Beet Pesto Pasta
Thanks to Heather Christo, I’ve got a bright lovely pesto pasta recipe for you today, made with beets!
The kitchen remodel is still underway and, of course, the closer it is to completion the harder it is to wait. I’m trying my best to stay out of the way, but every time I walk by the kitchen I want to step in and just gaze at the beauty …the contractor doesn’t seem to like that.
Another sweet friend is here to share something wonderful with you.
Heather Christo is a culinary rockstar featured in multiple magazines, on TV, and on her blog HeatherChristo.com. She loves to garden and entertain, and makes the most innovative dishes.
Jaw-dropping dishes her little girls will even eat–that’s impressive.
Heather recently published a new cookbook, Heather Christo’s Generous Table. This books is filled with menus that center around celebrations and events we all experience through the seasons.
Heather describes it best in her own words…
And thank you so much Heather for being here today!
Hi everyone! My name is Heather, and Sommer is being so sweet to let me guest post today. I’m a wife and mama to two little girls and live in Seattle (aren’t we Asheville’s “sister” city??) I ramble on about food, entertaining and family over at HeatherChristo.com, and my very first cookbook is out this month (eek!!)
When I tried to decide which recipe to share with you, it was my 5 and 3 year old daughters that came to the rescue. They emphatically said “the pink pasta, the pink pasta!!” Um, what that really means is Beet Pesto Pasta.
It’s an earthy, garlicky, lemony puree of glorious fuchsia beets, and it is in fact STUNNING not to mention really delicious. I mean, there is no way my kids would sit down to a plate of beets. But when a big bowl of this “pink pasta” is placed in front of them, they just gobble it up!
And for those of us that do like (or love) beets, this is a really wonderful treat. I will serve it with a big salad if I am going for a vegetarian meal, or it pairs really well with salmon or pork.
This pasta makes me think of spring, even if only for the color. And aren’t we all craving a little Spring by now?
And the best part for those of us without a ton of time to spare? It is so easy! To make this Beet Pesto Pasta, this is what you do:
First you bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and add the beets. Boil until fork tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Then you drain and rinse the beets with cold water and, using your fingers, rub the skin off the beets.
Chop the beets into quarters and place them in the bowl of a food processor. Add the garlic, pistachios (or almonds), lemon juice and olive oil.
Pulse until you have a smooth bright pink spread, and transfer to a bowl.
Using a spatula, fold in the Parmesan and season with salt. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti to al dente,
according to package directions. Rinse the spaghetti with cool water and drain well. Toss the spaghetti with the pesto and serve immediately. Garnish with extra Parmesan (and the chopped pistachios if desired).
Beet Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
- 3 large purple beets tops trimmed
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup whole raw pistachio nuts plus 2 tablespoons chopped, for garnish (sub peeled almonds)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt
- 1 pound spaghetti
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and add the beets. Boil until fork tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Drain and rinse the beets with cold water and, using your fingers, rub the skin off the beets. Chop the beets into quarters and place them in the bowl of a food processor. Add the garlic, pistachios, lemon juice and olive oil and pulse until you have a smooth bright pink spread.
- Using a spatula, fold in the Parmesan and season with salt. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti to al dente, according to package directions.
- Rinse the spaghetti with cool water and drain well. Toss the spaghetti with the pesto and serve immediately. Garnish with extra Parmesan and the chopped pistachios.
fresh pesto, spaghetti, garlic, pancetta & tomatoes :)
I love pasta with sauteed zucchini, tomatoes, garlic and basil :)
I love cold pasta salad. Congrats to Heather on the book! Love her blog.
Congrats to Heather on her cookbook! Love the trailer and this beet pesto pasta looks brilliant!
I just can’t love beats, no matter how hard I try. But Heather’s book is gorgeous!
Wow, hard to pick a fav pasta. I love lasagnas, but never turn away mac and cheese, penne with any sauce… :)
Oh my, I love pesto so much :) This looks beautiful!
Shrimp Scampi over Linguine.
My favorite pasta recipe is stuffed shells–I just love them! With a little lemon zest.
I have to try this recipe!
I love buffalo chicken mac and cheese!
Congrats Heather; this is the first time I’m seeing your book; SO amazing!!! Can’t wait to read it. xo
This looks delicious! I love homemade pasta with simple egg noodles and a marinara sauce with fresh herbs and lots of garlic.
I love basil pesto and pasta carbonara. I would like to try this beet pesto some time. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love beets and this is an original way to use them. Thanks
Thank you Sommer for the gift of your delightful guest blogger today. Heather, I absolutely never had beets with pasta, and this will be next on the weekend menu for sure! Dying to try it. I come form a northern Italian family, so risotto is a big deal, but pasta is as well. I love the traditional northern talian recipes, but I do love Putanesca for the kick!. Congratulations on your upcoming book. I do hope I’m a winner!
My favorite pasta recipe is good, old fashioned macaroni and cheese. It’s the perfect comfort food any time of the year!
I made this last night and it was fantastic! I had beets on the verge of death and I found this and presto PESTO! My 6 year old LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it.