This fresh and light Instant Pot pasta is a perfect example of how to enjoy Italian cuisine in a healthy way. Made with nutritious ingredients such as protein and calcium-rich ricotta, spinach and lemon, it’s a dish is that is both tasty and easy to prepare.
With the popularity of Whole30 and keto diets, traditional staples like pasta and rice often get shunned in favour of lower carbohydrate foods. However, these affordable staples can still make an appearance in a healthy meal plan. The key is to use a lot of nutritious ingredients and fresh produce with pasta and rice serving a delivery vehicle.
This Instant Pot pasta with ricotta, lemon and spinach is the kind of nutritious Italian dish that you can easily enjoy as part of a balanced, healthy diet. It’s got a lot of protein as well carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals in an easy and fast to prepare one-pot dish that the whole family will enjoy.
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Enjoy healthier Italian cuisine with this delicious Instant Pot made with ricotta, lemon, spinach and cherry tomatoes. It’s light, fresh and nutritious.
Ingredients
For cooking pasta
10 oz / 300 g spiral pasta (we used tri-colour pasta like this)
1 L / 4 cups of water (we use 250 ml cups)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup tightly packed with defrosted spinach OR 2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
5 cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
For finishing the pasta
Zest of 1/2 lemon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 garlic clove, finely diced or grated
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 extra tablespoon of olive oil
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
A few mint leaves or basil leaves, chopped or sliced
6-8 cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
Instructions
Turn the Instant Pot on and add the cooking pasta ingredients inside. Stir through and pop the lid on top. Lock it and set to Manual, HIGH, for 3 minutes. Make sure the top valve is pointing to Sealing. After 3 beeps, the Instant Pot will start to build up the pressure and cooking will commence.
Once the timer goes off, use the quick release to let off the pressure and steam. If you leave it in the pot under pressure, the pasta will keep cooking so you should quick release it as soon as possible.
Open the lid. If there is any excess liquid, strain it while holding the pasta back.
Add the finishing ingredients, including the ricotta and Parmesan cheese, and stir through. Serve with extra fresh herbs and a side salad.
Notes
Ricotta cheese can be replaced with cottage cheese. You can also add a little feta cheese for extra tang and saltiness.
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