We’ve paired a ricotta spinach pasta with a fresh chunky tomato sauce for a healthy, satisfying side or main dish.
Add some hot crusty bread and a red lentil vegetable soup and you have yourself a simple, rustic weekday meal.
The pasta is quick to prepare (30 minutes) and even quicker if you use leftover fresh tomato sauce or your favorite bottled sauce.
The tomato sauce in this recipe (which we use all the time) is a very easy and basic one, but excellent when you use good quality canned tomatoes (like San Marzano), good olive oil and fresh garlic. For this pasta dish, we leave it chunky. The creamy mild ricotta contrasts nicely with the acidity of tomato sauce.
Shortcut
Buy a good quality tomato sauce. I like White Linen from Costco.
Make a fresh no-cook tomato ‘sauce” to use as the topping. Just dice tomatoes and add a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper.
Tailor To Your Taste
Add fresh or dried herbs to the spinach ricotta pasta such as thyme, basil, chives or dill.
We like to add some chili flakes to our tomato sauce to give it a bit of a kick, but you can, of course, leave out the spice.
Add basil or onions to the tomato sauce.
Make Ahead Spinach Ricotta Pasta
Both the spinach ricotta pasta and tomato sauce can be made ahead. Keep in fridge separately for up to 2-3 days. Warm the pasta and sauce separately in a microwave or on the stove. You will likely need to add a bit of liquid to the pasta to return it to a creamier state.
We've paired a ricotta spinach pasta with a fresh chunky tomato sauce for a healthy, satisfying side or main dish.
Prep Time10mins
Cook Time20mins
Total Time30mins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: Cheryl
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Ingredients
1 1/2cupsmall pasta (fusilli, ziti, baby penne)
1tablespoonolive oil
2clove garlic minced (you will need two more for the sauce)
2 1/2cupfrozen spinach (to make 3/4 cup cooked)
1/2cupParmesan cheese, grated
1cupricotta (not light)
1cuphalf and half cream (or milk)
up to 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
1/2teaspooneach, salt and pepper (or to taste)
Tomato Sauce
2teaspoonolive oil
1can diced tomatoes (540 ml)
2teaspoongarlic minced (2 cloves)
1/4teaspoonred chili flakes (or to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
MAKE THE TOMATO SAUCE: Use a good bottled or canned sauce if you want to take a shortcut. Otherwise.... In a medium saucepan, heat olive on medium, add garlic and stir for a minute (make sure it doesn't burn as it will become bitter). Add the diced tomatoes, chili flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Stir. Cook uncovered for about 20 minutes until thickened. Adjust seasonings (and add others if you like).
MAKE THE PASTA: While the tomato sauce is cooking, boil the pasta in salted water in a medium-large sauce pan according to pasta directions for al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
MAKE THE SPINACH-RICOTTA SAUCE: Microwave frozen spinach covered for 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze out water in paper towel. In the same saucepan you boiled the pasta, melt oil over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring. Add ricotta, spinach, Parmesan, cream and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Cook for a few minutes, stirring until smooth. Mix in the cooked pasta. Add a bit of pasta water at a time, if needed, to create the right consistency. Continue stirring until pasta is heated through. Taste and adjust seasonings, keeping in mind the tomato sauce topping.
SERVE: Spoon into bowls and top with a few tablespoons of tomato sauce or pass the tomato sauce on the side. Pass additional grated Parmesan cheese as well if desired.
Notes
Make Ahead: Both the spinach ricotta pasta and tomato sauce can be made ahead. Keep in fridge separately for up to 2-3 days. Warm pasta and sauce separately in microwave or on stove. You will likely need to add a bit of liquid to the pasta to return it to a creamier state.  Nutrition values are estimates
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Ricotta Spinach Pasta with Tomato Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 478Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Cholesterol 65mg22%
Sodium 1073mg47%
Potassium 788mg23%
Carbohydrates 42g14%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 23g46%
Vitamin A 12186IU244%
Vitamin C 16mg19%
Calcium 501mg50%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Other vegetarian pasta dishes you might like:
Tomato Spinach Pasta
This spicy cheesy Tomato Spinach Pasta is a quick and easy vegetarian meal. Melty cheese, tangy olives, tomato sauce and healthy spinach. A simple meal in a skillet.
