One Pan Creamy Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Dinner in one pan, 10 minutes and it's super easy and creamy? My friend, you can have it all. Make a pan of lemon ricotta pasta for a super fresh and simple weeknight meal good enough for any occasion.
Servings 3
Ingredients
- ½ lb long fusilli pasta sometimes called fusilli buco; cavatappi or any long strand pasta works too
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 shallot minced
- 15 oz. whole milk ricotta or homemade ricotta; room temperature
- 2 cups Romano cheese grated
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- 1 tsp kosher salt to start, plus more for shallots
- ½ tsp ground black pepper plus more for shallots
- ½ cup fresh basil
Instructions
- Boil water for pasta. Salt the water generously and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente.½ lb long fusilli pasta
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta and set aside.
- Return the same pot to medium heat and heat the olive oil. Once heated and shimmering, saute the diced shallots, seasoning a bit with a pinch of salt and pepper.1 T olive oil, 1 shallot minced, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the ricotta. Keep stirring while adding in the pasta water a little at a time to make a thick creamy sauce. Use about half of the water as needed.15 oz. whole milk ricotta
- Stir in the parmesan cheese, whisking until incorporated.Add in the lemon juice and zest. Season with remaining salt and pepper.2 cups Romano cheese, 1 lemon
- Toss the pasta and basil in the pan with the sauce and add more pasta water if needed. Serve immediately with extra parmesan and big cracks of black pepper.½ cup fresh basil
Notes
Have all of your ingredients at room temperature and ready to go. Work quickly so the sauce won't cool too quickly. If your pasta water cools, pop it into the microwave for a bit to bring it back up to temperature.
Make sure to remove the pot from the heat before stirring in both the ricotta and the parmesan to avoid clumping.
Mix in a little pasta water along with the lemon juice if you are worried about curdling.
