Rigatoni with Ricotta-Sage Pesto
Sage can be either too bitter or too faint, but satisfyingly bold when gently cooked with creamy ricotta.
- Makes4 servings
- Cook Time40 minutes
This ricotta-based pesto gets its pale green hue from an abundance of parsley. Its deep flavor comes from sage that has been gently cooked in olive oil. We employed the microwave to make the sage–oil infusion because it does the job quickly. But take care not to overheat the mixture or both the sage and the oil will become bitter. The ideal pasta for this dish is a short, tubular shape with ridges that catch the pesto; we liked rigatoni and penne rigate.
Don’t cook the pasta before preparing the pesto, as the pasta must be hot when tossed with the sauce. Also, don't forget to reserve 1 cup of the cooking water before draining the pasta; you'll need to add at least some of it to the pasta and pesto as you toss them together.
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