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Fresh Green Pesto Pasta with Lemon Ricotta Cream

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Fresh Green Pesto Pasta With Lemon Ricotta Cream makes me swoon. It’s is the perfect way to get a fresh taste of summer using winter ingredients during chilly months.

We are right smack in the middle of that time when baby greens, herbs and veggies have started emerging from the earth; but the days are still cool enough that you want a little comfort food every once in a while. A flavorful pasta with a bit of creaminess is just the thing.

Pasta and pesto is made even better with a dollop of lemon cream.

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What is Classic Pesto

I love making pesto in the summer when there is basil growing everywhere. My go-to recipe for Classic Pesto is very straightforward. I use just basil, some pine nuts, Parmesan and garlic in the right amounts for a fresh summer sauce. In these cooler months I mix up the greens and use only a little basil for flavor. It isn’t growing in the garden right now and can get a little pricey.

Fresh green pesto pasta is made with simple ingredients.

How to make winter pesto:

I mix the basil with some flat-leaf parsley and baby spinach. Both have lovely, simple flavors but add an herby green punch that’s just right for pasta. Frozen peas, available and tasty all year, add some sweetness to the sauce since I don’t have all the lovely basil going on. Raw almonds give the sauce that great texture in place of the pine nuts and lemon juice adds brightness.

What is the best food processor?

I really like this food processor. If you don’t already have one, I’d suggest this honey. It’s the perfect size for my NY apartment, while still being big enough to blend my pestos, my pie crusts and hold a decent batch of hummus.

Citrus like lemons adds a bright freshness to a sweet and savory cream topping for this fresh green pesto pasta.

The ricotta cream is a home run for this dish. Oh my, it’s delicious! If you save a little to the side it’s so perfect on toasted French bread the next day. Just two flavors, lemon zest and pepper, make this dollop of cream genius. Spoon a bit on top of each serving of pesto pasta and with every twirl of your fork the creaminess mixes in.

Other uses for this delicious pesto:

If you are just using half of the pesto for dinner (little kid portions aren’t as big as the recipe yield), it keeps in a covered container for about a week. Spread it on sandwiches or serve it on top of chicken other nights.

5 from 2 votes
Winter pesto spaghetti with lemon ricotta
Print
Fresh Green Pesto Pasta with Lemon Ricotta Cream
Work Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
A dollop of creamy ricotta tops a swirl of spaghetti that’s been tossed with rich, green pesto. Be sure to cook your pasta in generously salted water for the best flavor all around.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Fresh Green Pesto Pasta Lemon Ricotta cream
Yield: 4 Servings
Calories: 911 kcal
Ingredients
For the Lemon Ricotta:
  • 1 cup ricotta
  • ¼ cup whipping cream
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
For the pesto pasta:
  • 1 cup packed flat leaf parsley tough stems removed
  • 1 cup packed baby spinach leaves
  • ½ cup basil leaves
  • ½ cup frozen peas thawed
  • ⅓ cup raw almonds
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound spaghetti noodles cooked and drained
Instructions
  1. Combine the ricotta, cream, lemon zest and pepper in a bowl and whip with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about a minute. Set aside.
  2. In a food processor combine parsley, spinach, basil, peas, almonds, lemon juice, garlic and salt. Pulse until finely chopped. Drizzle in olive oil while pulsing and mix the pesto until quite smooth and combined.
  3. Toss pesto with hot, drained pasta and divide between bowls. Add a dollop of Lemon Ricotta on top of each bowl and garnish with extra lemon zest and pepper.
Recipe Notes

My go-to recipe for Classic Pesto is very straightforward. I use just basil, some pine nuts, Parmesan and garlic in the right amounts for a fresh summer sauce. In these cooler months I mix up the greens and use only a little basil for flavor.

Nutrition Facts
Fresh Green Pesto Pasta with Lemon Ricotta Cream
Amount Per Serving
Calories 911 Calories from Fat 432
% Daily Value*
Fat 48g74%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 51mg17%
Sodium 371mg16%
Potassium 590mg17%
Carbohydrates 94g31%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 26g52%
Vitamin A 2755IU55%
Vitamin C 31.5mg38%
Calcium 230mg23%
Iron 3.8mg21%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Fresh green pesto pasta success. Your family will clean their plates!

Recipe, food styling, prop styling by Tara Teaspoon. Photography Ty Mecham. Originally appeared on Iheartnaptime.net.

Spring pesto pasta with ricotta cream pin
Pesto pasta with lemon ricotta cream pin

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Who says basil isn’t growing right now? 😛 I have a pot of it growing in my house! lol. I should make this, it looks so creamy and delicious! And I love that lemon ricotta- YUM!

    Reply

  7. This recipe sounds fantastic. It’s a keeper for sure. I really love adding the sweetness of the peas plus using the almonds for the nuts. Pine nuts are so doggone expensive we use walnuts which could be the nut in this recipe too. Thank you for the inspiration!!

    Reply

  13. I used my go-to pesto recipe with your lemon ricotta recipe. What a great combination of flavors! This was a big hit in my family, and one we will definitely do again as we love pesto. Next time I will try your pesto recipe, too. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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