Pea & Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Printable)

Fresh rigatoni coated in a creamy ricotta-lemon sauce with sweet green peas. Ready in 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz rigatoni

→ Ricotta & Lemon Mixture

02 - 9 oz ricotta cheese
03 - 1 lemon, zested
04 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
05 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
07 - 1.5 oz grated Parmesan cheese
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Vegetables

09 - 7 oz frozen or fresh green peas

→ Garnish

10 - Extra grated Parmesan, to serve
11 - Fresh basil or mint leaves (optional)
12 - Lemon zest (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
02 - While the pasta cooks, blanch the peas in the boiling water for 2–3 minutes (add during the last 2–3 minutes of the pasta's cooking time if using frozen peas). Drain with the pasta.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, grated garlic, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy. If needed, add a splash of pasta water to loosen the mixture.
04 - Add hot, drained pasta and peas directly to the bowl with the ricotta mixture. Toss well, adding a little reserved pasta water as needed until the pasta is evenly coated in a silky sauce. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan, fresh herbs, and more lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The ricotta creates this incredibly silky sauce that clings to every piece of pasta without feeling heavy
  • It comes together in the time it takes to boil water, making it perfect for weeknight dinners that still feel special
02 -
  • The pasta water is non-negotiable—without it, the ricotta mixture stays thick and won't coat the pasta properly
  • Mix the sauce while the pasta cooks so everything is ready to combine the moment pasta hits the colander
03 -
  • Bring ricotta to room temperature before mixing—it prevents graininess and helps everything blend into silkiness
  • Grate the garlic instead of mincing so it dissolves into the sauce without any harsh raw bits
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