Simple Pasta Dish

My body must be entering winter mode because all I want is yummy linguine shaped pastas. Typically, I try to avoid such foods especially after last week! (saturated with wine and beer, delicious foods and desserts) Whilst browsing the net this morning before the big food shop, I stumbled upon Real Simple's website and an article about 20 simple pasta dishes. Real Simple is a neat magazine by the way.

I took the recipe from Real Simple tweaked it a lil. One, I used linguine instead of penne. I just love the size of linguine and fettuccine too for that matter. Two, I didn't use the exact herbs they suggested. I have some freeze dried basil that I topped upon my pasta dish.The reason I was drawn to this dish is because I just love ricotta cheese, which is the main ingredient in the sauce.

Simple Pasta with Ricotta Herb and Lemon
Inspired by Real Simple
Serves 4
1 box of linguine
1 and 1/2 cup of Ricotta
2 tbs of butter (unsalted, do consider if you butter is salted or not when adding the salt)
2 tsp of salt
1 tsp of pepper
1/2 of a lemon's zest (see photo)
basil to taste
2 tbs of olive oil
Mix ricotta and the butter with a whisk, you'll want butter on the softer side. Add salt and pepper. Cook your linguine, drain, strain, add back to pot and add your oil. Plate the pasta. Add the sauce. Add the herbs and lemon zest. Just a few pinches of each. A simple, light and tasty side dish. You will enjoy;)

Thoughts: The ricotta is served on top the pasta at room temp. The airy-ness to ricotta makes it feel like a light summer side. Still though, in the beginning of winter I was scarfing this pasta down. I recently was awakened to the wonders of the zest, I've only zested with oranges and lemons. I put just a pinch of lemon zest a top that pasta and sauce and man, its subtle and yet perfectly strong.