Super Creamy Beet Pasta Sauce

Name: Super Creamy Beet Pasta Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 3 cups uncooked pasta; 1 can sliced beets (375 g (about 1 heaping cup), drained); ½ cup pine nuts; Juice of 1 lemon (about ¼ cup); 4 tbsp olive oil; 5 fresh basil leaves; 3 fresh mint leaves; ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese; 3 cloves garlic (pressed); ½ cup pasta water; Salt to taste; Top with: feta cheese, fresh basil and chopped walnuts or pine nuts

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Pretty in pink, this beet pasta is the easiest dish to impress anyone this Valentine's day. Ready in under 30 minutes!

Beet pasta served in a bowl with feta and basil.

I'm so excited to share this pink pasta recipe with you because it will truly be the moment for Valentine's Day (or any day, really). Who doesn't love a vibrant pink pasta sauce? The colour is all in the beets.

Beets are a root vegetable with a vibrant pink-purple hue that comes from plant pigments called betalains.

They have a subtlety sweet flavour and are truly an under looked nutrient powerhouse. Not only are they packed with antioxidants, but they can improve heart health, blood pressure, and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Beets are also a source of folate, a nutrient important for energy metabolism! There is so much to love about this vegetable.

Anyway, I'm a big fan of this pink pasta sauce because it looks gorgeous and complicated, but it's actually a super simple recipe.

All you need is a blender and a can of beets (plus a couple other things) and you're set! I hope you give it a try- you won't be disappointed!

Ingredients

Pasta
Sliced beets
Pine nuts
Lemon
Olive oil
Basil leaves
Mint leaves
Parmesan
Garlic
Pasta water
Salt
Feta cheese (for topping)

Instructions

Adding ingredients into a food processor.

Cook pasta according to package instructions. In a food processor or high powered blender, add all ingredients.

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Add beet sauce to a pan over low-medium heat to allow it to warm. Stir in reserved pasta water.

Add in your cooked pasta.

Stir until well combined.

Serving beet pasta in a bowl, topped with basil and feta.

Portion and top with crumbled feta cheese, fresh basil and chopped walnuts or pine nuts.

Substitutions and Variations

To make gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta.

To make nut-free: Swap pine nuts for pumpkin seeds.

To make dairy-free: Swap parmesan for nutritional yeast, omit feta.

Missing an ingredient? Try these:

Pine nuts: Pumpkin seeds or walnuts
Pasta water: Oh no, did you forgot to reserve some pasta water? Don’t worry, you can use regular water- you may just want to add a touch of salt.

Equipment

Food processor or blender
Saucepan

Storage

This beet pasta can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

Top Tips

If you have leftover pink pasta sauce, I love storing them in ice cube trays in the freezer. That way, you can easily whip up this beet pasta in even less time by microwaving the cubes or throwing them directly in the pot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use fresh beets?

Yes! You will just need to roast them first! 1 medium beet is typically equivalent to ¾ cup so you will need about 1-2 beets depending on the size!

What does this pasta taste like?

Beets have a slightly sweet flavour, so this pasta does have some sweet undertones. With the pine nuts, feta and herbs, it's the perfect balance of fresh, salty and sweet!

More Pasta Night Recipes

PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this beet pasta, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!

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