Pasta Recipes with Ricotta: A Collection of Creamy and Delicious Dishes

Pasta Recipes with Ricotta: A Collection of Creamy and Delicious Dishes

Planning a cookout wouldn't be such a fiesta without homemade pasta. Whether you're hosting family gatherings or cookouts with friends, pasta always steals the show. To spice it up, there's a secret ingredient waiting at the front door: ricotta. This creamy, mild cheese enhances any pasta meal and turns it into everyone's favourite!

Are you interested in cooking pasta with ricotta? Check out our curated list of creamy and delicious pasta recipes with ricotta here!

Recipes with Ricotta

Spaghetti Norma

For a classic vegetarian option, spaghetti norma is a way to go. The fried eggplant slices make this dish slurp-worthy. Here's how to make homemade spaghetti norma:

Ingredients:

• Two globe eggplants
• Tomato sauce (marinara sauce):
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 (14-ounce/400 gram) can of plum tomatoes (peeled)
  • Minced garlic
  • Dried oregano
  • Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper
• 8 ounces spaghetti
• Ricotta salata cheese
• Sautéed onions
• Fresh basil, chopped

Instructions:

1. Fry the Eggplant:
   • Slice the eggplants into rounds (about 1/2-inch thick).
   • Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
   • Roast in the oven until golden brown.
   • Set aside
2. Sauté the onions:
   • Thinly slice the onions.
   • Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
   • Add oil or butter to the pan.
   • Cook the onions until tender and lightly browned (about 5-8 minutes).
   • Set aside.
3. Prepare the Tomato Pureé:
   • In a large frying pan, brown minced garlic in a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
   • Add a few basil leaves, the canned plum tomatoes (crushed), and a pinch of salt.
   • Simmer the sauce until it thickens and flavours meld (about 10-15 minutes).
4. Cook the Pasta:
   • While the sauce simmers, cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water until the spaghetti becomes al dente.
   • Drain the spaghetti and put it in the pan with the tomato sauce.
5. Assemble the Dish:
   • Add about 1/3 of the fried eggplant slices to the pasta and sauce.
   • Season with ricotta salata cheese and fresh basil. You can also add spinach for extra flavour.
   • Layer the remaining eggplant slices on top.
   • Garnish with more torn basil leaves and a sprinkle of ricotta salata.

Serve your spaghetti norma warm, and enjoy the comforting flavours!

Tagliatelle Norma

Change your pasta from spaghetti to tagliatelle if you want a slightly more chewy option. Here's how to make homemade tagliatelle norma:

Ingredients:

• All-purpose and semolina flour
• Salt
• Eggs
• Water
• Fried eggplant
• Olive oil
• Minced garlic
• Red pepper flakes (optional)
• Tomato purée
• Sautéed onions
• Ricotta salata
• Fresh basil leaves

Instructions:

1. Prepare The Dough:

• Mix all-purpose flour and semolina flour.
• Optionally, add a pinch of salt for enhanced flavour.
• Form a well in the centre of the flour mixture.
• Carefully crack the eggs into the well.
• Gradually mix the surrounding flour into the eggs.
• Ensure a consistent mixture that forms a cohesive dough.
• Adjust the dough's texture by adding small amounts of water if it's too dry or more flour if it's too sticky.
• Dedicate approximately 10 minutes to knead the dough.
• Aim for a smooth and elastic consistency.
• Wrap the dough meticulously in plastic wrap and rest for at least 30 minutes.
• After the resting period, use a pasta machine or a rolling pin.
• Skillfully roll the dough into a thin sheet.
• Cut the thin sheet into strips to create your Tagliatelle.
• Set these strips aside for further preparation.

2. Fry the Eggplant:

• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet.
• Fry the diced eggplant until golden brown and tender (about 10-15 minutes).
• Remove the eggplant from the skillet and set it aside.

3. Sauté the Aromatics:

• In the same skillet pan, add more olive oil.
• Start sautéeing minced garlic and red pepper flakes for about 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Make the Sauce:

• Purée crushed tomatoes in a food processor or blender until smooth.
• Pour the puréed tomatoes into the skillet with the garlic and red pepper flakes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Simmer the Norma sauce for 10-15 minutes to thicken it.

5. Assembling The Dish: 

• Plate your cooked tagliatelle norma on serving dishes.
• Scatter the fried eggplant over the pasta.
• Sauté finely chopped onion separately and add it to the dish.
• Spoon the puréed tomatoes over the pasta and ingredients.
• Generously garnish with grated ricotta salata cheese.
• Finish by sprinkling torn or chopped fresh basil leaves over the top.

Serve it hot and enjoy the flavours of this classic Italian pasta dish with a twist!

Ricotta Gnocchi Norma

No one can resist the tempting texture of soft, chewy gnocchi. Top it off with norma sauce and win your guests' hearts. Here's a quick recipe of how to make homemade ricotta gnocchi norma:

Ingredients For The Norma Sauce:

• 1 medium eggplant, sliced into rounds
• Olive oil for frying
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 can (14 oz) pureed tomatoes
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Ingredients For Garnish:

• Ricotta salata cheese, crumbled
• Fresh basil leaves

Make The Ricotta Gnocchi:

• Combine the fresh ricotta cheese with gluten-free flour gradually as you mix the dough. The dough shouldn't be overworked; it should be soft and barely sticky.
• On a surface that has been lightly floured, shape the dough into a long, thin rope.
• Cut the rope into bite-sized pieces, then flatten each piece with a fork to create the classic gnocchi shape.

Prepare The Norma Sauce:

• In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Fry the slices until golden brown and tender. Drain the excess oil on paper towels.
• Add a little more olive oil to the same pan and sauté the finely chopped onion until it becomes translucent.
• Pour in the puréed tomatoes and season with salt and black pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sauce is thick and well-cooked.

Cook The Gnocchi:

• Bring a big saucepan of salted water to a boil.
• Gently place the homemade ricotta gnocchi in the boiling water. They are finished when they float to the surface, which should take 2-3 minutes.

To serve, place the gnocchi on a plate and top with the norma sauce. Spread the sauce out and arrange the fried eggplant slices on top. Add crumbled Ricotta Salata cheese and fresh basil leaves as garnish, and voila!

Penne Norma

Here's a delicious recipe for hearty penne norma cooked until al dente:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (about 450 grams) of Penne Rigate (short cylindrical pasta with ridges)
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to your preferred level of heat)
• 1 large eggplant, cut into ¾-inch chunks
• 1 ½ pounds (about 680 grams) plum tomatoes, cored and cut into ½-inch chunks
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½ cup torn fresh basil leaves (plus more for garnish)
• ¾ cup ricotta cheese

Instructions: 

1. Prepare the Eggplant:
   • Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
   • Arrange the eggplant slices comfortably on a baking sheet in a single layer.
   • Drizzle the eggplant with extra virgin olive oil.
   • Roast the eggplant in the oven until tender and golden brown (about 20-25 minutes).
2. Make the Tomato Sauce:
   • Prepare a large pan and heat olive oil over medium heat.
   • Sauté the onion and garlic until softened.
   • Add the red pepper flakes and stir.
   • Add the plum tomatoes and tomato paste.
   • Season with salt and pepper.
   • Simmer the tomato sauce for 15-20 minutes until it thickens and is well-cooked.
3. Cook the Penne:
   • Boil a large pot of salted water.
   • Add the penne and cook it for about 11 minutes until al dente.
   • Drain the pasta and toss it with the tomato-basil sauce.
4. Assemble the Dish:
   • Divide the penne into serving bowls.
   • Top with the roasted eggplant.
   • Sprinkle ¼ of the ricotta and ¼ of the diced pepper over each bowl.
   • Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Serve it while hot, and you're good to go!

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Cooking homemade pasta with ricotta is the best choice if you're looking for creamy, savoury meals to enjoy with loved ones or a quick option for midweek meal prep. If you want to avoid the hassle of recooking our pasta with ricotta recipes from scratch, you can order online at Piccolino Woodfired Pizza and Homemade Pasta by visiting our website. Enjoy!

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