High-Protein Pink Pasta

This pasta is the ultimate lazy girl meal prep. It took me less than 15 minutes to put it together; it’s so easy and a delicious way to add more beets to your diet. We used silken tofu to make it super creamy and higher in protein, bringing this meal to 36g per serving. Combined with whole-grain pasta and some greens, it’s a great balanced meal to promote more plant diversity in your day. ????

Why would you want to add more beetroot to your plate? Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure.

They also contain betalains. Betalains are phytonutrients found in plants that give beets their bright red colour. They have also been shown to provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits – making this pasta one to enjoy on a regular basis!

High-Protein Pink Pasta

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A quick 15-minute meal rich in nutrients from beetroots and boosted with 36g of protein per serving from silken tofu. Perfect to meal prep delicious, balanced meals.

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Prep Time : 5 minutes mins

Cook Time : 15 minutes mins

Total Time : 20 minutes mins

Equipment

• Gold Measuring Cups and Spoons

Servings 4

Ingredients

• ▢ 400 g wholemeal penne
• ▢ ⅓ cup (43 g) cashews
• ▢ 250 g beetroot, cooked
• ▢ 1 lemon juiced
• ▢ 600 g silken tofu
• ▢ ½ cup (22 g) nutritional yeast
• ▢ 1 garlic cloves - more to taste
• ▢ ½ tbsp (0.5 tbsp) onion powder
• ▢ 1 tbsp sweet paprika
• ▢ 1 tsp red chili flakes
• ▢ salt and pepper to taste
• ▢ 1 cup (24 g) fresh basil
• ▢ To serve:
• ▢ Rocket or baby spinach

Instructions

• Soak the cashews in boiling water for an hour.
• Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water.
• Add the beetroot, lemon juice, silken tofu, cashews, nutritional yeast and garlic, onion powder, and chilli flakes to a blender.
• Combine the pasta and sauce and cook for a couple of minutes until the sauce is heated. Stir in the pasta water. Turn off the heat and stir in the fresh basil and black pepper.
• When you’re ready to eat, add a handful of greens and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition Information Nutrition Information

Per Serving/Portion

Calories 607 kcalCarbohydrates 97 gProtein 36 gFat 11 gSodium 144 mgFiber 17 gVitamin A 24 IUVitamin C 10.5 mgCalcium 89 mgIron 4 mg