Pasta recipes

Ricotta and pignoli sauce tosses fresh ricotta, toasted pine nuts, mint and basil with rotelle pasta in a quick tomato saute. A creamy Sicilian-inspired meatless pasta dinner.

Ground beef in a garlicky tomato sauce layered with creamy ricotta, stretchy mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan. Classic baked ziti that feeds a crowd without breaking a sweat.

Crostata di ricotta is the classic Italian lattice-topped tart filled with sweetened ricotta, grappa-soaked raisins, bittersweet chocolate, and orange zest. Pasta frolla crust, dusted with powdered sugar.

Asparagus lasagne with a lemon-nutmeg white sauce, ricotta, Swiss cheese, and Canadian bacon. A spring twist on classic lasagna with make-ahead steps for easy entertaining.

Italian zucchini ricotta fritters with garlic, scallions, and bright lemon zest, pan-fried in olive oil until crisp and golden. Crispy on the outside, tender and herby inside.

Extra cheese lasagne layers homemade pasta sheets with ricotta-spinach filling and a triple-cheese mix of provolone, mozzarella, and parmesan. A weekend project Italian classic for six.

Carol's lasagna stacks six noodle layers with a triple-cheese mix of ricotta, cottage, and romano, plus mozzarella and a slow-simmered ground beef tomato sauce. The classic baked pasta done generously.

Stuffed chicken breasts with melty Swiss and creamy ricotta, finished in a brandy-spiked pan sauce over spinach fettuccine. Restaurant-style plating from a single skillet.

Spinach linguine tossed in a rich four-cheese sauce made with ricotta, mozzarella, fontina, and Parmesan. A lighter take on classic Italian quattro formaggi pasta.

Lasagne rolls stuff cooked lasagna noodles with a three-cheese ricotta filling, then bake them under tomato sauce and Parmesan. A portion-friendly twist on classic lasagna.

Homemade potato gnocchi stuffed with your choice of ricotta-basil-walnut or ham and Parmesan filling, boiled and served with tomato sauce. Italian comfort food from scratch.

Three-cheese tortellini filling with ricotta, mozzarella, and cottage cheese, seasoned with mace, thyme, and garlic. Makes 6 cups and freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.

Light vegetarian lasagna with a from-scratch tomato herb sauce simmered two hours, layered with part-skim ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. No meat, no oil in the sauce, still deeply satisfying.

Turkey lasagne with a fresh Roma tomato sauce, ricotta, and Parmesan. Ground turkey browned with red wine and oregano layered between noodles and creamy ricotta.

Amateur lasagna: an easy vegetarian spinach lasagna with uncooked noodles, ricotta-mozzarella filling, and jarred sauce. No pre-boiling needed, just layer and bake.

Freezer-friendly lasagna layered with spaghetti sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan in a disposable pan. Assemble ahead, freeze, and bake when needed.