Beet Pasta with Goat Cheese, Pesto, Blistered Cherry Tomatoes & Seared Chicken


🕒 Prep Time: 20 mins
🍳 Cook Time: 30 mins
🍽 Serves: 4
🛒 Ingredients
For the Pasta:
• 12 oz of Val’s fresh organic Beet Pasta
• 2 medium beets, roasted and peeled
• 2 oz goat cheese (plus extra for topping)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Optional: 1–2 tbsp pasta water (to thin sauce)
Protein (Your choice: here's seared chicken breast):
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt & pepper
• Olive oil
• Optional: garlic powder, thyme
Toppings & Garnish:
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ cup pesto (store-bought or homemade)
• ⅓ cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
• Zest of 1 orange
• Extra goat cheese, crumbled
• Balsamic glaze (for drizzle)
🔪 Instructions
1. Roast the Beets
• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Wrap beets in foil and roast for ~40–50 mins until fork-tender.
• Let cool slightly, then peel and chop.
(Pro Tip: Do this step ahead to save time.)
2. Cook the Pasta
• Boil salted water and cook pasta al dente.
• Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
3. Make the Beet Goat Cheese Sauce
• In a blender or food processor, combine:
◦ Roasted beets
◦ Goat cheese
◦ 2 tbsp olive oil
◦ 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
◦ Salt & pepper
• Blend until smooth. Add pasta water a little at a time to reach a creamy, sauce-like consistency.
4. Sear the Chicken
• Season chicken with salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder.
• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high.
• Sear chicken 4–5 mins per side until golden and cooked through.
• Let rest 5 mins, then slice thinly.
5. Blister the Cherry Tomatoes
• In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp oil and cherry tomatoes.
• Cook on medium-high until skins blister and burst slightly (~5 mins).
• Sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
6. Assemble the Dish
• Toss cooked pasta with the beet-goat cheese sauce.
• Plate pasta and top with:
◦ Sliced chicken
◦ A few dollops of pesto
◦ Blistered cherry tomatoes
◦ Chopped toasted walnuts
◦ Crumbled goat cheese
◦ Orange zest
◦ Drizzle of balsamic glaze