I paired beets with cashews to create a smooth and savory pasta sauce in the happiest color around! This creamy vegan pink pasta is the sweetest dinner for Valentine's Day...or just a weeknight that calls for dinner that makes you smile!
Can you believe this bright pink pasta sauce?! I can't decide if it's more fun to make, photograph, or eat! My kids weren't always the biggest fan of beets, but I've found that pairing them well makes a world of difference. That's exactly what this easy recipe does, and it's delicious!
If you have little ones who would normally be apprehensive about trying beets, this is the PERFECT recipe. A pasta dish and a fun color? That's a win in our house! My kids couldn't believe that our dinner was pink, and it was so fun to watch them try it and see what they thought of the different flavors.
This creamy beet sauce uses just five ingredients and it'll be ready to go before the pasta is done boiling.
Ingredients of Vegan Beet Pasta Sauce
This is a really, really short ingredient list! It uses just five ingredients (including salt) and all of them have a long shelf life, so you can grab them from the pantry whenever you're in the mood.
- Beet - Use a red beet, cooked and peeled, for this recipe. This is, of course, the source of that amazing pink color!
- Cashews - The creaminess in this pasta sauce comes from raw cashews. Soak them in advance for the perfectly smooth and creamy texture!
- Garlic cloves - I use two fresh garlic cloves, but would reduce it to one if I were making this for kids since they can be sensitive to stronger flavors. For a boosted, dreamy garlic flavor, try roasting the garlic in advance.
- Salt - Start with a teaspoon, then taste and adjust until it's perfect.
- Nutritional yeast - This is optional and will make your pasta sauce taste a bit cheesier. I love adding a bit of nutritional yeast when my kids will be eating it because they go nuts for the cheesy flavor.
How to Quickly Cook Beets
The vibrant, gorgeous pink color in this creamy beet pasta comes from red beets! A lot of people think of beets as earthy and bitter, but when you prepare them right, they add a really wonderful and savory flavor that will surprise you.
Raw beets take a while to cook since they are a heartier root vegetable, which is why I cook them in the Instant Pot.
To quickly cook beets, leave the skins on (remove the leafy greens from the top, though!) and use the steamer basket with 2 cups of water. Cook them on manual high pressure for 18 minutes, then release the steam and let the beets cool before you peel the skins off. They'll slide off easily and just like that, you'll have perfectly cooked beets!
I typically cook a couple at once to use throughout the week in hummus, grain bowls, smoothies and on salads.
How to Make Beet Pasta Sauce
Using a high-speed blender, add the beets, cashews, water, garlic, salt and nutritional yeast (if using) and blend on high speed for 1 minute until it is perfectly smooth and creamy. Stop to scrape down the sides with a mini spatula and re-blend if needed.
Pour the pink blender sauce overtop freshly cooked pasta, mix and enjoy hot. Garnish with vegan feta cheese and fresh dill if desired.
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat on the stovetop until warmed throughout.
Recipe Tips
Cook the beet in advance to save time. If you want to shorten the meal prep time, cook your beet in advance, peel it, and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to pop it in the blender while the pasta boils!
Garnish as you wish. Feel free to add whatever toppings you see fit. Other great options are lemon juice, fresh basil (or any fresh herbs), black pepper and vegan parmesan cheese.
Creaminess from the Cashews
The creaminess in this pasta sauce comes from cashews! Longtime Eating by Elaine readers know that I LOVE cashews and cook with them all the time. Cashews are an incredible plant-based source of protein, and they blend into a incredibly smooth, silky consistency that adds creamy texture to many of my favorite recipes!
Cashews are considered an excellent source of copper and a good source of magnesium, manganese, vitamin K, phosphorous and zinc. For a nut-free vegan pink pasta sauce, make a vegan cream from sunflower seeds!
My Favorite Gluten-Free Pasta
I love the brand Jovial for gluten-free pastas. They have several different varieties, but they all cook and taste just like regular pasta. I also love Andean Dream and Olo brands for pasta without wheat. Any type of pasta would work for this recipe, so pick your favorite and enjoy!
Beets: Health Benefits and How to Select
Beets are low in calories and known to be an excellent source of folate and a good source of potassium, vitamin C and dietary fiber, which is awesome because beets are available year-round!
Choose beets that are round, firm and smooth with non-wilted leaves. Look for a deep red color on the exterior. Beets will last a long time when stored properly: remove the beet leaves leaving one inch of the stem attached, then store in a bag in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Wash your beets well before using. Like potatoes, they're grown underground, so they need a good scrubbing before use!
Here are some of my favorite beet recipes:
More Gluten-Free Pasta Recipes
- Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta with Caramelized Onions
- Easy No-Boil Vegan Baked Ziti with Veggies – One Dish!
- Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Black Lentils and Creamy Marinara Sauce
- Caramelized Onion Apple Pasta with Sage
- Vegan Creamy Pasta Primavera
- Pasta Fresca
- Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Pasta with Roasted Garlic, Olive Oil, Chile and Parsley)
- Roasted Veggie Tomato Sauce for Pasta
- Easy Creamy Vegan Pasta Sauce
- Creamy Vegan Pasta al Limone
Creamy Vegan Pink Pasta made with Beets
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Creamy Vegan Pink Pasta is made with beets and cashews for a smooth and savory pasta sauce in the happiest color around!
Ingredients
- 1 cooked beet, ends removed and peeled*
- 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews (soaked, drained and rinsed in advance**)
- ¾ cup filtered water
- 2 garlic cloves (reduce to 1 clove for kids)***
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- optional: 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (for cheesy flavor)
- 12 ounces gluten-free pasta, cooked according to package instructions
Instructions
- Add beets, cashews, water, garlic, salt and nutritional yeast (if using) to a high-speed blender on the highest speed for 1 minute until perfectly smooth and creamy. Stop to scrape down the sides with a mini sptaula and re-blend if needed.
- Pour the pink blender sauce overtop freshly cooked pasta, mix and enjoy hot. Garnish with vegan feta cheese and fresh dill.
Notes
*I cook my beets in the Instant Pot with the skin on (greens removed) in the steamer basket. Even though this recipe calls for one beet I usually cook 3-4 at a time and save the rest for other recipes. To cook in the Instant Pot, add 2 cups of water and the beets on the steamer basket and cook on manual high pressure for 18 minutes. Manual release and allow the beets to cool before handling. The skin will peel right off - so easy!
** Soak your cashews overnight in filtered water before using, or use my quick-soak method: pour boiling water overtop and let them sit for an hour before blending into this sauce. Learn more about how (and why!) to soak cashews.
***For a boosted, dreamy garlic flavor, try roasting the garlic in advance.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Entree
Keywords: beet pasta sauce
Kim says
My granddaughter absolutely will not eat any vegetables, so we have to hide them. I'm totally making this for her. Now I just have to decide whether to call it "Barbie pasta" or "Unicorn pasta". Either way I know she's going to love it!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Kim! I love your recipe names for this one! I hope this pasta is magical for her!
Sharon Chen says
Didn't expect it to be so tasty and creamy! My kid loved the color but he never knew it was from a veggie! Haha!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Sharon! I'm so happy to hear you and your kid loved it!
Karlie says
What a beautiful, vibrant dish! I topped mine with fresh basil.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you! I love the idea of adding basil to this one! Good call!
Kathleen says
This healthy, nutritious and comforting pasta sounds fabulous.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Kathleen!
Chahinez says
These were the perfect pink dish!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much!