Linguine with ricotta and radicchio

Name: Linguine with ricotta and radicchio
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Linguine pasta 11.3 oz; Radicchio long 1.1 lbs; Cow's milk ricotta cheese 0.6 cup; Orange juice 5 tbsp; Orange peel to taste; Garlic 1 clove; Extra virgin olive oil to taste; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste

it es fr de br

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Serving: 4
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Lulù Gargari

Linguine with ricotta and radicchio is a beloved dish from the beautiful region of Veneto in Italy. It really showcases what Italian food does best—keeping things simple and packing in flavor. And look, with its mix of tender pasta and those strips of radicchio lungo, this ricotta and radicchio pasta brings a really nice combo of textures. The creamy ricotta just melts in, taking off the radicchio’s slight bitterness edge.

Plus, the surprise? A bit of fresh orange zest and juice mixed in—it's a zesty, bright kick that wakes up the flavors. And you know what? Folks in Veneto love using local, seasonal produce for recipes like this. You can taste the difference in every bite—the radicchio keeps its crisp bite, while the ricotta smooths things out. Honestly, it’s a classic Italian first course or "primo piatto," but it's so satisfying you might not even want a second plate. Seriously.

When spring and early summer roll around, and radicchio is all over northern Italy, this linguine with ricotta and radicchio becomes a go-to meal. Perfect for busy weeknights or quick get-togethers with friends. I mean, people appreciate how this radicchio and ricotta linguine doesn’t take much time. Yet the flavors feel special, just a bit different from the usual tomato or pesto pasta. And the orange zest on top? Brings a light, almost fragrant finish that makes everything taste fresh.

Compared to other vegetarian linguine recipes, this one stands out for how the sweet ricotta and bitter radicchio balance each other. The orange rounds things off. So good. It’s a pretty healthy pasta dish, too, sticking to real, fresh ingredients without heavy sauces or extras. In Veneto, many people use radicchio from their own gardens, and the ricotta is usually super creamy and mild—soaking right into the pasta. If you’re after an easy radicchio pasta recipe that shows off seasonal Italian food, this one definitely checks all the boxes. For sure.

How to prepare Linguine with ricotta and radicchio

To prepare linguine with ricotta and radicchio, start with the latter: remove the outer, tough leaves, then wash and cut it into strips 1. In a pan, pour a drizzle of oil and a clove of garlic. Let it flavor on low heat, then add the radicchio 2 and cook on medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes. When the radicchio is wilted, deglaze with orange juice 3.

Season with salt 4 and let it evaporate 5. Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until the radicchio is tender 6.

Cook the linguine in plenty of salted water 7 and drain it al dente 8, reserving some cooking water. Transfer the pasta to the pan with the radicchio and add a ladle of cooking water 9.

Sauté everything 10, then add the ricotta 11 and mix well 12. You should obtain a smooth and homogeneous cream; if necessary, add a bit more pasta cooking water.

Now plate up by placing some radicchio on top of the linguine 13, then finish with grated orange zest 14, freshly ground black pepper, and a drizzle of oil if you like. The linguine with ricotta and radicchio are ready, serve them immediately 15!

Storage

We recommend serving linguine with ricotta and radicchio as soon as they are ready. However, if there are leftovers, they can be stored in the refrigerator for one day.

Tip

For a gourmet touch, complete the dish with coarsely chopped toasted walnuts: they add crunchiness and a scent that pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of the ricotta and the character of the radicchio.

If you use rustic ricotta, you can sieve it to obtain a smoother cream.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.