Beet Pasta Sauce Recipe
A creamy and vibrant beet pasta sauce that combines the earthy sweetness of beets with ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, creating a smooth, flavorful topping for your favorite pasta. This easy-to-make sauce blends sautéed garlic and onions with cooked beets, delivering a colorful and nutritious twist on traditional pasta dishes.
- Author: Ella
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ cup finely diced onion (from 1 small onion)
- 2 cups cooked beets (steamed or roasted)
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta
Optional Toppings
- Lemon zest
- Cracked black pepper
- Additional Parmesan cheese
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Sauté garlic and onions: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and finely diced onion. Stir and cook for 6-8 minutes until the mixture is fragrant and the onions are very soft.
- Add and warm beets: Stir in the cooked beets to coat them in the garlic and onion mixture. Cook for 2 minutes to warm the beets through.
- Blend the sauce: Transfer the sautéed onion and beet mixture to a blender. Add the ricotta cheese and grated Parmesan cheese. Blend the mixture until very smooth, adding some reserved pasta water gradually as needed to achieve a creamy, smooth consistency.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add as much sauce as you like to the cooked pasta and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Save any leftover sauce for another use, storing it in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Serve: Serve the pasta topped with additional Parmesan cheese and optional toppings such as lemon zest and cracked black pepper for extra flavor.
Notes
- You can use steamed or roasted beets depending on your preference; roasting intensifies the beet sweetness.
- To save time, use pre-cooked or canned beets, making sure to drain them well before using.
- The reserved pasta water helps loosen the sauce and helps it cling better to the pasta.
- Optional toppings like lemon zest add brightness and balance the earthiness of the beets.
- This sauce can be made vegan by substituting ricotta and Parmesan with plant-based alternatives.
Keywords: beet pasta sauce, beet pasta, creamy beet sauce, vegetarian pasta sauce, Italian pasta sauce, beet recipes