Description
A delightful dish combining roasted tomatoes and creamy ricotta cheese, perfect for cozy dinners or quick lunches.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 ounces pasta (such as spaghetti or penne)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place them on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes, then sprinkle with minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Toss the tomatoes and garlic mixture together to ensure an even coating.
- Roast the tomatoes in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are soft and lightly caramelized.
- While the tomatoes roast, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions (typically around 9-11 minutes for spaghetti or penne).
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the ricotta sauce by combining the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh basil, and lemon juice in a bowl.
- When the pasta is al dente, reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining it.
- Drain the pasta and return it to the pot, keeping it warm.
- Once the roasted tomatoes are ready, gently smash them with the back of a spoon to release their juices.
- Add the roasted tomatoes and any juices from the baking sheet to the pasta.
- Pour the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta and toss until everything is well combined.
- If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
- Serve immediately, garnishing with extra fresh basil or Parmesan cheese if you like.
Notes
For a vegan option, substitute ricotta with cashew-based cheese and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 30mg