On those cold winter evenings when you’re craving something rich and hearty for dinner, look no further than this comforting and rustic creamy ricotta rigatoni.
This was my exact inspiration for this recipe. The snow was falling, it was bitter cold outside and that evening laziness was creeping up on me. I needed a quick, easy to make, yet satisfying dinner for the family and this creamy ricotta rigatoni did the trick!
Ricotta cheese and pasta are like two peas in a pod! When added to steaming hot pasta the ricotta melts into a creamy, rich sauce and sticks to the pasta like glue, coating it like a blanket of snow.
The Parmesan adds just the right bite and the grated lemon zest adds a touch of freshness. A sprinkle of fresh, earthy basil and the dish is complete!
Ingredients
(serves 4)
475 grams pasta of choice
1 1/2 cups ricotta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2-3 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1-2 garlic cloves, finely minced (or halved and removed)
1 tsp. fresh lemon zest
4-5 large basil leaves, finely chopped
1/4 tsp. nutmeg (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
Bring about 8 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. When boiling add 1-2 tbs. of salt, as desired. Add the pasta and cook according to instructions.
*Remove the pasta about 2 minutes before it’s fully cooked when it still has that chewy bite to it!
In the meantime, heat 2 tbs. extra virfin olive oil in a large frying pan on medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned.
Reduce the heat to low, add the ricotta, 1/2 of the basil, 1/2 of the lemon zest, and the Parmesan and stir to combine. Add about 1/3 cup of the pasta cooking water to the ricotta and stir to combine. Let simmer until the pasta is ready.
When the pasta is ready, drain (reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water) then add the pasta directly into the pan with the ricotta.
Stir to combine, adding 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water if necessary to create a smoother, more liquid sauce. If needed, add the remaining 1/4 cup of water. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the pasta is well coated.
Serve immediately, garnished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, the remaining basil and lemon, and a generous layer of grated Parmesan cheese.
Oh this recipe will send me to grocery to buy some ricotta! It looks very creamy and delicious.
Good to know 😉
I love this recipe, it sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing
This looks so yummy! Usually with creamy pasta dishes I like to add some frozen peas in the mix as well.
Funny you say that because it was an after thought for me, lol! They would be perfect in this!
That looks great and easy to make. My kids would love this different twist on a pasta dish in our house.
Yum. My 1 and 3 year olds would gobble this up for sure!
I am all about cheese and pasta. White pasta gives me such a terrible stomach ache so I rarely eat it. But with recipes like this, sometimes I just have to make an exception and have a little.
You can just substitute with gluten-free pasta! Have you tried Barilla brand? Tastes just like regular pasta and has almost the same texture!
This looks so amazing, and you just gave me an idea for my next meal! Thanks for sharing!
Great! I would love some feedback on it 😉
I love all things pasta, but I love finding new twists. This looks fantastic.
Yum! We love pasta around here. My boys will be delighted if I’ll prepare this. 🙂
That looks absolutely awesome! I’m a huge pasta fan and when you add ricotta and basil I’m in Heaven!
This looks so delicious. I will have to make this recipe for my family this weekend. I am sure it will be a huge hit.
Great! If you’re planning on making enough for leftovers I would switch up that ratio of pasta to the sauce (maybe add 1/4 more sauce) so the leftovers aren’t too dry!
I love ricotta cheese with a passion, this looks so yummy!
Nice and light. I like this recipe a lot! Hubby would junk it up with meat 😉 but I’d eat it as is!!
Actually, adding some ground beef would be a delicious option (for meat eaters)! Almost like the mixture you would use to stuff cannelloni 😉
My mom loves to eat creamy pasta. This one looked so delicious in picture. I bet it tastes yummy, too! This is great for quick snacks and easy to prepare.
Oohh you gotta love ricotta cheese!!! This is such a comfort food during cold days…
I love making meals like this for myself. The lemon zest sounds like a great addition!
I think it is…the subtle acidity really cuts through the creamy cheese!
I should not have seen this post until after I ate dinner! It looks so delicious! Yum!!
This looks so yummy! I can’t wait to make it!
I keep looking back up at your photos and feeling hungrier each time! I really want to try this, I am going to poke the recipe under the mister’s nose as a hint 😉
Nice! I’d love some feedback on it!
This basically has everything I want in a pasta meal in it. Why oh why do I have to be low carb right now?! It’s torture!
You could have one spoonful?! lol!
mmm that looks yummy! Its actually something I can make too -I have that stuff 🙂
Looks delicious. I basically LOVE all pasta dishes, but my favorites are the creamy cheezy ones. My daughter would also love this!
My kids too…anything with cheese in it is a hit with them!
yammi.Well this is what i call “PERFECT”. easy to cook , deliscious to eat , and healthy too.I mean what u want more
Yum this looks rather delicious! I’ve never tried this but looks like something my whole family would really enjoy!
It’s almost like a lighter version of mac n’ cheese! You could also mix the ricotta with some tomato sauce!
I love trying new recipes! Definitely adding this to my collection. Thanks for sharing. Looks soooo yummy!
Thank you!
That looks amazing! It’s so perfect for me. I love noodles, and I love cheese. ESPECIALLY Ricotta.
Well then this recipe sounds perfect for you, lol!
looks like a great dish my family would enjoy. i am going to bookmark this page for future reference.. thanks!
Hope you do make it in the future!
That sounds delicious. Growing up in a big Italian household, we ate things like this all the time and I always love them!
Me too…it’s like second nature to whip up a pasta recipe without traditional tomato sauce!