Recipes Buckwheat Pasta with Summer Squash, Tomatoes and Ricotta 3.0 (5,445) Add your rating & review "Our audience has really been receptive to our homemade alternative-flour pastas," says Travis Lett. He likes buckwheat for its added richness and texture. At the restaurant, Lett cuts the fresh pasta into rough rag shapes and tosses it with summer vegetables; this simplified version uses dried pasta. By Travis Lett Updated on May 18, 2017 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Despite “wheat” in its name, buckwheat isn’t actually wheat. It’s gluten-free and adds delicious richness and texture to this summer pasta. Photo: © Dave Lauridsen Total Time: 45 mins Yield: 8 Ingredients ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 pound mixed yellow summer squash and zucchini 1 medium red onion 1 pint grape tomatoes crushed red pepper Sea salt ¼ cup dry white wine 1 ½ pounds dried buckwheat pasta 4 cups baby spinach 1 cup fresh ricotta Directions In a large, deep skillet, heat 1/4 cup of the oil until nearly smoking. Add the squash mix and onion and cook over high heat, stirring, until lightly charred in spots and crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes, crushing them lightly with your hands as you add them. Add the crushed red pepper, season with salt and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and cook until nearly evaporated. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 3/4 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the skillet along with the spinach, ricotta and the reserved cooking water. Toss over moderately high heat until the spinach is wilted and the sauce is thickened and clings to the pasta. Transfer the pasta to a platter and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Notes Buckwheat pasta is available online at pastacheese.com. Suggested Pairing Lively, watermelony rosé. Rate it Print