Lemon Ricotta Spaghetti, an actual style of summer season!
This Italian spaghetti al limone with ricotta has a beautiful contemporary summer season style, with an intense lemony flavour. Shut your eyes and you’ll even think about you might be consuming it sitting on a terrace overlooking the ocean on the Amalfi coast or Capri!
So many conventional Italian pasta recipes make use of elements which are actually easy and simple to search out. This spaghetti al limone with ricotta is the right instance of how Italians flip a handful of staple elements into one thing magic!
The key appears to be within the high quality of the elements. Fortunately, these days, Italian produce and merchandise may be discovered all around the world. And even the place it’s not potential to search out the precise elements that Italians use, there are sometimes comparable merchandise and produce obtainable which might substitute the Italian ones.
A recipe from Italy’s land of lemons!
One of many easiest, but most divine, pasta recipes in Italian delicacies must be spaghetti or tagliolini al limone! This recipe initially comes from Campania, extra particularly Sorrento and the Amalfi coast, an space well-known for its lemons and lemon gardens.
Sorrento lemons are usually not solely utilized in cooking however are the principle ingredient of the well-known Italian liqueur limoncello. Italians additionally use these lemons to make granita, sorbet and ice-cream.
Which lemons to make use of for spaghetti al limone?
If you may get maintain of them, Sorrento or Amalfi lemons are one of the best to make use of. They’re very excessive in vitamin C and have an intense perfume. Nevertheless, if Sorrento lemons aren’t obtainable, then natural lemons that are wealthy in vitamin A, B1, C are good as effectively.
Natural lemons are a should for those who’re going to make use of the zest in cooking. The pores and skin of different lemons isn’t actually edible as they’ve been sprayed with pesticides or coated in a fungicide wax.
For UK readers, I’ve made this dish while in UK and managed to search out Sorrento lemons and good Italian ricotta at Waitrose.
Different variations of Italian lemon pasta
Like many different Italian pasta recipes, there are a selection of variations of pasta al limone. Probably the most primary being with simply lemon rind, parsley, olive oil and garlic. Some recipes embody cream and/or butter, which clearly makes the dish creamier and richer.
My favorite is that this recipe with ricotta and basil. The tip consequence may be very creamy however with out the heaviness and richness which comes with contemporary cream, eventhough the latter is scrumptious too!
A no-cook sauce.
This spaghetti al limone with ricotta is a no-cook recipe. In different phrases, the sauce isn’t cooked, solely the pasta. It’s absoluetly excellent as a summer season dish or while you simply desire a fast gentle lunch or dinner. You may put together the sauce a day prematurely and maintain it in a sealed container within the fridge till you might be able to make the dish.
Which pasta to make use of?
In terms of the pasta, each spaghetti and tagliolini are conventional, however linguine are sometimes used too. If you could find pasta di Gragnano, this is likely one of the finest varieties of Italian pasta and comes from Campania as effectively. Gragnano is a city close to Naples that’s well-known for dried pasta. I used spaghetti made by Garofalo, one of the well-known producers from Gragnano.
Is that this recipe vegetarian?
This recipe is definitely made vegetarian through the use of vegetarian parmesan as an alternative of Italian Parmigiano Reggiano. The latter isn’t vegetarian as they make it with animal rennet.
The way to make this recipe gluten free.
All it’s worthwhile to do to make this spaghetti al limone with ricotta gluten free is use gluten free pasta. Many Italian pasta makers now produce this pasta. One of the vital common right here in Italy is Rummo. Nevertheless, Garofalo additionally make good gluten free pasta.
An ideal summer season maincourse or facet dish!
I completely fell in love with spaghetti al limone with ricotta the primary time I had it. And, have made it a lot of occasions. It’s one in all my favorite summer season pasta recipes. Not solely is it contemporary and lemony but it surely’s really easy to make. I’m certain you’ll fall in love with it too! It additionally makes a improbable facet dish with seafood for those who use brief pasta as an alternative of spaghetti.
For those who do make this Italian lemon pasta recipe, I’d love to listen to the way it seems. Please write a remark right here on the weblog or publish a touch upon the Pasta Venture Fb web page.
Your suggestions means rather a lot to me!
Buon Appetito!
For those who like pasta with lemon you might also like this distinctive lemon water spaghetti recipe or this creamy linguine al limone
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This recipe was first printed in 2017 however has been up to date with new photographs and textual content.
Spaghetti al limone with ricotta and basil
One of many easiest, but most divine, pasta recipes in Italian delicacies must be this spaghetti al limone! All you want is ricotta, basil, lemons and grated Parmigiano or vegetarian parmesan to make the no-cook sauce.
Components
- 400 g spaghetti (14oz) or tagliolini or linguine
- 400 g contemporary ricotta (14oz) drained
- basil leaves handful
- 1 Natural lemon medium sized from Sorrento or Amalfi if potential or natural
- 100 g Parmigiano Reggiano (3.5oz) grated or vegetarian parmesan
- Salt and black pepper as required
Directions
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Mash the ricotta cheese in a bowl after which add the grated rind from the lemon (I used all of the rind from one lemon), many of the basil leaves torn into items, a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper. Combine. (it’s also possible to use a blender)
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Add half the grated cheese to the ricotta and blend collectively effectively. If the sauce appears a bit thick, add a touch of milk. It must have the consistency of a dip.
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Cook dinner the pasta al dente, in boiling salted water in keeping with the directions on the packet, reserve a big cup of the cooking water.
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Drain the pasta and return it to the pan or pour it right into a bowl.
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Add the ricotta cream and half the saved cooking water to the pasta, slightly at a time. Proceed to combine effectively till you’ve gotten a creamy sauce. If wants be, add some extra of the pasta cooking water.
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Serve instantly with a sprinkling of floor black pepper, extra grated Parmigiano (or vegetarian parmesan) and the remaining basil.
Notes
Vegetarians ought to use vegetarian parmesan as Italian Parmigiano is made with animal rennet.
Use gluten free pasta to make this recipe gluten free.
Use brief pasta and serve this lemon pasta as a facet dish with seafood.
Leftovers may be stored in a sealed container within the fridge for a few days. I wish to reheat leftovers in frying pan with slightly butter and milk!
If you’re considering studying methods to make selfmade pasta and various kinds of gnocchi, try my store web page for some nice video on-line programs from my pals in Rome! Nothing beats studying to make pasta from Italians! Plus whilst you’re there why not order a duplicate of one in all my pasta recipes cookbook!?
Different nice summer season pasta recipes to strive.
- Pasta salad crudaiola Barese from Puglia
- Vermicelli di Positano from Campania
- Pasta alla Portofino from Liguria
- Casarecce with caponata from Sicily
- Summer time tagliolini with marinated greens
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