Pink Pasta Beet Cream (Printable)

Creamy pink pasta with roasted beet sauce, Parmesan, and fresh basil in an easy Italian-inspired dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium beets, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 cloves garlic, peeled
03 - 1 small shallot, peeled and quartered

→ Pasta

04 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Dairy

05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Seasonings

08 - 2 tbsp olive oil
09 - 1/2 tsp salt, plus additional for pasta water
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp lemon zest
12 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
13 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# Steps:

01 - Set oven to 400°F for roasting the vegetables.
02 - Arrange beet cubes, garlic cloves, and shallot quarters on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly.
03 - Roast vegetables for 25 to 30 minutes until beets are fork-tender and fragrant.
04 - Bring a large pot of generously salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water. Drain pasta thoroughly.
05 - Transfer roasted beets, garlic, and shallot to blender. Add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, butter, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Blend until completely smooth, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve silky consistency. Season with remaining salt and pepper.
06 - Return drained pasta to cooking pot. Pour beet cream sauce over pasta and toss vigorously until every piece is evenly coated. Warm over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes if needed. Serve immediately topped with fresh basil and additional Parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted beets create an incredibly silky, naturally creamy sauce without needing tons of dairy
  • Its secretly packed with vegetables but tastes indulgent enough that even beet skeptics ask for seconds
02 -
  • Beets vary wildly in size and sweetness, so taste your sauce before serving and adjust with more lemon juice or salt as needed
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it sits, so if you are reheating leftovers, add a splash of pasta water or cream to loosen it up
03 -
  • Wear gloves when peeling and chopping raw beets unless you want pink stained hands for days
  • If your sauce looks too thick, the pasta water is your secret weapon for achieving perfect consistency

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