Pink Pasta

If there is something we love, it’s sneaking in vegetables where we can! This creamy Pink Pasta contains beets to give it a lovely pink hue, no harsh dyes or chemicals are necessary. So not only are you going to love how this Pink Pasta looks and tastes, but you’re also going to be excited to discover that it is dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free! Look no further than this recipe to create the Valentine’s evening meal for your loved ones.

What stands out

The cashews give the sauce a creamy and nutty undertone, while the beets add a subtle earthiness and a lovely sweetness. The result is a perfectly balanced sauce that’s both rich and fresh, with a delicate sweetness that’s just right. Every bite of your pasta will be coated in this beautiful pink sauce that will leave you wanting more.

How to Prepare Pink Pasta

Place cashews in a bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes.

Drain the water and blend soaked cashews with a pinch of salt, garlic, beets, and filtered water until smooth.

Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions.

Drain the pasta, and combine it with the blended sauce in a serving bowl.

Garnish your Pink Pasta with parmesan and enjoy!

Kitchen tip

If needed, you can thin out the sauce with some reserved pasta water. You can also roast garlic (top cut off and wrapped in foil) in the oven for an even tastier outcome.

Swaps

This gorgeous Pink Pasta Can make all your Valentine’s dinner dreams come true. If you have allergies or dietary preferences, feel free to adjust the dish as needed, however, you may need to experiment and modify the quantities.

1. If you have a nut allergy, you could try using silken tofu for a creamy texture without using cashews.
2. You could add herbs like basil, parsley, or cilantro to the Pink Pasta sauce.
3. Use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for a healthier or gluten-free alternative.
4. Try different pasta shapes such as penne, fusilli, or spaghetti.
5. Mix in cooked chickpeas, grilled tofu, or sautéed mushrooms for added protein.
6. Feel free to roast the garlic for a sweeter flavor.

Serve it with

• Some crusty bread like our No Knead Peasant Bread
• A side salad

Questions

What type of salt do you use?

We use mark Redmond Real Salt, please note that depending on the salt you use, your dish may be less or more salty. Salt is to taste so please always taste and adjust as you cook.

What type of pasta do you use?

We like using Spaghettini pasta cooked in salted water until al dente. Any will work.

What if the Pink Pasta sauce is thicker than we'd like?

The sauce can be thinned out, if needed, with some pasta water.

How much pasta should we cook?

This sauce makes enough for 4 portions of pasta, or you can cook 1/2 pound (200 grams) of dry pasta and add as much sauce as you like for 2 servings.

How should we prepare the beets?

Feel free to roast or boil your own beets, then peel them. We find it messy so we buy pre-cooked beets from the grocery store.

How can we make the sauce more or less pink?

The color of the Pink Pasta will vary depending on the size of the beet. We added 1 cooked beet but you can add more.

What if we are allergic to nuts, is there an alternative?

If you are allergic to nuts you can make this recipe with regular (jarred) alfredo sauce, blended with 1 beet.

How can we make this recipe gluten-free?

If you are gluten-free, feel free to boil any gluten-free pasta shape you like.

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

• 1 cup cashews, raw unsalted
• 1 pinch salt, to taste
• 2 garlic cloves, (raw or roasted garlic, if you have this on hand)
• 1 beet, cooked or purchased pre-cooked
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 pound pasta of choice, (400 grams)
• grated parmesan cheese, for dusting

Equipment

• Blender
• Nakiri Knife
• Redmond Real Salt

Method

1. Place the cashews in a bowl and cover with hot water. Soak for 15 to 30 minutes.
2. Drain the water and add the soaked cashews to a blender with a pinch of salt, the garlic, the quartered and cooked beets, and filtered water. Blend until smooth.
3. Cook the pasta of choice as per the package instructions until al dente. Drain the cooked pasta, add to a serving bowl, and combine with the sauce. Garnish with parmesan and enjoy!