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Home » Recipes » Lunch and Dinner

Pink Pesto Beet Pasta

Published: Feb 10, 2023 · Modified: Feb 28, 2024 by Tristin Rieken · Leave a Comment

Pink Pesto Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. And when served with heart shaped beets this stunning beet pasta sauce recipe is the perfect recipe for Valentine’s day!

Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods
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Jump to:
  • Pink pasta recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step by step instructions
  • What to serve with beet pasta
  • Yield
  • How to store
  • 📖 Recipe

Pink pasta recipe

I first served this vibrant pink pasta years ago as a simple Valentines day dinner meal. Simply pasta tossed in the liquid leftover from sauteing beets and beet greens. Topped with creamy crumbled goat cheese the beet pasta was a perfectly delicious simple pasta creation and I’ve been making some version of it for years, and have finally perfected it to share.

This is a different kind of pink pasta recipe than typical pink or rose pasta which are made with tomatoes or red peppers and cream. Instead this pink pasta recipe is a bright pink beet pasta made with beetroot pesto.

Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods

A simple roasted beet recipe that uses the whole beet, both the beetroot and the beet greens. Which is special because although there are a lot of beet recipes, finding beet greens recipes can be more difficult.

Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods

Along those same lines there are lots of recipes for heart shaped foods for Valentine’s day like heart shaped waffles, pancakes, pizza, cookies, cakes, pies, etc. But this heart shaped recipe is a little different than most Valentine’s day recipes.

It’s a savory pink pasta recipe with beets shaped like hearts. Because no one can resist the cuteness of heart shaped foods for Valentine’s day.

But if you’d prefer it to be a heartless pasta instead you can simply cut the beets into cubes instead.

Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods

This beet pasta tastes like the best beet and goat cheese salad.

This beet recipe has tang from the balsamic beets and fresh lemon juice. Creaminess from parmesan cheese and goat cheese. And the pink beet pesto lends the same nuttiness you’d expect from a traditional basil pesto recipe.

All the yummy – minus the lettuce + plus pasta.

Bite after bite this is a lip smacking beet pasta recipe that will have you asking for more.

Ingredients

  • Beets with beet greens– 1 bunch (about 8 ounces) about 1 large baseball sized beet or 3 small beets
  • Butter – salted or unsalted
  • Garlic – sliced garlic to saute with the beets and fresh garlic for the beet pesto.
  • Balsamic vinegar – or substitute apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, etc.
  • Linguine – or substitute any other pasta – angel hair, spaghetti, fettuccine, rigatoni, ravioli, tagliatelle, penne, etc.
  • Almonds – or substitute any other nut or seeds – walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, etc.
  • Lemon – zested and juiced
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods

Step by step instructions

  1. Wash beets and beet greens well, soaking in a bowl of cold water if needed to remove all the sandy soil. Then peel beets and cut into roughly ¼ inch thick slices. Using a small cookie cutter cut beets into hearts or any other shape, or simply rough-cut beets into cubes. Slice beet greens and stems into thin ribbons.
Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods
  1. Melt half the butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add thinly sliced garlic, beetroots, and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper.
  2. Sauté beets for several minutes until beets are starting to brown and soften.
  3. Then carefully add balsamic vinegar and a tablespoon of water, stir and cover to continue cooking until soft, about 5 minutes longer.
  4. When beets are fork tender remove from heat. Place beet hearts aside for later and pour remaining balsamic beets and liquid in a food processor or blender to make beet pesto. Add garlic cloves, almonds, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Pulse mixture until chopped then slowing drizzle in olive oil while blending until smooth and pesto like in texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer beet pesto to a storage container.
Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods
  1. Meanwhile cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Reserving a cup of pasta water and set pasta aside for later.
  2. Return the saucepan used to sauté the beets to the stovetop over medium heat and add remaining butter. Add thinly sliced beet greens and stems to melted butter and season with salt and pepper. Sauté beet greens until greens are wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Once greens are wilted stir in beet pesto and thin the vibrant pink sauce with splashes pasta water as needed. You will most likely not need to use all the reserved pasta water.
  4. Add pasta in to the luscious vibrant pink sauce stirring to coat.
  5. Serve topped with crumbled goat cheese and more parmesan cheese.
  6. Enjoy!
Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods

What to serve with beet pasta

Serve beet pasta as a side dish or main dish. Garnish this beet recipe with a sprinkle of cheese or top with chopped nuts and fresh herbs like basil, parsley, dill or chives.

To turn beet pasta into a more substantial meal add crispy chickpeas, sauteed prawns, chicken, steak, etc.

If you have leftover beet pesto use the vibrant pink sauce as a sandwich spread, make beet toast for breakfast or use it as a dip for vegetables.

Pink Pesto 'Heart" Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto. Valentine's day dinner idea | beet pasta | beetroot pesto | beet greens recipe | pink pasta | heart shaped foods

Yield

This pink beetroot pesto recipe makes about 1 ¼ cups of pesto sauce and yields enough for 4 large entree sized servings, or 8 small 1st course or side dish sized servings.

How to store

Beet pesto can be made ahead of time and stored refrigerated for up to 5 days before serving.

📖 Recipe

Bright pink pasta on a white plate with heart shaped beet slices and large pieces of creamy goat cheese and parmesan shavings.

Pink Pesto Beet Pasta

Pink Pesto Beet Pasta is a naturally bright pink pasta recipe made with balsamic roasted beets, beet greens and beetroot pesto.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Course: lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 455kcal
Author: Tristin Rieken

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces beetroots
  • 1 bunch beet greens
  • 4 tablespoons butter divided
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 16 ounces pasta
  • 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic whole
  • ½ cup almonds
  • ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup goat cheese

Instructions

  • Peel beets and cut into roughly ¼ inch thick slices and cut into desired shapes and slice beet greens and stems into thin ribbons.
  • Melt half the butter in saucepan over medium low heat. Add thinly sliced garlic, beetroots, and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper. Sauté beets for several minutes until beets are starting to brown and soften, about 5 minutes.
    8 ounces beetroots, 4 tablespoons butter, 2 cloves garlic
  • Then carefully add balsamic vinegar and a tablespoon of water, stir and cover to continue cooking until soft, about 5 minutes longer.
    2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon water
  • When beets are fork tender remove from heat. Place beet hearts aside for later and pour remaining balsamic beets and liquid in a food processor or blender. Add garlic cloves, almonds, parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Pulse mixture until chopped then slowing drizzle in olive oil while blending until smooth and pesto like in texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    3 cloves garlic, ½ cup almonds, ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ¼ cup olive oil
  • Meanwhile place a large pot of salted water on high heat. When boiling add pasta and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserving a cup of pasta water, drain pasta and set aside for later.
    16 ounces pasta
  • Return the saucepan to medium heat and add remaining butter, beet greens and stems and salt and pepper. Sauté until greens are wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
    1 bunch beet greens
  • Reduce heat to low and stir in beet pesto, thinning with pasta water as needed. Stir in pasta and top with crumbled goat cheese and more parmesan cheese before serving.
    ¼ cup goat cheese

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 871mg | Potassium: 700mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1080IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 3mg
Made this recipe? Please share!Mention @freshflavorful or tag #FreshFlavorfulLife
Nutrition Facts
Pink Pesto Beet Pasta
Amount Per Serving
Calories 455 Calories from Fat 360
% Daily Value*
Fat 40g62%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Trans Fat 0.5g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 20g
Cholesterol 44mg15%
Sodium 871mg38%
Potassium 700mg20%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 1080IU22%
Vitamin C 17mg21%
Calcium 179mg18%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
love, Tristin signature

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Hi, I'm Tristin Rieken, Welcome to Fresh Flavorful where I hope to inspire you with simple seasonal recipes and ideas to eat deliciously, entertain easily and adventure often.

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