Ricotta Spinach Pesto Pasta (Print Version)

Creamy pasta with spinach, basil pesto, and ricotta cheese for a fast, flavorful Italian dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 ounces short pasta such as penne, fusilli, or rigatoni
02 - 1 tablespoon salt for pasta water

→ Pesto and Sauce

03 - 3.5 ounces baby spinach, washed
04 - 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
05 - 2 cloves garlic
06 - 1/3 cup pine nuts or substitute walnuts
07 - 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
08 - 7 ounces ricotta cheese
09 - 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
11 - Salt, to taste
12 - Black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - Additional grated Parmesan cheese
14 - Fresh basil leaves
15 - Cracked black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - While the pasta cooks, combine spinach, basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
03 - Add ricotta, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. With the motor running, gradually drizzle in olive oil. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
04 - Return the drained pasta to the pot. Add the pesto-ricotta sauce and a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss over low heat until the pasta is evenly coated and the sauce is silky. Add more pasta water as needed for a creamy consistency.
05 - Serve immediately. Garnish each portion with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, and cracked black pepper as desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Quick and easy for weeknight dinners
  • Utterly creamy without being heavy
  • Uses simple wholesome ingredients found in most pantries
  • Delivers restaurant-worthy flavor with little effort
02 -
  • A perfect vegetarian meal packed with protein and fiber
  • Easily adapts for gluten free or nut free diets
  • Wonderful served warm or at room temperature for picnics
03 -
  • Use pasta cooking water to adjust sauce texture and help it cling better
  • Always choose fresh herbs for a brighter fuller taste
  • Do not skip toasting nuts for maximum flavor
  • Reserve that pasta water It transforms the sauce making it silky and helping it stick to every bite I learned after a few lackluster bowls that this trick is the true make or break for creamy pasta perfection

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