Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook whole-wheat pasta according to package directions.

2. While pasta cooks, combine beets, Parmesan cheese, nuts/seeds, garlic, oil, and seasonings in a food processor or blender to make the pesto. Blend until smooth. Add a bit of the reserved liquid from the beets, or some additional oil if it is too thick or grainy.

3. When pasta is cooked, reserve some pasta water and drain the rest. Do not rinse pasta after draining. Transfer cooked whole-wheat pasta to a large bowl. Add the beet pesto and toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. If the pesto is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water and mix some more.

4. When ready to serve, divide into plates and top with a cheese of your choice (optional).