'Pink' beetroot pesto pasta with halloumi recipe

Looking for creative ways to add more veggies? This colourful pesto pasta will be a midweek crowd-pleaser.

Written by Harvard Wang

12 May 2025 •2 min read

Packed with antioxidants and fibre, this beetroot pesto pasta dish's pink hue caught my daughter's attention and changed my perception of beetroot. Paired with crispy halloumi, it is a sweet and earthy dish - a fun way to enjoy more vegetables.

Ingredients

- 1 beetroot, wrapped in aluminium foil and baked for 30 minutes
- 50g pine nuts
- 30g panko breadcrumbs
- 30g parmesan cheese, grated
- 400g short pasta (e.g. penne or fusilli)
- 100ml olive oil
- 2 tsp salt
- A squeeze of lemon juice
- 150g halloumi cheese, sliced

What to do

1. Wrap the beetroot in aluminium foil and bake at 180°C for 30 minutes.
2. On a separate tray, combine pine nuts and breadcrumbs, and bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until light brown.
3. Remove beetroot, pine nuts and breadcrumbs.
4. Carefully unwrap beetroot and slice into smaller 2cm chunks.
5. Start cooking the pasta according to the packet instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
6. Combine the roasted beetroot, pine nuts, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and lemon juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding a little pasta water to loosen the pesto.
7. Heat a frypan over medium heat and fry the halloumi slices for 1–2 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Note: Bacon, tofu, or any proteins also work well in place of the halloumi.
8. Toss the cooked pasta with the beetroot pesto until evenly coated.
9. Plate the pasta and top with the crispy halloumi slices. Drizzle with olive oil and your favourite herbs.
10. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe note

Leftover pesto can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It can be served as a dip, or spread on sandwiches, wraps and pizzas.

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Written by Harvard Wang

Harvard is a photographer, food critic, cookbook author, lunchbox maker and professional house husband. See more at instagram.com/harvardwang and soysaucesugarmirin.substack.com

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