Description
Rustic Italian “Mediterranean Beet Pasta Sauce” brings earthy sweetness to your kitchen, blending vibrant Mediterranean ingredients with simple, robust flavors. Crimson-hued sauce delivers rich, unexpected elegance that will surprise and delight you at every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 medium beets, roasted and peeled
- 12 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free)
- 14 cup (30 grams) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 12 teaspoon salt
- 14 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and wrap whole beets individually in aluminum foil, ensuring they are completely sealed.
- Roast the beets for 45-50 minutes until they can be easily pierced with a fork, indicating tender doneness.
- Remove beets from the oven and allow them to cool completely, which helps with easy peeling.
- Once cooled, gently remove the skin by rubbing or using a small knife, then roughly chop the beets into manageable pieces.
- Transfer the chopped beets to a high-powered blender, ensuring all ingredients are at room temperature.
- Add minced garlic, rich heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, fragrant olive oil, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a splash of bright lemon juice to the blender.
- Blend the mixture on high speed until achieving a silky, vibrant smooth consistency, pausing to scrape down the sides as needed.
- If the sauce appears too thick, gradually incorporate warm pasta water to reach the desired creamy texture.
- Pour the sauce into a saucepan and warm gently over low heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
- Immediately toss the sauce with freshly cooked pasta, ensuring each strand is generously coated with the luxurious beet sauce.
- Serve the pasta warm, optionally garnishing with additional Parmesan cheese or fresh herbs for added flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Roast beets longer for deeper caramelized flavor and sweeter taste profile.
- Use plant-based cream alternatives like coconut or cashew cream for vegan-friendly version.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or dill to enhance the sauce’s brightness and complexity.
- Experiment with goat cheese or nutritional yeast for different tangy undertones in the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 40mg