Description
This tomato ricotta pasta is a creamy, flavorful, and beginner-friendly dinner option that comes together in under 30 minutes. With just a few simple ingredients like tomato sauce, ricotta cheese, garlic, and herbs, it delivers big comfort with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 300g rigatoni pasta
- 500g tomato passata
- 250g ricotta cheese
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil, to taste
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add chopped onions and sauté until they’re soft and translucent. Stir in chopped garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Build the Tomato Base: Add passata to the pan along with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so the sauce doesn’t burn.
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce is simmering, cook the rigatoni in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Cream the Sauce: Once the tomato sauce has thickened and mellowed, stir in grated Parmesan and torn basil leaves. Add ricotta and gently mix it in until fully melted and creamy.
- Combine and Serve: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss well to coat. If the sauce is too thick, stir in reserved pasta water a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Let it simmer for another minute before serving.
Notes
- You can enhance this dish by adding sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or grilled chicken for extra nutrients and protein. If you’re out of ricotta, cottage cheese or mascarpone can serve as good alternatives. Use freshly grated cheese for best flavor, and be sure to stir the sauce often to avoid burning at the bottom of the pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 601
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 421mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 48mg