Beetroot Pink Sauce Pasta

This luscious beautiful Beetroot Pink Sauce Pasta is an impressive way to bring a change in your pasta dish. Its creamy, vegan, dairy free, made with few simple ingredients and is a family friendly recipe.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword beet pasta, beet sauce, beetroot pasta sauce, how to make pink sauce pasta, pink sauce pasta recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 339kcal

Author Gunjan

Ingredients

for the sauce

15 oz can small whole beetroot (drained and rinsed)
1/4 cup raw cashew nuts
2 garlic cloves
2 tsp dried basil
2 tbsp tomato puree
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (tetra pack)
1/2 cup vegetable broth
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper

others

1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
8 oz rigatoni pasta (cooked as per package instructions)
1/4 cup reserved pasta water (see notes)

optional garnishes

Instructions

In a blender combine all the sauce ingredients (beetroot, cashew nuts, garlic, basil, tomato puree, nutritional yeast, coconut milk, vegetable broth, salt and pepper). Blend it smooth until creamy and pink in color. Keep it aside.
Heat oil in a nonstick pan at high flame. Bring the flame to medium heat and add garlic powder and oregano to it. Whisk it well in the pan so that the herbs are blended in the hot oil.
Toss in cooked pasta so that each pasta is coated with the herbed oil.
Fold in the pink sauce and the reserved pasta water and mix gently without breaking any pasta. Let it cook at medium flame for 5-7 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken. Mix gently at intervals to make sure that it does not stick at the bottom of the pan.
Adjust salt and pepper and mix gently so that pasta retains its shape and texture. Turn off the flame and cover the pan with the lid and let it rest for 2-3 minutes.
Remove the lid and gently mix it again. Scoop it in the serving plates and garnish with parmesan cheese and herbs if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

For pasta water - Just when pasta is al dente dip the measuring cup in the pasta and reserve its water and keep it aside for future use.
when buying canned beet make sure the ingredients label in the can mentions water, salt and beets and no other ingredients.
When cooking pasta follow the package instructions but do not overcook. The pasta will be cooked again in the sauce so that it can absorb all the flavors.
The measurement mentioned above for the pasta is for uncooked pasta. Hence, boil 8 oz pasta that is half of pasta box.
Rigatoni pasta works best here but you can also use penne pasta if desired.
This taste best when served immediately, but the leftovers can be refrigerated in a glass container to be used the next day. Make sure to warm it in the microwave before serving.

Nutrition