Beet Lover’s Spaghetti and Meatballs

My wife and I have been enjoying homemade pasta ever since we got back from hiking the AV1 in the Dolomites. One thing we tried to recreate was Beetroot Ravioli from Rifugio Bruto Carestiato, and we think we did a pretty admirable job. But, it got us thinking, “What else could we do with a beet and pasta combo?” Well, here’s what came of that!

We started by infusing our pasta dough with some dried beet powder. Then, we built a sauce from roasted beets! Then, we put it all together (with some chicken meatballs) to form a beet lover’s culinary paradise in a bowl! If you like beets and have some free time, we highly suggest this meal!

Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients (for two servings):

• For your Pasta:
  • 1.5 Cup Semolina Flour
  • 1.5 Teaspoons of Salt
  • 3 Eggs
  • A splash of Olive Oil
  • 1.5 Tablespoons of Beet Powder
• For your Sauce:
  • 1 large Beet
  • Dried Thyme
  • Dried Parsley
  • Black Pepper
  • 8 oz Vegetable Stock
• Meatballs (we used pre-made chicken meatballs for ease, but you can use your favourite meatball recipe)
• Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Peel and cube your beets, and put them in a baking dish.
• Drizzle some olive oil over the beets, and add in your thyme, parsley, and black pepper, and then toss to combine.
• Bake for around an hour.
• Prep your pasta:
  • Put your semolina, salt, and beet powder in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine, and then push it to the sides of your bowl, so there’s a little hole in the middle.
  • Crack your eggs into a mixing cup, and add a little olive oil. Then, beat with a fork.
  • Pour your eggs into the hole in your flour.
  • Starting from the inside of your flour mound, mix your eggs and flour together. Pull in more flour from as you work your way to the outside of the bowl.
  • When your dough is tacky and smooth, wrap it in plastic wrap, and set aside for 30-45 minutes.
• Heat a pot of water with some olive oil and salt so that it comes to a boil at the right time.
• When your beets are done, pull from the oven, and transfer to a blender. Pour in your chicken stock, and puree.
• Heat your chicken meatballs in a large pan, and pour in your beet sauce to heat and coat.
• Spread some flour on a cutting board, and roll out your pasta dough with a rolling pin. You may need to add more flour to prevent sticking.
• Use a pizza cutter to cut your dough into long strips, and then place them into your boiling water.
• Boil your pasta for a few minutes until it’s cooked.
• Plate, devour, and enjoy!