My son is in "pasta phase" now. For the past couple of days, he has been eating pasta for lunch and dinner. Actually, I have to prepare the same pasta dish every day. So I was thrilled and relieved to see Bharti's Pink Pasta. She uses roasted and finely chopped beets to make this attractive pasta dish. It's an amazing beet recipe. It inspired me to create another version of the pink pasta.
My son doesn't like to bite into pieces of veggies, with an exception to few vegetables. So instead of simply adding chopped beets and garlic to make the pink sauce, I pureed everything together including the ricotta cheese in my Magic Bullet blender. That's the reason I chose to use garlic powder instead of whole garlic as well. Bharti has used heavy cream and I didn't have it at home, so I went with the part-skim ricotta cheese which was sitting in my fridge after using little for these breakfast cookies. The pink sauce tasted very good.
I was having my doubts whether he would eat it or not because so far he has been eating pasta in white color. So I got him all excited as soon as got home from school. I told that I gave it to his friend R also and she liked it so much. To my surprise, he ate it without any fuss and also told me he liked it very much. I really have to thank Bharti for inspiring me to create this beet recipe.
Recipe
Healthy Beet Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Any Uncooked Pasta Of Your Choice
- 1 Small Beet
- 2-3 Tablespoons Part Skim Ricotta Cheese
- As Per Taste Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- As Needed Garlic Powder
- As Needed Salt
- ½ Tablespoon Olive Oil
Instructions
- Cook the beets. I use a pressure cooker to cook beets. I peel the beets, cut each beet into 4 pieces, add water just enough
- to cover it and leave it for 1 whistle. Don't pour the beets cooked water in the sink, instead prepare this beet soup in a jiffy.
- Meanwhile cook the pasta also as per the package directions.
- In a blender/food processor puree together the cooked beets, ricotta cheese, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder and salt.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the beet puree. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes and the pink sauce is ready.
- Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce and it's ready to serve.
My Notes
- For the lemon pepper seasoning I used McCormick's Salt Free Lemon Pepper seasoning. Alternatively you can use lemon juice and black pepper powder.
- My son eats only cauliflower, broccoli and sometimes carrots, baby corn in it's original form. That's why I blended everything together, you may choose to chop/grate the beets, add minced garlic etc.
- Chances are you may have extra pink sauce for the above measurement of pasta and beet. So first transfer the pink sauce to another container and add sauce little by little to the pasta and refrigerate/freeze the remaining sauce for another serving.
- I got this pasta from Trader's Joe and forgot to note down the name of the shape. It's easy and fun for kids to eat this pasta with a fork. My son had a nice time seeing how many rings he could get each time in the fork.
- I can't wait to substitute carrots in this beet recipe and surprise my son with orange pasta.
Sunshinemom says
I never thought of beets in pasta! What an idea sirji ❗ Just saw Bharti's pasta - great idea, and am impressed with your speed in trying it out!
Thanks SM. I guess I have to keep trying something or the other to feed the little one, because a hungry child is a cranky child!
Laavanya says
My daughter is quite the pasta fan as well.. the beet sauce looks so pretty - great idea.
PG says
a yummy recipe! I'm giving beetroot a try for sure.
Madhu / Ruchii says
Kids do love colours and pastas... nice way to combine them both.Looks delicious
kamala says
That is so colorful Madhu..You are such a innovative mom !!!
SS says
The Red got a green 😀
RedChillies says
Very nice recipe Madhu and thanks Bharti for wonderful idea. My 3 year old loves pasta too and eats it just plian boiled, no sauce nothing.
I had to laugh at the story of giving this to R and she loving it. Kids are so cute and innocent. 🙂
RC, my son also eats his pasta plain without any sauce or vegetables. Last saturday only I tried the sneaky Mac and Cheese and he liked it so much he was asking the same everyday.
Bharti says
Very cool! I'm so glad your son ate it. Lets hope he eats the next time round as well! I was going to try pureeing it as well, but the kids didn't seem to mind the beet pieces. DO try with the roasted garlic next time. It adds another dimension and is delicious.
Thanks Bharti. All the compliments here goes to you. I'll definitely try the roasted garlic method too.
mahimaa says
looks great madhu.. good way to use up beets
anudivya says
What a lovely color! Madhuram, you totally rock.
sangeeth says
madhu ...super colour...looks like fruit loops....love the variation...i ought to try this soon...
Uma says
Wow, lovely pasta! What a color! Nice idea to use beets in pasta which gave such a beautiful color and also made pasta more healthy. YOu definitely are a sneaky mom! 😀
Thanks for you sweet words on beetroot pickle. I am so flattered. 🙂
Sweatha says
Lovely Madhu,I love it.Cannot take my eyes off the pic.Colourful and perfect.Nice idea using beet water for beet soup :)Orange pasta also seems nicer.Thanks,now you are giving me ideas.
Priya says
Wowowww omg lovely colour, cant wait to try them soon...
Happy Cook says
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW I love that colour. Looks super beautiful.