Creamy Spinach Pasta with Ricotta & Lemon
This creamy spinach pasta with ricotta and lemon is a quick and flavorful vegetarian dish made with tender pasta, fresh spinach, and a silky ricotta-based sauce. Brightened with lemon zest and juice, this easy pasta recipe delivers a perfect balance of creamy richness and fresh, zesty flavor—ideal for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- Pasta of choice (penne, spaghetti, or fettuccine)
- Fresh spinach
- Ricotta cheese
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Garlic, minced
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan and sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, parmesan, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Add cooked pasta to the pan with spinach.
- Stir in the ricotta mixture, adding pasta water gradually until a creamy sauce forms.
- Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
- Toss well and serve immediately.
Notes
Use pasta water slowly to control sauce consistency.Fresh lemon zest enhances flavor—don’t skip it.Stir off heat if needed to keep the sauce silky and prevent curdling.
Find it online: https://cookibly.com/creamy-spinach-pasta-with-ricotta-lemon/
