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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Main Dishes

    Lemon Ricotta Pasta With Kale (Vegan)

    Updated Jul 2, 2022 by Lori · This post contains affiliate links.

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    This 1-pot lemon ricotta pasta is comforting, nutritious, and perfect at the end of a long day! With kale, garlic, lemon, and protein-rich vegan ricotta, it's a lazy vegan meal you can feel great about. Use any pasta you love, from whole-grain to gluten-free varieties. Ready in 25 minutes!

    Serving bowl filled with lemon ricotta pasta garnished with parsley.

    Sometimes all I want is a quick, easy pasta dish with plenty of garlic and a little tang from cheese and/or lemon. Toss in a green vegetable for good measure, and call it perfect!

    Paired with the easiest, most delicious vegan tofu ricotta, this plant-based pasta recipe totally hits the spot. Garlic and lemon are the key flavors, with kale and tender pasta bringing texture.

    With just 1 pot, 25 minutes, and a handful of ingredients you probably have on hand, dinner is on the table in no time.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to Make Vegan Lemon Ricotta Pasta
    • Substitutions
    • Batch Size
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredient Notes

    Ingredients on a cutting board: ricotta, kale, dry pasta, lemon and garlic.
    • Vegan Ricotta - we really love this tofu ricotta because it's not only healthy and delicious, but ridiculously easy! It's made with firm tofu, plain non-dairy yogurt, lemon, and a few seasonings. You can also see it in action here in this vegan lasagna. If you're not into tofu, almond ricotta is a perfect sub.
    • Pasta - I used a regular penne pasta but any variety you have on hand is perfect!
    • Lemon - you'll need one lemon for the zest and juice.
    • Garlic - 4 or 5 cloves, depending on their size.
    • Kale - I used regular curly kale. Tuscan kale is also great. Try to find a large bunch so there's enough for pairing with an entire pound of pasta. Use two bunches of kale if they're small. Otherwise, don't fret too much about the exact amount.

    See the recipe card below for quantities and printable recipe.

    How to Make Vegan Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Here's the basic flow to show you how quickly this ricotta pasta comes together.

    Two photos showing cooking pasta then sauteing kale and garlic.
    1. Make a batch of this vegan ricotta cheese (5 minutes). Set aside. Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions then drain.
    2. Return the empty pot to the stove. Saute the kale until wilted and dark green, about 6 minutes. Add lemon zest, garlic and a pinch of salt and crushed red pepper. Stirring frequently cook for 2 minutes.
    2-photo collage showing the final steps of combining pasta, kale and ricotta.
    1. Add the cooked pasta to the pot and toss with the kale.
    2. Add the ricotta and stir to combine. Taste and add lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper as desired. Serve warm.

    Substitutions

    • Gluten-Free - any GF pasta you enjoy is perfect for this recipe.
    • Nut-free - in the ricotta use soy, coconut, or oat yogurt. Make sure it's completely unflavored and unsweetened!
    • Soy-free - instead of the tofu ricotta linked in the recipe, use this 2-ingredient almond ricotta.
    • Kale - this dish is also great with spinach, broccoli, peas, and/or asparagus.

    Batch Size

    The recipe is written to use 16 ounces of pasta and a full batch of the homemade tofu ricotta.

    If you prefer to make a half batch of lemon ricotta pasta (8 ounces of pasta), it's easiest to go ahead and prepare the full batch of vegan ricotta. Freeze half of it for later, or use the leftover ricotta in other dishes throughout the week.

    Serving Suggestions

    Garnish - top with vegan parmesan and chopped basil or parsley.

    Salad - a side salad adds freshness to round out the meal. Dress it with our popular fat-free Italian dressing!

    With oil - if you include oil in your diet, add even more richness and flavor to the finished pasta with a drizzle of olive oil.

    RELATED: if you're a fan of lemon and pasta together, try this Creamy Vegan Lemon Pasta!

    Storage

    Store leftover ricotta pasta in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Depending on the type of pasta you use, it may not stand up well to freezing.

    More easy vegan meals:

    • Tuscan White Bean Skillet Bake
    • Quick Vegan Miso Noodles
    • Quick Vegan Sesame Noodles
    • EASY Instant Pot Red Lentil Curry

    As always, I love hearing from you! If you try this quick vegan pasta with ricotta comment below to let us know!

    📖 Recipe

    Black bowl filled with vegan pasta made with kale, lemon, and dairy free ricotta.

    Lemon Ricotta Pasta With Kale (Vegan)

    Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen
    This 1-pot lemon ricotta pasta is comforting, nutritious, and a lovely meal for weeknights! With kale, garlic, lemon zest and juice, and protein-rich vegan ricotta, ricotta pasta is a lazy vegan meal you can feel great about! Use any pasta you love, from whole-grain to gluten-free varieties. Ready in 25 minutes!
    Servings: 8 servings
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 25 mins

    Equipment

    • pasta/soup pot
    • zester

    Ingredients 

    • 1 batch homemade tofu ricotta or 2 cups of your favorite ricotta - tap for recipe; ready in 5 min.
    • 16 ounces dry penne pasta or other variety - use gluten-free or whole-grain as desired
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil, optional, plus more for serving - for oil-free omit or use a splash of veg broth
    • 1 large bunch kale, thick stems removed, chopped
    • 4 or 5 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 medium lemon
    • salt and pepper
    • red pepper flakes

    For serving, optional:

    • fresh parsley or basil
    • vegan parmesan, homemade or store-bought - tap for recipe
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    Instructions
     

    • Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain in a colander and give it a quick rinse with cool water to prevent sticking. Toss and let drain.
    • Return the pot to the stove over medium heat. Add the oil, if using, and kale. Stirring frequently cook until dark green and softened, 6 or 7 minutes.
    • Reduce heat to medium-low. Zest about half of the lemon into the pot. Add garlic and a pinch of salt and crushed red pepper. Stirring frequently cook for about 2 minutes.
    • Add the cooked pasta to the pot and toss with the kale. Add the ricotta and stir to combine. Taste and add lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper as desired.
    • Garnish with fresh herbs and vegan parm, if desired. Serve warm.

    Notes

    Store leftover ricotta pasta in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Depending on the pasta you use, it may not stand up well to freezing.
    Substitutions
    • Gluten-Free - any GF pasta you enjoy is perfect for this recipe.
    • Nut-free - in the ricotta use soy, coconut, or oat yogurt. Make sure it's completely unflavored and unsweetened.
    • Soy-free - instead of the tofu ricotta linked in the recipe, use this 2-ingredient almond ricotta.
    • Kale - spinach, broccoli, peas, and/or asparagus
     

    Estimated Nutrition (per serving)

    Calories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 12gFat: 5gCholesterol: 0mg

    Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.

    Did you try the recipe?I LOVE hearing from you! Comment below to let us know.

    More Vegan Main Dishes

    • Vegan Banh Mi Sandwich
    • Green Curry Tofu With Vegetables
    • Vegan Chili Mac (Instant Pot Option)
    • Vegan Beyond Meat Chili

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    Comments

    1. ShaunD

      July 11, 2022 at 4:44 pm

      Hello yummy!! Easy, refreshing and DEElightful!!

      I had some Rockin Ricotta in the freezer that needed to be used up. This recipe has an option to add basil which my ricotta already has in it. A perfect fit!!

      Reply
    2. Mary R.

      July 02, 2022 at 10:02 pm

      This was such a quick, non-fussy and delicious meal! I made the tofu ricotta earlier in the day, so putting everything together at dinner time was a cinch. The lemon zest and juice really added a lot of fresh flavor to the dish. I also cleaned out my refrigerator by adding some leftover chickpeas and chopped tomatoes, but I did cut back on the amount of pasta a bit to compensate. Thanks, Lori, for a great recipe!

      Reply
      • Lori

        July 03, 2022 at 8:15 am

        I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Mary. Thank you for the feedback!

        Reply

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    Lori Rasmussen, Owner/Creator

    Hi, I'm Lori. Welcome to My Quiet Kitchen where I share easy vegan recipes with a healthier twist. Many are special diet-friendly or easily adapted. I also have a passion for veganizing classic desserts, and sometimes even those get a healthy-ish makeover.

    Learn more about me →

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