Description
This creamy, lemony pasta dish is a quick and delicious way to elevate your weeknight dinner. Featuring smooth ricotta, fresh spinach, toasted pine nuts, and bright citrus, this recipe is easy to make, naturally vegetarian, and full of flavor. Whether you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, a satisfying lunch, or a healthy snack, this easy recipe delivers comfort and freshness in every bite. It’s a great addition to your list of quick meals, pasta recipes, and food ideas that everyone will love.
Ingredients
1 lb spaghetti or pasta of choice
1 cup ricotta cheese
5 oz fresh spinach
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until golden, about 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
3. In the same skillet, heat olive oil and sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
4. In a large bowl, mix ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add a splash of pasta water if needed to thin it.
5. Toss the cooked pasta with the sautéed spinach and ricotta mixture. Gradually add pasta water until the sauce coats the pasta.
6. Top with toasted pine nuts, more Parmesan, red pepper flakes if using, and lemon zest or slices for garnish. Serve warm.
Notes
Drain ricotta for 10–15 minutes if it looks watery so the sauce stays creamy.
Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest flavor.
Toast pine nuts carefully because they burn quickly but add essential nutty flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 25mg