Pink Pasta with Beet Cream (Printable)

Vibrant penne tossed in silky beetroot cream sauce with garlic and Parmesan. Ready in 40 minutes, vegetarian-friendly.

# What You'll 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

# How to make it:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to 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. Add onion and cook 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 pinch of salt. Blend until completely smooth.
05 - Return beet cream 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 immediately with fresh basil and extra Parmesan.

# Recipe Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce clings to every ridge of pasta like it was designed for it, creamy and bold without feeling heavy.
  • It looks like something from a magazine but comes together faster than most weeknight dinners.
  • Beets bring natural sweetness and color without tasting too vegetal, especially once the Parmesan melts in.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully with just a splash of water or cream.
02 -
  • Dont skip reserving pasta water, its the secret to a sauce that hugs the noodles instead of sliding off.
  • Blend the sauce longer than you think you need to, any chunks will ruin the silky texture.
  • Taste before serving because beets vary in sweetness and you might need more lemon or salt to balance it out.
03 -
  • Use a high speed blender if you have one, it makes the sauce impossibly smooth and almost fluffy.
  • Toss the hot pasta in the sauce off the heat for a minute before serving so it absorbs even more flavor.
  • If the color fades after a day, a tiny splash of lemon juice brings back some of that brightness.
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