Description
A creamy, luxurious pasta dish featuring rich ricotta cheese, Parmesan, and customizable vegetable additions. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound long pasta (linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti)
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh herbs for garnish
- Optional vegetables (peas, asparagus, zucchini, or cherry tomatoes)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions in well-salted water.
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
- If adding vegetables, cook heartier ones now.
- In a large pan, combine ricotta, some pasta water, and Parmesan.
- Add cooked pasta and toss until well coated.
- Add delicate vegetables if using.
- Simmer until sauce reaches desired consistency.
- Garnish with fresh herbs and serve immediately.
Notes
- For dairy-free version: Use 1 cup soaked cashews blended with 1/4 cup water instead of ricotta, and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- Best enjoyed fresh but can be stored for 2-3 days.
- Reheat with a splash of broth to maintain creaminess.
- If sauce is too watery, simmer uncovered for 1-2 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, ricotta pasta, vegetarian pasta, easy dinner, Italian pasta
