Quick Rocket and Lemon Ricotta Pasta
A speedy pasta dish to use up rocket before it wilts, with a bright lemon and ricotta sauce.
Total time
25 min
10 prep + 15 cook
Serves
2
Difficulty
easy
Cuisine
Italian
Per serving
550 kcal
P: 25g · C: 60g · F: 25g
That bag of rocket is looking a bit sad, isn't it? Before it goes limp and unloved, let's give it a starring role in this quick pasta. This dish is perfect for a weeknight when you need something fresh and fast. It comes together in the time it takes to boil your pasta, making it a genuinely useful way to rescue those peppery leaves.
Why this works
Tossing the rocket into the hot pasta and sauce at the last minute wilts it quickly without overcooking. The residual heat from the pasta and the emulsified sauce is just enough to soften the leaves and release their peppery flavour, preventing them from becoming slimy.
Ingredients
- 200gSpaghetti or linguine
- 2 tbspOlive oil
- 2 clovesGarlicthinly sliced
- 1/2 tspChilli flakesor to taste
- 150gRicotta cheese
- 1Lemonzest and juice
- 75gRocketlarge handfuls
- 30gParmesan cheesegrated, plus extra for serving
- to tasteSalt
- to tasteBlack pepper
Method
- 1
Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil for the pasta. Add the spaghetti and cook according to packet instructions until al dente.
- 2
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan or wok over a medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and chilli flakes and cook gently for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant but not coloured. Be careful not to burn it.
- 3
In a bowl, mix the ricotta, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season with a little salt and pepper.
- 4
Just before draining the pasta, reserve about 100ml of the starchy cooking water.
- 5
Drain the pasta and add it directly to the pan with the garlic and chilli oil. Toss to coat.
- 6
Add the ricotta mixture and the grated Parmesan to the pasta. Stir well, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water to create a creamy sauce.
- 7
Add the rocket to the pan. Toss everything together gently for about 30 seconds, just until the rocket has wilted. Add another splash of pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
- 8
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- 9
Serve immediately, with extra grated Parmesan on top.
Tips
- ·If you don't have rocket, baby spinach works well here, though the flavour is milder.
- ·A vegetarian Parmesan-style cheese can be used to keep this vegetarian.
- ·For a richer sauce, stir in a knob of butter with the ricotta.
Variations
- →Stir in some cooked peas or broad beans with the rocket for extra green goodness.
- →Add a handful of toasted pine nuts or walnuts for crunch just before serving.
Storage
This pasta is best eaten immediately. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day, but the rocket may have wilted further and the sauce may thicken.
