Easy Veggie Ricotta Pasta

Easy weeknight ricotta pasta with peas in a blue bowl with a side of parmesan cheese.

Ricotta pasta is a simple but elegant dinner you can whip up in under 30 minutes. It's an adultier, somewhat healthier version of mac n'cheese that just happens to also be totally kid-approved. The vegetable additions are flexible, but using frozen peas translates to no extra prep, and very little extra time. I love this recipe for busy weeknights when I'm scratching my head thinking "What I can make ASAP?". Ricotta pasta is the perfect answer.

Course Pasta

Cuisine American, Vegetarian

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings

Calories 371kcal

Author Danielle Esposti

Equipment

10" Skillet
Wood Spoon

Ingredients

½ lb short pasta penne, fusilli, rotini, etc.
1 tbsp sea or kosher salt
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 large leek, white and light green parts only halved and sliced into ½" moons
2 cloves garlic minced
½ c full fat ricotta cheese homemade is best
¼ c grated parmesan cheese
1 c frozen peas
¼ c fresh torn basil
cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

Fill a large stock pot with at least 2 quarts water. Add the salt and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook to al dente per package directions. Reserve one cup of pasta water, then drain and return the pasta to the stock pot.
Once the pasta is halfway cooked, prepare the vegetables and ricotta sauce. Heat a 10" skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and butter, and heat until the butter foams.
Add the sliced leeks to skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are soft and the whitest pieces turn translucent, 4-5 minutes.
Add the garlic and sautee until fragrant, about a minute.
Add the ricotta, parmesan, and ⅓ cup of pasta water to the skillet. Stir frequently until the parmesan melts and the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes.
Add the frozen peas to the sauce and heat until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Scrape the ricotta sauce and vegetables into the cooked pasta, along with another ⅓ cup pasta water. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated in the sauce. The sauce should be rich, but not clumpy - add more pasta water, a couple tablespoons at a time, to achieve desired consistency.
Add the fresh basil and cracked black pepper to taste, then toss once more. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed (I didn't add any).
Portion into pasta bowls, garnish with additional basil and parmesan to taste, and serve immediately. Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition