Pasta With Tomatoes, Greens and Ricotta Recipe (2024)

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jeanne

I made this today and it's delicious. I used broccoli rabe cause it has a bitter flavor that blends nicely with the sweet ricotta cheese. I also used a can of fire roasted tomatoes which provided a nice bit of heat thanks to the jalapeno in them. Sometimes you have to improvise a bit if you can't find everything in the market.

Lee

I've made a pasta with rapini (broccoli rabe) for years. This is similar. I make the tomato part and then add chopped raw rapini during the last few minutes of the pasta cooking. Mix drained pasta with tomato mixture.

Wordsworth from Wadsworth

Just get a bag of collards or kale from Trader Joe's, chop it up, and throw it in. A ragout is supposed to be peasant food anyway.

Given this has the greens and tomatoes, I hypothesize this could use a salty cheese at the table, like Pecorino romano.

laurie

The only green I had was kale - I cooked it longer and the only herb was some pesto ( I added about 1 1/2 tsp). Tomato was a large fresh one I dropped in the pasta water and pealed and chopped. It was a delicious pasta dish - had a nice acid kick. I will make it again. A very different past dish from my kitchen

Jon

Quadrupled recipe since I had 2 cups of ricotta, but only cooked 2 lbs farfalle instead of 3, seems like a good ratio for me. Halved the red pepper flakes but wish I put them all in. I used broccoli rabe leaves and kale, the broccoli rabe stems are roasting now as a side.

David Hamilton

I loved it. Next time I will use a little less red pepper flake.

JJ

try broccoli rabe?

laurie

The only green I had was kale - I cooked it longer and the only herb was some pesto ( I added about 1 1/2 tsp). Tomato was a large fresh one I dropped in the pasta water and pealed and chopped. It was a delicious pasta dish - had a nice acid kick. I will make it again. A very different past dish from my kitchen

Marrissa

I made this for last night’s dinner with a few substitutions based on what I had in my fridge. I used a Serrano chili, Swiss chard and queso fresco, a Mexican cheese very similar to ricotta and tagliatelle pasta. It was delicious and went excellent with a bottle of Sangiovese. My husband and I loved it and I will definitely revisit this recipe!

Lee

Delicious. Used collard greens as there was no broccoli rabe at the store. Peeled tomatoes by boiling them and plunging into ice water. Used seeds without problem. Next time double sauce and carefully mix with pasta. (Current ratio is too much pasta).

Flufflhead

Followed the recipe except I didn’t have quite enough collards so I added a 1 cup mix of kale and chard from the garden to make the full 5 cups of greens and loved it. A little bit too spicy for the 5 yr old, but she ate it! So I think I’ll keep it the same next time.

Jez

I liked this recipe. I added some sun-dried tomatoes to my bowl (my husband doesn't like them) and thought it was a good compliment to an already delicious dish.

Sally

My over-wintered kale is bolting, so I picked all the tender, sweet budding heads to use in this - it was delicious, especially served it with grated mizithra cheese to add at the table.

jeanne

I made this today and it's delicious. I used broccoli rabe cause it has a bitter flavor that blends nicely with the sweet ricotta cheese. I also used a can of fire roasted tomatoes which provided a nice bit of heat thanks to the jalapeno in them. Sometimes you have to improvise a bit if you can't find everything in the market.

Lynn in Austin

I wish Martha Rose would shop in an ordinary suburban grocery store. The HEB doesn't sell broccoli leaves or nigella seeds or exotic flours - some of the ingredients she has included in recent recipes. I would like to make her food as directed but usually have to substitute more mundane ingredients.

Carol in Brooklyn

She does say you can use collards - and I'm sure you can also sub in some swiss chard or kale - and maybe even some broccoli or similar. I'd think a combination would be nice. Most unusual ingredients can be replaced with something else - or - ordered if you really want to try them. (or - there might be an Indian market or health food store in your area that you've not been to - they might have some of the more unusual things Martha uses.

Jen C

She also suggest collards, which are universally available, and it's easy to sub leafy greens in most recipes anyway.

Wordsworth from Wadsworth

Just get a bag of collards or kale from Trader Joe's, chop it up, and throw it in. A ragout is supposed to be peasant food anyway.

Given this has the greens and tomatoes, I hypothesize this could use a salty cheese at the table, like Pecorino romano.

stuart itter

Not clear. Are broccoli leaves broccoli rabe-would have used that anyway. And, what ricotta should be used-so much utterly bland, mushy stuff sold in supermarkets?

Jen C

Broccoli leaves are from actual broccoli. Most of the supermarket broccoli has been trimmed, but our gram market CSA broccoli often comes with leaves still attached. They're sweeter than rabe.

Christa

I've seen broccoli leaves at my local Whole Foods in the Chicago suburbs, but it's been a while. I snatch them up every time I see them--they're a wonderfully interesting and healthy change from other greens at Whole Foods with which I typically cook. I love broccoli rabe, but broccoli greens aren't as bitter and as assertive as broccoli rabe, although they are a sturdy green.

Lee

I've made a pasta with rapini (broccoli rabe) for years. This is similar. I make the tomato part and then add chopped raw rapini during the last few minutes of the pasta cooking. Mix drained pasta with tomato mixture.

PJ

My broccoli has few leaves. Should the ingredient be broccoli rabe?

Christa

No, you actually want to use broccoli leaves. I've seen them sold in bunches at my local Whole Foods in the Chicago suburbs, but not often and not for a while.

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Pasta With Tomatoes, Greens and Ricotta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to add to plain tomato sauce for pasta? ›

If you're using a plain tomato (marinara) sauce, stir in seasonings to add extra flavor. Red pepper flakes, dehydrated or fresh garlic, dried oregano, parsley, or basil, or an Italian seasoning blend are all good options.

How to make pasta better? ›

10 Tips to Do Pasta Night Right
  1. Use a big enough pot. ...
  2. Use plenty of water. ...
  3. Season the pasta water — ...
  4. Let the water come to a boil first. ...
  5. Stir right away — and every couple minutes. ...
  6. Don't rely solely on the cooking time on your pasta's package. ...
  7. Cook your pasta to just before al dente. ...
  8. Reserve the pasta water.

Does ricotta cheese melt? ›

In other words, the cheese doesn't melt. So ricotta falls in the same category as paneer, halloumi, queso blanco and other cheeses that can be heated without melting. This is why ricotta is such a fine choice for lasagna, stuffed shells, ravioli and cheesecake. It heats wonderfully, but doesn't reduce to a pool of goo.

How to make canned tomato sauce better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Canned Spaghetti Sauce
  1. 1 - Extra virgin olive oil. Adding a good amount of a flavorful olive oil will go a long way in infusing flavor into your sauce. ...
  2. 2 - Fresh garlic. ...
  3. 3 - Meat. ...
  4. 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  5. 5 - Red wine. ...
  6. 6 - Fresh or dried herbs. ...
  7. 7 - Cheese. ...
  8. 8 - Cream and/or butter.
Feb 26, 2018

What can I add to tomato pasta to make it taste better? ›

13 Ways to Make Any Jarred Pasta Sauce Better
  1. Start with the right pasta and sauce. ...
  2. Season with dried herbs. ...
  3. Or flavor with fresh herb sprigs. ...
  4. Double up on tomato goodness. ...
  5. Add more garlic and/or onions. ...
  6. Sweeten and thicken with squash purée. ...
  7. Punch things up with a pinch of chili flakes. ...
  8. Try this secret ingredient.
Dec 9, 2022

What gives spaghetti sauce depth of flavor? ›

Briny ingredients like olives or capers are another way to brighten up your pasta sauce while also introducing texture and depth of flavor.

What is the golden rule for pasta? ›

To be sure that your pasta is cooked correctly, it is enough to follow a few, simple rules. To begin with, you should keep in mind the right quantities. In Italy, the golden rule for cooking pasta is 1, 10, 100 or 1 liter of water, 10 grams of salt for every 100 grams of pasta.

How to jazz up boring pasta? ›

Fresh or dried herbs will also add flavor to pasta dishes.

"I use a lot of parsley, either fresh or even dried," Montillo said. "Oregano, garlic powder, onion flakes, black pepper all work well in a variety of sauces."

What is the secret to perfect pasta? ›

Always bring water to the boil before adding pasta. Otherwise the exterior will start to turn mushy before the center softens. Once boiling, add plenty of salt: about 7 grams per liter of water; this doesn't just flavour the pasta, but also shortens its cooking time.

What gives pasta more Flavour? ›

These delicious flavorings will bring beneficial plant compounds to your meal.
  • Basil. Basil is a flavorful herb and a mainstay in many Italian dishes, including pasta. ...
  • Oregano. Oregano is a culinary herb known for its peppery and pungent taste. ...
  • Rosemary. ...
  • Red pepper flakes. ...
  • Garlic powder.
Apr 11, 2022

Is it better to cook pasta in milk or water? ›

But sauce isn't the only option you can turn to -- cooking your pasta in milk can give your dish a uniquely luscious, creamy texture. Mac and cheese is a prime example of a dish you can try this with, as the water-to-milk swap creates a more efficient cooking process with a richer sauce.

Why do you add an egg to ricotta cheese? ›

For extra creamy ricotta, add in an extra egg, a handful of grated parmesan, and a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella. Eggs help prevent the ricotta from drying out and serve to bind the ricotta so it doesn't become runny. One or more eggs are recommended whether you add the other ingredients mentioned here or not.

Do you have to drain store bought ricotta? ›

If you fail to strain the ricotta properly, excess moisture will find its way into your dish and risk making your baked goods soggy. Cakes and crusts struggle to hold up to the heaviness of the moisture from the cheese. Straining also makes it thicker, creamier, and more potent in flavor.

What does ricotta cheese go with? ›

You can smear ricotta on toast and then top it with almost anything for an easy meal. Try it with corn and scallions, or pesto and tomatoes, or a fried egg. You can also eat it for dessert: top with strawberries and honey or banana and nutella.

What veggies can I put in pasta? ›

Other veggies work, like peas, corn, cauliflower, and cabbage. Onion, garlic, and tomato paste: These provide our base flavor for the vegetable pasta sauce. Canned whole tomatoes: I love canned whole tomatoes for this recipe. After adding them to the pot, I crush them with a spoon so they turn into a chunky sauce.

What is the secret to good tomato sauce? ›

Starting with good quality tomatoes and crushing them by hand offers great flavor and texture later on. The combination of butter and oil releases fat-soluble aromatics and gives the sauce a creamy texture. Slowly cooking the sauce in the oven creates rich caramelization without burning.

What does adding butter to tomato sauce do? ›

The addition of butter helps to loosen and emulsify the sauce, making it smooth and creamy.

How do you make plain pasta sauce taste better? ›

Fresh herbs make all the difference in any pasta sauce, so if you have some lying around, they will really perk up a jarred sauce. Obviously, basil is classic, but thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram, and oregano are all great in pasta sauce. Fresh parsley also makes anything sing, as do chives.

How do you doctor up plain tomato sauce? ›

Before you heat up the sauce, sauté vegetables until they start to brown. I usually keep it basic with onion and garlic, but mirepoix (celery, carrots, and onions) or a few handfuls of sliced mushrooms work well, too. And if you deglaze the pan with wine or stock, you'll leave no caramelized bit behind.

What can I put in pasta if I don't have anything? ›

Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles. Simply melt butter and sprinkle in some garlic powder. Toss your spaghetti or favorite type of pasta in this delightful mixture to create a filling and appetizing meal.

How do you balance the taste of tomatoes in pasta sauce? ›

Balance with acidity

While it may sound counterintuitive, adding a bit of acidity can actually help cut the tomato taste. A squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of vinegar can balance out the flavors and make the sauce taste more harmonious. Start with a small amount and taste as you go to achieve the desired balance.

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