Silky Ricotta Pesto Pasta Sauce
Orecchiette is coated in a creamy ricotta-based sauce brightened with lemon zest, pesto, and a gentle kick of cayenne. Black pepper and kosher salt round out the fresh, tangy flavor, while the egg helps create a rich yet lighter alternative to heavy cream sauces—well suited to a quick weeknight dinner or relaxed lunch.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Silky Ricotta Pesto Pasta Sauce, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 15 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 48 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 55
- Heart Health
- 67
- Metabolic
- 29
- Digestive
- 28
- Inflammatory
- 29
- Performance
- 34
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook orecchiette according to package directions, reducing the cooking time by 1 minute, about 10 minutes.
- 2
Meanwhile, combine ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, lemon zest, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Mix until a paste forms. Add hot pasta water and whisk well. Repeat with more pasta water.
- 3
Transfer the pasta to a saucepan using a strainer, letting most but not all of the water drain off. Reserve the cooking water. Add the sauce mixture and turn the heat to medium. Cook and stir until the sauce thickens enough to coat the pasta evenly, about 2 minutes. Add more pasta water if the sauce gets too thick. Stir in pesto. Taste and season as desired. Transfer the pasta to a warm bowl.
- Calories 285.41 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 10.23 g Good Source 20%
- Carbohydrate 45.2 g 16%
- Total Fat 7.32 g Moderate 9%
- Saturated Fat 1.94 g Moderate 10%
- Trans Fat 0.06 g High --
- Cholesterol 66.35 mg High 22%
- Sodium 133.37 mg Moderate 6%
- Dietary Fiber 3.47 g Moderate 12%
- Total Sugars 2.34 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 68.2 mg Low Source 5%
- Iron 1.35 mg Low Source 8%
- Potassium 241.62 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 44.61 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 15.89 mg Moderate 18%
- Vitamin D 0.28 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Silky Ricotta Pesto Pasta Sauce is made with 8 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Eggs, and Lemon. Each serving provides about 285.41 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Silky Ricotta Pesto Pasta Sauce made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Eggs, Lemon, Orecchiette. The full list of 8 is above.
- How long does it take to make Silky Ricotta Pesto Pasta Sauce?
- About 30 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 285.41 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Silky Ricotta Pesto Pasta Sauce easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 8 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is Silky Ricotta Pesto Pasta Sauce healthy?
- Silky Ricotta Pesto Pasta Sauce has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 285.41 calories and 10.23 g of protein, or 20% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 133.37 mg (6% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 1.94 g (10% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Tree Nuts, Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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