Sunday Dinner: Pasta with smashed peas and ricotta

If you're looking for a great warm-weather meal that's filling but won't weigh you down, this recipe for pasta with smashed peas and ricotta is ideal. To make it even better, you could easily make your own ricotta cheese — really!

This recipe is smashing!

Pasta with smashed peas and ricotta

Recipe adapted from Real Simple magazine

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pappardelle, tagliatelle, fettuccine or linguini
• 1 (16-ounce) package frozen peas, thawed
• 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
• 1-1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, pulse the thawed peas in a food processor or blender until chopped (take care not to puree). Add one-half cup ricotta, salt and pepper to the peas and pulse to mix everything together.
3. Drain the pasta and reserve one-half cup of the cooking water. Put the pasta back in the pot.
4. Add the peas to the cooking water, add to the pot with pasta and toss together.
5. Arrange the pasta in a large bowl or platter, top with the remaining ricotta and sprinkle with the chives.
6. Drizzle the olive oil over top. Serve in individual bowls, making sure to distribute the ricotta cheese topping with some in each bowl.

This recipe is smashing, whether or not you make your own ricotta cheese!

More Sunday dinner recipes to try

Whole-wheat pasta with grilled vegetables and sausage
Ballpark chili dogs
Pasta with low-fat walnut pesto