Lemon Ricotta High-Protein Fusilli

This lemon ricotta–style pasta is creamy, bright, and cozy, but with a little protein boost that keeps it feeling balanced and satisfying! It’s inspired by classic Italian lemon ricotta pasta, with a simple cottage cheese swap that adds extra protein without changing the flavor or texture. Trust me, you can’t taste it!

Perfect for an Italian night at home when you want comfort food that still fits into a balanced lifestyle.

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

Pasta

• 1 (12-oz) box Brami fusilli pasta

Lemon Ricotta–Style Sauce

• 1 cup Good Culture double-creamed cottage cheese (or any cottage cheese of your choice!)

• ½ cup part-skim ricotta cheese

• Zest of 1 large lemon

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 1–2 cloves garlic

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

To Finish

• 4 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• ½–¾ cup reserved pasta water

• Fresh basil, torn

• Olive oil (very minimal, just for finishing)

• Red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta
   Bring a large pot of water to a boil. THEN SALT once it’s boiling! Cook Brami fusilli according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of pasta water.

2. Blend the sauce
   In a blender or food processor, combine the cottage cheese, ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.

3. Warm the sauce gently
   Set the drained pasta aside, and add sauce to the pan over lowwww heat. Add the pasta water to the blended sauce slowly until you reach desired consistency. This is SO important to do this over low heat and SLOW or your cottage cheese will separate!
   Stir in the pasta gently until the sauce coats the pasta and becomes silky. Add more pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
   Important: not let it boil!!

4. Finish the pasta
   Stir in 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese until melted and glossy. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.

5. Serve
   Finish with fresh basil, more of the parmesan, cracked black pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), and a very light drizzle of olive oil.

Tips for Best Results

• Lemon zest adds most of the flavor, don’t skip it

• Always warm the sauce gently to keep it smooth

• Pasta water is key for a silky, restaurant-style finish

• Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best texture and flavor!!

Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Calories: ~455

• Protein: ~30g

• Carbs: ~60g

• Fat: ~14g

• Fiber: ~9g

Macros are estimates and will vary based on brands and portions used.