BEET CREAM PASTA

4 servings, 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 small beets, peeled, chopped into medium chunks 

• 1/2 cup fresh basil, lightly chopped

• 1/2 cup coconut milk or coconut cream

• Juice of 1 lemon 

• Salt and pepper to taste 

• 16oz bag of fussili pasta of your choice (slow dried, brown rice, red lentil, GF pasta)

• Olive oil for drizzle 

• Fresh basil for topping 

• Fresh parmesan cheese for topping (optional)

• Steamed kale for the side 

DIRECTIONS

1. Start by cooking the beet until it is tender - add peeled and chopped beets to a small pot with water (enough to cover the beets), bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer, cook until fork tender (about 20 minutes, if you chopped your beet in smaller chunks, it will take less time) adding more liquid if needed.

2. Once the beets are cooked, strain and add them to a food processor or blender with the basil, coconut milk, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Blend into a sauce.

3. Cook the pasta according to package directions, strain, but reserve about 1/4 cup of the cooking pasta liquid in the pot. 

4. Pour the beet sauce over the cooked pasta and mix with the pasta water.

5. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh basil, optional parmesan cheese, and steamed kale on the side. Enjoy! 

#lunch #dinner #vata #pitta #kidfriendly #winter #fall #spring #italian

Notes

• This is a no-fuss recipe that could be considered one pot if you don't count the pot to cook the pasta. Easy peasy.

• Beets build the blood and are helpful in cases of anemia and liver/ gallbladder issues. They are also known to promote menstruation and regulate menopause & perimenopause symptoms. Probably because they're grounding nature makes them very vata balancing.

• BUT their warming nature can sometimes aggravate pitta. So if you are a pitta and you have had a lot of beets, expect to be aggravated - they are demulcent and tend to have a laxative effect on pittas :). They mildly aggravate kapha due to their sweet nature.

• We know that kaphas don't do great with coconut cream or pasta so if kapha, feel free to use coconut milk instead of cream or another plant-based milk that is less fatty and serve with a side of steamed kale/ any leafy green to balance the heaviness of the pasta.