Pesto Pasta Recipe with Beets! (2024)

FAQs

What goes well in pesto pasta? ›

Seafood goes well with pesto pasta. Grilled Cod, Pan Seared Salmon, or Air Fryer Shrimp would all be tasty additions. Meaty Pesto Pasta. For pesto pasta with chicken, toss in my Baked Bone In Chicken Breast or Grilled Chicken Tenders.

How Does Beetroot Affect Pasta? Beetroot elevates pasta with its natural sweetness, earthy flavors, and, most notably, its bright pink color. This not only makes the dish a visual treat but also infuses it with the health benefits of beets, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Pesto Sauce

This fresh and fragrant pasta sauce is served uncooked, so choose a pasta shape that won't overwhelm it. Similar to oil-based sauces, pesto is served best with longer cuts of pasta, like the corkscrew shape of Fusilli. Pesto works best with Bucatini, Capellini, thinner Spaghettini, and Fettuccine.

Add a pinch of salt if the basil tastes too bitter or the pesto needs more zing. Add more Parmesan if you'd like a creamier/cheesier pesto. If desired, you can thin out the pesto with more olive oil.

Vegetables that go with Pesto

In the recipe, we use zucchini, yellow squash and cherry tomatoes. But you can change it up with what you have on hand or what's in season! Ideas to try as a veggie swap: Eggplant.

In Liguria, pesto is usually eaten with trenette (a pasta shape similar to linguine) or trofie (short pasta made by rolling and twirling small pieces of dough by hand). However, I also love it with potato gnocchi.

Beetroot and its juice help your heart and lungs work better during exercise. Nitric oxide from beets increases blood flow to your muscles. Some athletes eat beetroot or drink beet juice when exercising to improve their performance. Beets are rich in folate (vitamin B9), which helps cells grow and function.

People with difficulty breathing after eating beetroot in any form should seek immediate medical attention. Doctors may also recommend that people prone to low blood pressure avoid beetroot powder since it can lower blood pressure levels.

Beetroot juice contains dietary fibre that helps remove digestive waste through the intestines, thereby proving beneficial for people with constipation. However, consuming chopped beetroot added to salad can be more beneficial in such cases.

PESTO SHOULD NEVER BE “COOKED”. If you cook Pesto Sauce, you change the make up of the fresh basil and cause it to turn darker in color. It is best to warm it up and use it at room temperature. If it needs to be thinned out, you can do so by adding a little water, chicken stock, cream or white wine.

What is the best cheese for pesto? ›

Most pesto recipes call for Parmesan cheese; we often use Romano which has a stronger flavor. Basil pesto recipes often call for pine nuts, but you can easily substitute walnuts.

The most common reason for pesto tasting bitter is that the olive oil is past its best and has started to turn rancid. If the pesto has been made in a food processor or blender, there's also the possibility that it has turned bitter from the crude, sheering action of the blades.

Why is my pesto bland? It's likely because you need to add more basil or salt. You want your pesto to taste slightly too salty - that way when it's mixed with pasta the dish won't be bland.

The cause of pesto turning brown, or grey is usually because the herbs have started oxidising. The best way to slow that process is to reduce the amount of time the sauce is exposed to air.

Chicken, sausage, and chickpeas are all delicious mix-ins. If you're in need of side dish inspiration, meanwhile, we've got you covered. Here are a few delicious recipes that pair well with pesto pasta: French Baguettes.

For a protein-rich pasta topper, your best bet is to make a pesto (like this one) that's loaded with pine nuts and Parmesan—two solid protein sources. For a healthier pesto that still boasts an impressive amount of protein, try this superfood version made with sunflower and hemp seeds.