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Close-up view of lemon ricotta pasta with marinara and parmesan.

Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Marinara

mylifeinbalancegroup.com/lemon-ricotta-pasta-marinara/
Bright, lemony penne pasta tossed in a creamy ricotta sauce, then topped with a savory marinara.
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 45 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 6 servings

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • colander
  • Large bowl
  • Large wooden spoon
  • whisk
  • Silicone spatula
  • Small saucepan

Ingredients

  • 1 16-ounce box dry penne pasta (see Notes)
  • 24 ounces ricotta cheese (at room temperature)
  • 1 cup shredded fresh mozzarella (at room temperature)
  • ½ cup shredded fresh parmesan (at room temperature)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • zest from 1 lemon (approximately 1 tablespoon)
  • 24 ounces marinara (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions

  • Fill large pot with enough water to cover pasta. Salt water generously and add dry pasta. Place pot on stovetop and cook according to package instructions, until pasta is just al dente (usually 1 to 2 minutes less than cook time on packaging).
  • Once pasta is cooked to al dente, scoop 1 cup of pasta water out of pot and set aside. Pour remaining pasta water and pasta through colander and drain pasta well. Return pasta to large pot and set aside.
  • Add ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, lemon zest, and salt to large bowl. Use large spoon to stir ingredients together until combined.
  • Add ricotta mixture to large pot with penne pasta. Place pasta over medium-low heat and stir frequently until ricotta sauce is creamy and pasta is fully coated.
  • Add reserved pasta water in 1 tablespoon increments, stirring well between each addition, until sauce is thinned to desired consistency.
  • While pasta and ricotta sauce cook together, warm marinara in small saucepan over medium heat.
  • Once marinara is warmed through, and pasta and ricotta sauce are as desired, divide pasta evenly into serving bowls. Top each bowl with approximately ½ cup marinara sauce and serve warm.

Recipe Notes

  • Penne Pasta: Feel free to use any type of pasta you like best here. Gluten-free, zucchini-based penne, chickpea penne, cauliflower penne, etc. Just be sure to cook your specific penne according to the package instructions.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 646calProtein: 31gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 727mgPotassium: 644mgTotal Carbs: 66gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gNet Carbs: 61gVitamin A: 702IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 470mgIron: 4mg
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://mylifeinbalancegroup.com/lemon-ricotta-pasta-marinara/