Bucatini with Marinara Sauce & Herb-Whipped Ricotta
I love the warm, fuzzy feeling of dining at an Italian trattoria with this super-easy recipe. The creamy ricotta paired with the freshness of the basil and salty Parmesan will leave you glad you’ve made enough for leftovers! Keep a batch of the herb whipped ricotta on hand for a delicious toast topping at breakfast. You can substitute the bucatini for spaghetti.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- Bucatini pasta, 4 servings
- 12 oz (340g) whole milk ricotta cheese
- 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp fresh basil, roughly chopped
- 2 Tbsp fresh or dried thyme
- 2 garlic cloves
- Salt, to taste
- Easy, Homemade Marinara Sauce (or your favorite store-bought marinara sauce)
Instructions
- In a food processor or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, fresh basil, thyme, garlic cloves, and 2 Tbsp of the olive oil. Pulse until the ingredients are well combined and the ricotta is light and fluffy. Refrigerate the whipped ricotta while you prepare the rest of the meal to let the flavors meld together.
- Fill a large pot with water, season heavily with salt, and bring to a boil. Add the bucatini pasta and cook until al dente, about 12-14 minutes. Drain the pasta, toss with 1 Tbsp of the olive oil to prevent sticking, and cover to keep warm. Pro Tip: Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water to adjust the consistency of your marinara sauce when reheating.
- Add the marinara sauce to a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the sauce to a low boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 3 minutes to warm and slightly thicken. Pro Tip: Explore different flavors by adding extra herbs or spices to your marinara sauce.
- Divide the cooked bucatini among serving bowls. Spoon the warm marinara sauce over the pasta, then top with a generous dollop of herb-whipped ricotta.
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan for garnish.
Notes
Plan ahead:
-
Prepare the whipped ricotta the day before and store it in an airtight container in the fridge
Component cooking: Serve bucatini, marinara sauce, and whipped ricotta separately, with a small bowl of shaved Parmesan on the side for kids to add later.
Shortcuts: You can buy premade whipped ricotta in some stores, but I find it usually lacks the light and airy texture of a homemade one! You can also purchase a premade marinara sauce if you so desire!
Trades & Add-Ons:
- Marinara sauce alternatives: Swap out your sauce for a regular family favorite, or switch up the dish with alternative flavors for a twist on this simple family recipe!
- Vegan: Simply switch out the cheeses for vegan alternatives and search for a vegan-friendly pasta.
- Dairy free: you should be able to find a vegan ricotta alternative.
- Gluten-free: Use GF pasta.
