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Fresh Spring Pea and Mint Pasta with Easy Creamy Lemon Ricotta Sauce

fresh spring pea and mint pasta - featured image
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A light and comforting pasta dish featuring fresh spring peas, mint, and a silky lemon ricotta sauce. Quick to prepare and perfect for spring meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340 g) pasta (fettuccine or linguine recommended)
  • 1 ½ cups (about 225 g) fresh spring peas, shelled (or thawed frozen peas)
  • ½ cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (250 g) whole milk ricotta cheese
  • Zest and juice of 1 medium lemon
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup (25 g) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (9-11 minutes). Add fresh peas to the pasta water during the last 2 minutes to blanch.
  2. Reserve ½ cup (120 ml) pasta water before draining. Drain pasta and peas in a colander and rinse peas under cold water to stop cooking.
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30-45 seconds until fragrant, avoiding browning.
  4. Lower heat to medium-low. Add ricotta, lemon zest, and lemon juice to skillet. Stir gently, adding pasta water gradually until sauce is creamy and coats the back of a spoon.
  5. Add drained pasta and peas to skillet. Toss gently to coat with sauce. Stir in chopped mint and Parmesan cheese.
  6. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Add more pasta water if sauce is too thick. Keep warm for a minute.
  7. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and whole mint leaves if desired.

Notes

Do not overcook peas; they should remain tender-crisp. Add lemon zest before juice to preserve aroma. Use low heat when warming ricotta sauce to prevent curdling. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Serve fresh as reheating can dry out ricotta sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: spring pea pasta, mint pasta, lemon ricotta sauce, creamy pasta, easy pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta, spring recipes

Find it online: https://avabake.com/fresh-spring-pea-and-mint-pasta-recipe-easy-creamy-lemon-ricotta-sauce/