Ricotta Pea Pesto Pasta is an easy weeknight meal that I’ve been making for years. I start to crave it in March, as I begin to plant peas in my garden and see the green sprouts of seedlings popping up out of the ground. It only takes a few ingredients and about 15 minutes to put together this pasta - a nice, quick meal to get on the table on a busy night.

Make the ricotta pea pesto sauce in a food processor while your pasta is cooking. Make sure to reserve about one cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta. You’ll use the reserved cooking water to help the sauce evenly coat your pasta, and ensure that your sauce becomes nice and creamy.

This Ricotta Pea Pesto sauce is not just for pasta, though! It also makes a great dip for crackers, or a hearty appetizer when spread on crostini. But paired with pasta, it’s a fast and complete light meal (green peas are a great source of plant protein!). You could make it a heartier dinner by adding additional cooked protein, such as grilled chicken, salmon, or shrimp.

Make this Ricotta Pea Pesto for dinner this week, and use the extra time you saved in the kitchen to get outside an enjoy the longer days of spring!

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Original publication date: March 25, 2021 // Photos updated May 7, 2023