This Roasted Tomato and Garlic Ricotta Pasta recipe is easy to make and requires minimal effort, making it an ideal choice for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. The roasting process infuses the tomatoes and garlic with intense flavors, while the ricotta adds a creamy texture to the sauce – resulting in a dish that takes little time yet is very delicious and nutritious.
WHAT IS TOMATO RICOTTA PASTA
Roasted Tomato and Garlic Ricotta Pasta is a delicious combination of roasted tomatoes, caramelized garlic, and velvety ricotta, combined to form a luscious sauce that coats perfectly cooked pasta. It’s a very quick and easy recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner for a whole family.
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
- Tomatoes: Choose fresh, ripe medium vine tomatoes for their juicy and sweet flavor. The roasting process intensifies their taste, adding depth to the sauce.
- Garlic: Whether you go for a whole garlic head or individual cloves, the roasting softens the garlic and adds a subtle sweetness.
- Olive oil: A drizzle of quality olive oil enhances the roasting process.
- Pasta: Select your favorite pasta variety, such as spaghetti or fettuccine. Cook it al dente to ensure the perfect texture.
- Ricotta cheese: The creamy ricotta cheese binds the sauce together, adding velvety texture.
- Fresh basil: A handful of fresh basil leaves adds freshness and balanced flavour.
- Chilli flakes (optional): Add a pinch of chilli flakes to the sauce if you enjoy a hint of heat.
- Parmesan cheese: Garnish dish with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
HOW TO MAKE ROASTED TOMATO AND GARLIC RICOTTA PASTA
Please note: This is just an overview – the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Roast tomatoes and garlic. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Place halved tomatoes on a baking dish and add the whole garlic head, drizzling with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, cover with foil and roast for an additional 10 minutes until tomatoes blister and garlic softens.
Step 2: Cook pasta and reserve water. Cook pasta al dente in salted water. Reserve 240ml (1 cup) of pasta cooking water before draining.
Step 3: Blend roasted ingredients. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves into a blender with tomatoes, fresh basil, chilli flakes (if using), ricotta, and 100ml pasta cooking water. Blend until smooth.
Step 4: Combine sauce with pasta. Toss the blended mixture with cooked pasta in a skillet until evenly coated. Adjust consistency with more pasta cooking water if needed.
Step 6: Season and serve. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve in bowls, garnished with fresh basil leaves and parmesan cheese.
STORING AND FREEZING
To store leftover Roasted Tomato and Garlic Ricotta Pasta, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze the sauce separately and cook fresh pasta when ready to serve. Thaw the sauce in the refrigerator before reheating.
TOP TIPS
- Use fresh and ripe tomatoes: Quality ingredients make a significant difference. Choose fresh, ripe tomatoes for the best flavor.
- Adjust consistency: Adjust the pasta sauce’s thickness by adding pasta cooking water gradually, ensuring the perfect coating for your pasta.
- Experiment with pasta shapes: While the recipe suggests spaghetti or fettuccine, feel free to experiment with different pasta shapes.
- Customize heat level: Control the spiciness by adjusting the amount of chilli flakes or omitting them entirely based on your preference.
You may also enjoy…
Polish Pierogi with Sauerkraut and Porcini Mushrooms
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Dill and Lentil Tortellini Soup
FAQ
Can I use cherry tomatoes instead of medium vine tomatoes?
Yes, cherry tomatoes work well in this recipe. Adjust the roasting time accordingly to ensure they are properly caramelized.
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Absolutely! Prepare the sauce in advance and refrigerate. Reheat it gently on the stovetop, adjusting the consistency with additional pasta cooking water.
Is there a substitute for ricotta cheese?
While ricotta contributes to the dish’s creaminess, you can experiment with alternatives like goat cheese or mascarpone for a different twist. You can also use dairy-free ricotta or cream cheese.
Roasted Tomato and Garlic Ricotta Pasta
2 to 4
servings10
minutes30
minutes240
kcal40
minutesThis Roasted Tomato and Garlic Ricotta Pasta recipe is easy to make and requires minimal effort, making it an ideal choice for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. The roasting process infuses the tomatoes and garlic with intense flavors, while the ricotta adds a creamy texture to the sauce – resulting in a dish that takes little time yet is very delicious and nutritious. Recipe yield 4 small or 2 large servings.
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INGREDIENTS
450 g (1 pound) ripe medium vine tomatoes, halved
1 small whole garlic head (or 4 large garlic cloves, unpeeled)
30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
225 g (8 oz) pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or other type)
Pasta cooking water (adjust to desired consistency)
1/2 tsp chilli flakes (optional)
120 g (1/2 cup) ricotta cheese
Handful fresh basil leaves
Grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves, for serving
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Place halved tomatoes on a baking dish. Cut the top off the whole garlic head, exposing the cloves, and place it next to the tomatoes.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Roast in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, cover the baking dish with kitchen foil and place back in the oven for 10 minutes or until the tomatoes are blistered, caramelized, and the garlic is soft.
- While the tomatoes and garlic are roasting, cook the pasta al dente in heavily salted water according to the package instructions. Reserve about 240ml (1 cup) of pasta cooking water before draining. (Please note: Don’t add the whole cup of pasta water to the sauce, follow the instructions below)
- Once roasted, squeeze the soft garlic cloves out of the skin and transfer them to a blender along with the roasted tomatoes, a handful of fresh basil leaves and chilli flakes, if using. Add ricotta cheese and about 60ml (1/4 cup) of the reserved pasta cooking water and blend until smooth.
- In a large skillet or pan, combine the blended tomato mixture with cooked pasta and toss until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Heat over medium heat until heated through. Add more pasta cooking water if the sauce appears too dry.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed.
- Serve the roasted tomato and garlic ricotta pasta in bowls, garnished with fresh basil leaves and parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
- Quality of tomatoes is crucial in this recipe – choose high-quality very ripe tomatoes for the best flavour.
- To store, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
- For longer storage, freeze the sauce separately and cook fresh pasta when ready to serve. Thaw the sauce in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Ricotta cheese can be substituted with mascarpone, cream cheese or dairy-free alternatives.
- The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Nutrition Facts
- Total number of serves: 4
- Calories: 240kcal
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Protein: 10.5g
- Fat: 17.1g
- Fiber: 1.4g
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WATCH HOW TO MAKE TOMATO AND GARLIC RICOTTA PASTA
Did you make it?
I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
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This was so easy and delicious! My husband and kids loved it!
Thank you Kasaundra! I’m so glad you all loved it!
Just made this for the first time tonight. It was delicious! I chose angel hair pasta which I think was perfect. I did add a lot more seasoning like salt, oregano, pepper, but it was all delicious just the same. I agree fresh ingredients kick this to the next level for sure.
Thank you so much Chevonne!
Easy to follow, no crazy ingredients! Such a good recipe, especially for a beginner like me! Loved it! Definitely going to try more of your things 🙂
That’s amazing! Thank you Jackie!
I made his for my family and it turned out sooo good!
Thank you Michelle! I’m so happy your family enjoyed this recipe!
Just made it for the first time.
Great taste, super easy and flavor is just right with the ingredients on the recipe.
On my tried and true list from now on.
Thank you.
Soooo good. I eye balled everything and pan fried onions and shrimp before returning the pasta and sauce back in. Thank you!!
I made this for me and my girlfriend bevause we are trying to stay on a diet. It was easy and super delicious. Everyone should try it. 🙂
We made this last night and the only modifications we made were to add a couple tbsp of pecorino Romano (our ricotta was understated) and used girelli in place of spaghetti, and it was fantastic and so easy to make.
We’re looking forward to the leftovers tonight. Thanks for sharing this! It’s going into the pasta rotation for sure!
Made it today with cherry tomatoes and ricotta cream (ricotta was super expensive at the market) and it worked just as well. I also used barilla pasta to make the spaghetti and it cooked very fast (~6min). Super delicious and creamy, the roasted tomatoes with the garlic are the perfect combination.
Awesomerecipe Very quick and easy. I should have added more pasta water (my error) as it needed more sauce. Definitely a repeat
Made with my daughter. Added some shrimp and sauce was amazing! Easy recipe to follow.
I just made it. I put more pasta and used rigatoni so I had to add more ricotta, water, and salt , I added too much water on accident and I don’t know why I thought of adding a bit of whipping cream ( not much) but it helped not be so watery. It was tasty.
Is amazing I made it with goat cheese
I thought this dish was fantastic, and everything came out nice and creamy. Will definitely make this dish again. I paired it with sautéed shrimp and it was delish. I think it would also be great with Parmesian chicken if you wanted to add more protein. Will for sure share with friends and family!!
Love this recipe. It has become a weekly staple.
So far, we’ve tried a few different variations and I like to do 1.5x the garlic. Capellini works well with the sauce as does spaghetti.
We’ll be trying your other recipes bc this one is such a hit!
This sauce was amazing! I doubled the recipe with no issues, and added some lightly chopped spinach at the end to get in more veg and served with sautéed shrimp. Next time I might make some mini meatballs or maybe ground Italian sausage as the protein.
I made this tonight and it was good but it felt like I was missing something. Next time I make it I’ll make two or three times the amount of tomatoes. I felt like it was missing some flavor. Probably not enough tomatoes
What can I use instead of basil leaves?
I’d go for dried herbs (like oregano or italian seasoning) or add a little bit of pesto 🙂
This was absolutely delicious! Followed the recipe exactly, using Campari tomatoes. This will definitely be a regular meal in my house!
Oh thank you so much! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Made this tonight and it couldn’t have been better! It was so good! I only added more seasonings to the roasted tomatoes. My Mr. Make It Happen AP seasoning and Italian seasoning along with S&P and used hair pasta.
I plan on grilling some chicken breast tomorrow night to serve on top of the leftover pasta.
Thank you for a great recipe.
Thank you Tammy! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!