I’m so excited about this recipe today. Just a few months ago, I tried making my first beet sauce for homemade pasta. It was incredible, but needed a bit of tweaking. After working on it a few times, I think I’ve come up with the most delicious, healthy and satisfying vegetarian comfort food that I’d had in a while!
Beets are in season, as you might know– and they are such versatile vegetables. However, we tend to associate them with salads and pickling, even though they are wonderful blended up and poured over pasta.
As you might know, I’ve been working on creating vegetarian recipes as my new “cooking frontier”. (Check out my last creation: Linguine with Kale-Almond Pesto!) And there is nothing better than finding a recipe that will keep for a few days, too. This beet sauce will stay fresh when chilled for several days, and is the easiest thing to pour over pasta or use as a dip or spread. It’s savory and oh-so-good for you.
If you’ve never worked with beets before, be aware that beet juice does stain. Whenever I process beets, I wear gloves just to keep my hands from turning pink. If you use a wooden cutting board, be sure to wash it immediately to avoid staining; or use a bit of lemon juice.
Linguine with Creamy Beet Sauce and Balsamic-Caramelized Onions
Ingredients (makes 1 serving of pasta, and about 4 servings of beet sauce)
- 3 medium-sized beets (red or golden)
- 1/2 garlic bulb
- 3/4 cups milk, more if necessary
- 3 tbsp olive oil, more if necessary
- 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced (I used a mandoline)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 serving linguine
- salt, pepper, and other spices to taste
Directions
1) Preheat the oven to 400F. Rinse the beets and cut off any remaining tops or leaves, no need to peel. Wrap the beets with tin foil and roast in the oven for approximately 1 hour. Continue to check them until they are fork-tender.
2) With half an hour remaining, roast the garlic by wrapping it in foil with a few drops of olive oil. Place in the oven beside the beets.
3) Remove the beets and garlic, and allow to cool. Wearing gloves, peel off the skin of the beets– it should come off pretty easily. Set the beets aside. Gently squeeze out the roasted garlic from its peel and set aside.
4) Using the butter, caramelize the onion. There are tutorials on caramelizing onions– here’s one. The key is to allow the onions to slowly brown in the butter without burning, which you’ll accomplish with low heat. If the onions are thinly sliced, this should not be difficult. Once the onions are caramelized, add the balsamic and allow the vinegar to burn off. You should have sweet, dark brown, delicious caramelized onions. Set aside.
5) Bring water to a boil, add a pinch of salt, and cook the linguine according to instructions.
6) Meanwhile, place the beets (quartered), garlic, olive oil and milk into a food processor or sturdy blender. Blend until smooth, adding more oil or milk for the consistency you want. Pour the sauce into a nonstick saute pan and stir over medium-low heat. Season the beet sauce with salt and pepper, to taste. You can also add garlic powder, herbs, paprika, or anything else that makes it taste yummy!
7) Assemble the dish! Mix the pasta with a 3/4 cup of beet sauce. Plate the pasta, and garnish with caramelized onions. Bon appetit!
Have you ever made beets at home? What are your favorite beet recipes? I’d love to know!
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Haha yes!! It’s a great combo too– especially with the balsamic to cut the creaminess a bit 🙂
Ooh you tried the cookies?! So glad to hear it!! 🙂 And thanks, glad to have the vote of confidence!!
Thanks Whitney! Beets are so delicious and versatile 🙂 And that pasta you described sounds amazing…
Thanks Jasmin! Beets are so, so good and super versatile too!! 🙂
They’re so good! And unbelievably good for you. I hope you try beets soon Ashley!
I love beets and my boyfriend loves onions and together we love pasta, so really, this is the the most perfect recipe ^_^
A dish the Schrute family would approve of! Looks really good, maybe I’ll try over break. I ended up making a derivative of your earl grey cookies a while ago, and they were a hit with the underclassmen in my fellowship. So… I pretty much trust your recipes now. 🙂
Oh how brilliant, looks amazing! I actually went to this really good Italian place the other day and they did kinda the same but with wine and it was ah-mazing, you must try it as well! 🙂
Love,
Whitney
http://www.whitneyswonderland.com
Oh yumm! This looks fantastic! And what an unusual, but totally amazing recipe. Thanks for sharing Daisy. I’d never have thought about pairing beets and pasta myself.
Jasmin xx
http://www.whatdefinesus.com
I’ve never had a beet-I think I just changed my mind about them from this post. Wow. Yum.
Thanks Denise! Beets can be a bit labor intensive if you don’t process them often, but the payoff is tremendous! 🙂
Haha yes, beets are so colorful! Thank you for stopping by Shauna!
Thanks Carli! And yes, balsamic is perfect for cutting the creaminess 🙂
Haha it’s very pink indeed! 🙂
Thank you so much Becky!
Hahah it’s very pink! I like beets a lot– it does take some time to get used to cooking them, but they can be just heavenly. Also, stay away from the canned stuff!
Thanks Katie!! 🙂
Hah thanks girl! So glad you can relate, lots of people are telling me they’ve never had them– I think beets can be absolutely heavenly.
Beets are good I promise!! Just stay away from the canned stuff… 😉
Haha thanks! Oooh sweet beets sound delicious 🙂
Thank you Rachel! Beets are definitely earthy, and it takes a good recipe to get the taste just right. Also, avoiding canned beets is key…
Thanks! I think beets can be just heavenly! But stay away from the canned stuff…
They’re really good and surprisingly versatile! 🙂
Beets are amazing! They do take a few tries to get a handle of, but after that you might just be smitten 😉 Don’t get the canned stuff though! It’s gross.
Haha thanks girl! Love caramelized onion too 🙂
Thanks girl! Beets take a few tries to get the hang of, but they’re just so good! And don’t try the canned stuff…
Thank you! It’s even better than it looks!
Definitely don’t cook with beets enough, so unfortunately I have nothing great to add to this as far as recipes go. This looks so delicious and such a great and healthy idea.
Denise
http://www.fashionloveletters.com
I didn’t know food could look this good! Great pics 🙂
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
You are quite the cook Daisy! This recipe sounds so yummy, especially love that it involves balsamic!
xo, carli
http://www.puppiesandpolkadots.com
SO impressive! My daughter would go nuts for this since it come out pink:)
Heidi D.
http://www.wishesandreality.com
I am 100% impressed, girl this is brilliant and I can’t wait to try your recipe! Amazing!
VelvetandVino.com
Well that is most certainly the prettiest plate of pasta I have ever seen! I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever had beets, but I am definitely willing to try this!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
YUM! Can’t wait to try it girl!!
Oh my gosh, Daisy this looks amazing! I know some people aren’t a fan of beets (aka the kiddos I used to babysitt) but I can’t get enough of them! 😉 Thanks for sharing girl! Xo, Alison
http://www.simplyfairbyalisonjeanine.com
You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had a beet. Yep, I know, craziness. I’m not 100% sure I’ll try this but your other recipes always sound so good so this *might* be something I try! 🙂
Yummy even though I don’t like beets:)) Daisy, I only like beets when they are sweet or you add sugar when steam cook it and I would eat it like snack. But for sure your dish looks very pretty and healthy. Thanks for sharing:)
xo
Elmira
http://www.wellputtogetherstylebyelmira.com
This recipe looks delicious, I must try it! Honestly I’ve only had beets once. While I’m a person that loves and craves vegetables, I thought they tasted odd. Now I’m thinking maybe it was the way they were prepared, so I really want to try this! Thanks for sharing, sweetie!
I actually never had beets until about a month ago! But I do like them, and this looks so yummy 🙂
lovejoanna.com
Whoa, yum!! I just started liking beets this year (I’d never tried them before!) and this looks amazing for this pasta-lover right here. Thanks for sharing!
I have never use beets before, actually never even touch one before. Haha! This looks really yummy though, I will be getting some to try!
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Your recipes always look so delicious! Yum!
And caramelized onion?? I’m THERE!
I’ll admit I’ve never cooked with beets before, but this recipe makes me want to go out and buy some right now! Yummm. Great recipe as always 🙂
This looks delicious! x