Pink Pasta with Beet Cream (Printable)

Vibrant penne with silky beetroot cream sauce, garlic, and Parmesan. A stunning vegetarian dish in 40 minutes.

# What you need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz dried penne or rigatoni
02 - Salt, for boiling water

→ Beet Cream Sauce

03 - 2 medium cooked beets (about 9 oz), peeled and chopped
04 - 2 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - ½ cup heavy cream
08 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
10 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
11 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
12 - Salt, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - Fresh basil leaves, for serving
14 - Extra grated Parmesan

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion for 3–4 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
03 - Add chopped beets to skillet and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
04 - Transfer beet mixture to blender. Add heavy cream, butter, lemon juice, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Blend until completely smooth.
05 - Return sauce to skillet over low heat. Stir in Parmesan until melted and smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
06 - Add drained pasta to sauce, tossing to coat. Add reserved pasta water as needed for silky consistency. Serve garnished with basil and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The color alone will make everyone at your table reach for their phones before their forks, creating that perfect dinner moment without trying too hard.
  • Its one of those rare vegetarian dishes that feels decadent and substantial without relying on fake meat or excessive cheese to carry the flavor.
02 -
  • If your sauce ever looks grainy, lower the heat immediately and add a splash more cream while whisking constantly, as high heat can cause the dairy to separate.
  • The sauce will thicken considerably as it cools, so err on the side of a slightly thinner consistency before serving.
03 -
  • Wearing kitchen gloves when handling beets preserves your manicure and prevents temporarily stained fingers that make you look like youve been fingerprinted at the police station.
  • Reserve more pasta water than you think youll need, as its the secret to rescuing a sauce thats too thick or bringing everything together if youre reheating leftovers.
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