Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Peas (Printable)

Creamy lemon ricotta pasta with fresh peas, perfect for warm weather.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz pasta (such as spaghetti, linguine, or penne)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
03 - Zest of 1 lemon
04 - Juice of 1 lemon
05 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced

→ Dairy

06 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
07 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Herbs & Extras

08 - 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, finely chopped (plus extra for garnish)
09 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the peas to the boiling pasta water.
02 - In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, half of the Parmesan, and chopped mint. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and peas. Add the hot pasta and peas directly to the bowl with the ricotta mixture. Toss well, adding reserved cooking water a little at a time until the sauce is creamy and coats the pasta.
04 - Serve immediately, sprinkled with the remaining Parmesan and extra mint leaves.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This dish brings the vibrancy of spring right to your table.
  • The creamy ricotta mixed with fresh herbs makes it a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
02 -
  • Overcooking the pasta can turn it mushy; aim for that perfect al dente.
  • The secret to a creamy sauce lies in the reserved cooking water—use it wisely!
03 -
  • Save some pasta cooking water for the creamiest sauce.
  • Using fresh herbs over dried significantly enhances the flavor profile.
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