Pink Pasta Sauce Recipe
This pretty pink pasta sauce comes together in minutes, it’s full of garlic and is quite irresistible!
This gorgeous pink pasta sauce gets its color from roasted beets, the flavor of the sauce is full of garlic, so even if beets aren’t your all time favorite, you may really like this delicious garlic sauce.
I love garlic, the more the better. I love when you can smell the aroma of what’s cooking a room away. So adjust the amount of garlic you want accordingly. If you don’t prefer such an intense garlic flavor there are a couple of options. Roast the garlic in a saucepan in a little oil, or once the sauce is made you can heat it in a pot on the stove, to mellow out the flavor of the garlic.
To roast the beets, wash them, peel them with a vegetable peeler (wear gloves to avoid the pink mess) then cut the beets into quarters or smaller and roast them in a 400° oven until tender when pierced with a fork. You’ll love how simple this beetroot pasta sauce is, the only cooking is the roasting of the beets.
Alternatively, you can dice the beet small and saute them in a pan on the stove for a minute, cover with a lid, and cook over medium low heat until tender, add a tablespoon of water to keep them moist. You can add the liquid to the sauce. I would not boil the beets, they’ll lose color and flavor.
Pasta with Pink Sauce
When working with beets I suggest wearing food service gloves to avoid staining your hands, and work on a surface you can bring to the sink and scrub clean or bleach if needed, they are worth the fuss!
Ingredients
- 2 beets, roasted, about 1 cup
- 4 cloves fresh garlic
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/4 cup oil, avocado oil or olive oil
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2-1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
How can I customize this sauce?
If you want to reduce the beet flavor even more, add 1/2 cup marinara sauce.
For a “creamy” sauce add a half cup of heavy cream.
For more lemon flavor add the juice of a whole lemon (3-4 tablespoons or more)
If you want to add some spice add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
If you want a really thick sauce without adding more beets, add roasted butternut squash to the recipe.
There are so many options for this pink sauce pasta recipe! And who wouldn’t want delicious pasta with pink sauce.
If you want a different pasta sauce, that’s mildly pink give penne and vodka sauce a try.
If you’re looking for more recipes like this try my
Pink Pasta Sauce
Equipment
- Immersion Blender or blender
Ingredients
- lb pasta I used bowtie, penne is another great option
- 2 medium beets
- 4 cloves garlic
- ½ cup white onion, diced
- ¼-½ cup oil avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ½-1 cup water can use pasta water
- ½-1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Instructions
- cook pasta according to package directions, then drain in a colander.
- Peel and cut beets into quarters, drizzle with some oil, and roast in a 400° oven for 15 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.
- In a tall container place beets add remaining ingredients, use an immersion blender (or regular blender) and blend smooth.
- Begin with 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup oil, add more as needed to get a smooth consistency.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta, stir well to coat all the pasta with the sauce, and serve.