 - 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
05 - 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
06 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

→ Garnish

10 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped
11 - Lemon zest, extra
12 - Freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta in a colander.
02 - While the pasta cooks, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan, olive oil, garlic, black pepper, and salt until smooth and creamy.
03 - Add the hot drained spaghetti to the bowl with the ricotta-lemon sauce. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce coats the pasta luxuriously.
04 - Divide among bowls. Top with extra Parmesan, fresh basil or parsley, additional lemon zest, and freshly ground black pepper.
05 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout and tastes like you spent an hour in the kitchen.
  • The lemon cuts through the richness in a way that feels bright and clean, not heavy.
  • You probably already have most of these ingredients without making a special trip to the store.
  • It's elegant enough for company but easy enough to make on autopilot after a long day.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving the pasta water, it's the secret to a sauce that clings instead of clumps.
  • Add the hot pasta directly to the ricotta mixture, the heat is what transforms it from thick and grainy to smooth and luxurious.
  • Taste before you serve and adjust with more lemon juice, salt, or Parmesan until it sings.
03 -
  • Use a microplane to zest the lemon directly over the ricotta so the oils spray into the mixture and perfume everything.
  • Taste your ricotta before you start, some brands are saltier or tangier than others and you might need to adjust the seasoning.
  • If the sauce feels too thick after tossing, keep adding pasta water a tablespoon at a time until it looks glossy and moves easily when you shake the bowl.
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