Valentine Pink Beet Pasta (Printable)
A creamy beet-based pink pasta that combines fresh ingredients and vibrant color for a special meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz dried fettuccine or linguine
→ Beet Sauce
02 - 2 medium beets (about 9 oz), peeled and diced
03 - 1 small onion, chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
06 - ½ cup heavy cream
07 - ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
08 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
09 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
10 - ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
11 - ¼ tsp black pepper
→ Garnish
12 - Fresh basil leaves
13 - Extra Parmesan cheese
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the beets and cook until fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the beets and set aside. Reserve the boiling water for the pasta.
02 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
03 - In a blender or food processor, combine cooked beets, sautéed onion and garlic, cream, cream cheese, Parmesan, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until completely smooth.
04 - Cook the pasta in the reserved boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
05 - Return the beet sauce to the skillet and heat gently over low heat. Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky sauce. Divide among plates, top with extra Parmesan and fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The color alone stops conversations and makes people lean in closer
- Beets and cream were always meant to be together, creating something earthy yet luxurious
02 -
- Beet stains are relentless—wear an apron and maybe clothes you don't love deeply
- The sauce keeps thickening as it sits, so if it looks too loose initially, give it a minute
03 -
- If the sauce looks too thick, thin it with more pasta water rather than more cream—you'll get better cling without overwhelming the beet flavor
- Fresh basil is worth it here—dried basil would look tragic against that vibrant pink