Description
Creamy tomato ricotta pasta emerges as a delightful Italian-inspired dish blending fresh ingredients with simple techniques. Pasta lovers will appreciate its rich flavors and elegant simplicity, bringing Mediterranean comfort directly to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
- 1 (14 oz/397 g) can crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup pasta water (reserved from boiling pasta)
- 1 teaspoon salt (for boiling water)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a capacious pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta until al dente, periodically checking texture. Reserve a portion of starchy cooking liquid before draining completely.
- Sauce Foundation: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature. Quickly sauté minced garlic, releasing its aromatic profile without scorching. Introduce crushed tomatoes, incorporating salt, cracked pepper, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning for a robust flavor profile.
- Sauce Development: Simmer tomato mixture, stirring intermittently to prevent burning. Allow sauce to reduce and intensify, approximately 5 minutes. Reduce heat to lowest setting.
- Creamy Integration: Whisk ricotta and Parmesan into the simmering sauce until achieving a harmonious, velvety consistency. Adjust texture by gradually adding reserved pasta water, creating a luxurious sauce that clings effortlessly to pasta.
- Final Assembly: Gently toss pasta directly into the sauce, ensuring each strand becomes completely enrobed in the vibrant mixture. Garnish with freshly torn basil leaves and an additional Parmesan dusting before presenting to eager diners.
Notes
- Manage Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just shy of al dente to prevent overcooking when mixed with sauce, ensuring a perfectly tender bite.
- Prevent Sauce Separation: Whisk ricotta gradually and maintain low heat to prevent cheese from curdling or becoming grainy in the sauce.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes for personalized heat – start with a pinch for mild warmth or increase for a spicier kick.
- Enhance Dietary Adaptations: Swap regular pasta for gluten-free varieties, use dairy-free ricotta alternatives, or incorporate plant-based Parmesan for vegan preferences.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg