Valentine Pink Beet Pasta (Printable)
Delight in silky beet cream sauce tossed with tender pasta, accented by fresh basil and Parmesan.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz dried fettuccine or linguine
02 - 1 tbsp salt for pasta water
→ Beet Cream Sauce
03 - 2 medium cooked beets (about 9 oz), peeled and chopped
04 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 3/4 cup heavy cream
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 tsp lemon zest
10 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
11 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
→ Garnish
13 - Fresh basil leaves
14 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese
15 - Cracked black pepper
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for 2 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
03 - Transfer the cooked shallot, garlic, and olive oil to a blender or food processor. Add the chopped beets, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Blend until very smooth.
04 - Pour the beet cream sauce back into the skillet and heat gently over low, stirring, until warmed through. If too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
05 - Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil, extra Parmesan, and cracked black pepper.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The color alone makes people genuinely excited before they even take a bite
- It tastes surprisingly luxurious despite taking less than 45 minutes
- Leftovers make the most beautiful next day lunch
02 -
- Hot cream can sometimes split when blended, let your sautéed aromatics cool slightly before adding the cream
- Beet stains everything, including cutting boards and hands, so work mindfully
03 -
- If making ahead, blend the sauce and store separately, reheating gently while pasta cooks
- A high speed blender creates the silkiest texture, but a regular immersion blender works fine too