Fettuccine with Creamy Roasted Beet Sauce

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 80 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

This fettuccine pasta dish is smothered in a creamy roasted beet and Parmesan cheese sauce for a delicious nightshade-free, vegetarian dinner.

Ingredients

3 beets, cut into quarters
1 small sweet onion, cut into quarters
1 head garlic, cloves peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup vegetable broth
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 (16 ounce) package dry fettuccine pasta
1 tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese, or to taste
1 pinch chopped fresh thyme, or to taste

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2 Combine beets, onion, and garlic cloves in a large bowl. Add olive oil, 1 teaspoon thyme, salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Transfer to a baking sheet.
3 Roast in the preheated oven until cooked through and tender, about 1 hour.
4 Remove from the oven and let cool until beets can be handled, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and discard beet skins.
5 Transfer mixture to a food processor. Add vegetable broth and lemon juice; pulse until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan.
6 Stir heavy cream into beet mixture in the saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until it begins to simmer, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese until melted. Set beet sauce aside.
7 Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook pasta at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
8 Pour beet sauce over pasta and toss until well combined. Top with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and a pinch of additional thyme.