Description
Unstuffed Spicy Tomato Basil Shells with Whipped Ricotta is a flavorful and satisfying pasta dish that combines jumbo pasta shells with a spicy Italian chicken sausage tomato sauce, greens, and a creamy whipped ricotta topping. This recipe is bursting with bold flavors and comforting textures that will delight your taste buds.
Ingredients
Jumbo Pasta Shells:
1 pound
Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
6 tablespoons
Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage:
1/2 pound
Shallots:
3, thinly sliced
Garlic:
3 cloves, finely chopped
Dried Oregano:
2 teaspoons (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
Dried Thyme Leaves:
2 teaspoons (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes:
1 pinch
Tomato Paste:
1 (6-ounce) can
San Marzano Tomatoes (crushed):
1 (14-ounce) can
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
Chopped Greens (Kale, Spinach, or Chard):
2 cups
Fresh Basil:
1 cup, roughly chopped
Lemon (zest and juice):
1, about 3 tablespoons juice
Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese:
1 cup, whipped in the food processor
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving 1 1/2 cups of pasta cooking water. Drain.
- Sauté Sausage and Aromatics: In a skillet, brown the chicken sausage in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add shallots, garlic, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Cook until caramelized. Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, pasta water, salt, and pepper. Simmer until slightly thickened. Add greens and wilt.
- Combine Ingredients: Toss cooked pasta shells and basil in the sauce. Adjust consistency with pasta water if needed.
- Make Basil Lemon Sauce: Mix remaining olive oil, basil, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl.
- Assemble and Serve: Spread whipped ricotta in bowls, top with pasta and sauce. Drizzle basil lemon sauce over and serve.
Notes
- You can customize the greens in this dish based on your preference or what you have on hand.
- Whipping the ricotta creates a light and airy texture that pairs perfectly with the rich sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Unstuffed Spicy Tomato Basil Shells, Whipped Ricotta Pasta, Italian Pasta Recipe