Farfalle w/ Beets, Feta & Pine Nuts



Wow.
That's all I have to say about how this pasta dish turned out.

What a nice surprise. Using ingredients that I had on hand, this made for a delicious vegetarian dinner.

I found some little golden beauties at the grocery store (shocking) and grabbed them immediately. I used a half of a red onion that was left in the fridge, and a vidalia onion.



If you use only red beets, the pasta will turn pink, I can guarantee it.
I used both red and baby golden beets for this dish but next time I will use only the yellow, and why waste the beet greens? Throw them in too.



Farfalle w/ Beets, Feta & Pine Nuts:

8 oz. package of farfalle (bowties) pasta
olive oil
2 bunches of golden baby beets
1 red onion, sliced
1 white onion, sliced
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
reserved beet greens w/ stems, washed and sliced into 4" pieces
kosher salt & pepper
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup feta cheese (optional)
1/4 cup reserved pasta water



To roast the beets: (roast red and yellow beets separately)

Wash the beets and cut off the greens, leaving about 2" of stems left on.
Make a foil packet for the beets, and drizzle with olive oil and kosher salt.
Fold up the packages and roast in a 400F oven for about an hour, until beets are tender.
When cool enough to handle, slip off the skins and cut the beets into quarters or dice.



While the pasta water is boiling, prepare the onions and beet greens.
In a large skillet (big enough to hold the pasta), heat olive oil and cook the onions on medium heat for about 6 minutes. Now add the garlic, and saute another minute.

Add the beet greens and cook with the onions for an additional 6 minutes, until the greens and stems are wilted and soft. Add the pine nuts at the last minute to the skillet.
Splash with the balsamic vinegar and turn off heat.



Once your pasta is done, save 1/4 cup of the starchy water and add it to the greens and onions in the skillet. Add your pasta and toss to combine everything.

Transfer to a large serving platter and carefully mix in your beets and top with feta cheese.



Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Comments

Nisrine said…
Brilliant pasta dish and so wholesome. The golden beets are a great addition to this dish.
Good morning Stace, this is a nice pasta dish to wake up to!Love the beet greens.
The JR said…
The title of your post has 4 ingredients that I don't normally use or eat.

It's still a pretty dish, and I know I like pasta and feta.
Anonymous said…
Just beet it. Beet it.
Joanne said…
I think my resolution this year needs to be to learn to like beets. I know I do somewhere deep within my soul...I just need to find it. This recipe looks fabulous though!
The MacKay Way said…
This looks perfect for the cool May weather we're having! Thanks!
Oui, Chef said…
Stacey, what a gorgeous and inspired dinner on the fly....nicely done. I LOVE the combo of beets and feta, they are the perfect salty-sweet for me. - s
Beets + feta = deliciousness. This dish looks great!
Foodiewife said…
I don't like red beets. No matter how I try, I just don't like them. Now, golden beets I can handle. Roasted makes them even better. Craig loves beets, and I think he'd love this dish. Great dish, Stace!
Dana said…
I ordered a beet salad with beets on the side the other night so Randy would share it with me. He didn't even want the beets touching the lettuce. Silly boy!! I wish, oh wish, that he would eat them but he won't. You can make this for me when I visit.
tasteofbeirut said…
I adore beets and this dish would win my vote!