Pesto Pasta with Broccoli & Lemon Ricotta

Pesto Pasta

with Broccoli & Lemon Ricotta

20 MIN
+$0.95/serving 2 Servings
Wellness at Blue Apron
Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.
Vegetarian
Our vegetarian recipes contain no meat, poultry, fish, or seafood, but may include eggs, and animal-based dairy products, such as cheese and sour cream, as well as honey.
600 Calories Or Less
All of these delicious recipes come in at 600 calories or less per serving, ideal for those who choose to monitor their caloric intake, without sacrificing flavor. The US Food & Drug Administration recommends a 2000 calorie daily intake for the general population. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.
WW Recommended
If you spot the WW logo next to a recipe, get excited! These recipes factor in calories, sugar, saturated fats, and protein to help guide you toward nutritious foods—while still keeping dinner satisfying and delicious. PersonalPoints™ are assigned to recipes on an “as packaged” basis. To learn more about WW (formerly Weight Watchers) visit our partner’s website at WW.com.
Carb Conscious
Our Carb Conscious recipes provide a balanced approach to carbohydrate consumption by replacing refined carbohydrates from sources like white flour, rice, and cane sugar with high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Our Carb Conscious recipes have 42g or less of net carbohydrates (total carbohydrates minus dietary fiber) per serving, a 25% reduction in net carbs compared to the average Blue Apron recipe served in 2019. Due to the natural variation in size of and contribution of produce in our recipes, some recipes can be badged as Carb Conscious at 45g or less net carbs per serving.
  • No Change
    I don't want to make any changes to my meal View recipe
  • add Prosciutto
    add 3 oz Antibiotic-Free Prosciutto
  • add Prosciutto

    From the Test Kitchen

    This easy pasta gets its verdant color two ways: we’re stirring in tender broccoli (sautéed with red pepper flakes for a lightly spicy kick), then bringing it all together with our herbaceous basil pesto. A spoonful of creamy ricotta—mixed with a bit of parmesan and lemon juice for bright, rich flavor—is perfect for stirring into every bite.
    CLICK FOR RECIPE CARD

    Get Cooking
    • Nutrition
      PER SERVING
    • Calories
      850 Cals (est.)
    View Full Nutrition
    Nutrition Label
    Download
    fresh
    ingredients
    Pesto Pasta with Broccoli & Lemon Ricotta
    Title
    • 3 oz Prosciutto
    • 6 oz Elicoidali Pasta
    • ½ lb Broccoli
    • 1 Lemon
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • ⅓ cup Basil Pesto
    • ½ cup Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese
    • ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
    • 1 oz Sliced Roasted Red Peppers
    • 2 Tbsps Crème Fraîche
    • ¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
    time-saving
    tips & techniques
    Prepare the ingredients
    1 Prepare the ingredients

    Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the bottom 1/2 inch of the broccoli stem; roughly chop the broccoli. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Quarter and deseed the lemon. Roughly chop the peppers.

    Cook the broccoli
    2 Cook the broccoli

    In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the chopped broccoli, chopped garlic, and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes, or until lightly browned and slightly softened. Add 1/2 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the broccoli is softened and the water has cooked off. Turn off the heat.

    Cook the pasta
    3 Cook the pasta

    Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly.

    Make the lemon ricotta
    4 Make the lemon ricotta

    In a bowl, combine the ricotta, half the parmesan, and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Season with salt and pepper.

    Finish the pasta & serve your dish
    5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish

    To the pan of cooked broccoli, add the cooked pasta, crème fraîche, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated. Turn off the heat. Stir in the pesto and chopped peppers until thoroughly coated and combined (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Remove the plastic lining between the slices of prosciutto. Serve the finished pasta topped with the lemon ricotta, prosciutto (tearing into bite-sized pieces before adding), and remaining parmesan. Serve the remaining lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy!

    Tips from Home Chefs

    Prepare the ingredients
    1 Prepare the ingredients

    Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the bottom 1/2 inch of the broccoli stem; roughly chop the broccoli. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Quarter and deseed the lemon. Roughly chop the peppers.

    2 Cook the broccoli

    In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the chopped broccoli, chopped garlic, and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes, or until lightly browned and slightly softened. Add 1/2 cup of water (carefully, as the liquid may splatter). Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the broccoli is softened and the water has cooked off. Turn off the heat.

    Cook the broccoli
    Cook the pasta
    3 Cook the pasta

    Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly.

    4 Make the lemon ricotta

    In a bowl, combine the ricotta, half the parmesan, and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Season with salt and pepper.

    Make the lemon ricotta
    Finish the pasta & serve your dish
    5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish

    To the pan of cooked broccoli, add the cooked pasta, crème fraîche, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated. Turn off the heat. Stir in the pesto and chopped peppers until thoroughly coated and combined (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Remove the plastic lining between the slices of prosciutto. Serve the finished pasta topped with the lemon ricotta, prosciutto (tearing into bite-sized pieces before adding), and remaining parmesan. Serve the remaining lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy!

    Browse Steps
    1 of 5