Baby Candy Stripe Beet Fettuccine, Beet Syrup

Fresh Egg Fettuccine with Braised Red Cabbage, Red Onion, Roasted Red Beet
Red Wine Butter Sauce & Beet Syrup
Thyme-Scented Baby Candy Stripe Beet with Fresh Chervil

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t toss those adorable blushing baby candy stripe beets into the pasta. Their charm would have been sadly lost. So the thyme-scented little chioggias were simply sliced in half and arranged around the pasta, with the most incredible concentrated beet syrup, and dainty little sprigs of fresh chervil.

We’re celebrating betacyanin, the pigment that gives beets their fantastic color, which also happens to be a powerful antioxidant. Candy Beet Fettuccine is the second course in a striking beet-centric vegetarian meal prepared for the 5 Star Makeover Cooking Group’s monthly challenge featuring the BEET. It joins first course, Baby Golden Beet Salad, in a color competition, posted yesterday here. Red, pink, or gold?

Components

 Organic Red Beets

season with olive oil, salt & pepper
add several sprigs of fresh thyme
roast, covered, at 400° until soft
let cool, peel, dice

Baby Candy Strip Beets

trim & peel baby candy stripe beets
toss with olive oil, salt and pepper
roast, covered, with several sprigs of thyme
at 425° for about 25 minutes
slice in half lengthwise

 Beet Syrup

peel and juice 6 large beets
reduce over medium-high heat for 30 – 40 minutes to about  1/3 c.
strain through a fine-mesh sieve, cool to room temperature
whisk in  1 1/2 T. grapeseed oil

Fettuccine

sauté sliced half of red onion & sliced half of red cabbage in olive oil until soft
add 1 c. robust red wine, 1 T. rice vinegar, 2 T. sugar
cook for 10 minutes
strain braising liquid into a clean sauce pan
whisk in 2 T. butter, salt & pepper to taste
toss al dente fresh egg fettuccine with cabbage onion mixture and diced beets
combine with red wine sauce and 2 T. beet syrup

 Centerpiece

 Beet Greens

use a few beet greens for the centerpiece
add sprigs of fresh chervil and some wild flowers (purple ice plant)

To Compose

Baby Candy Stripe Beet Fettuccine, Beet Syrup

mound warm fettuccine mixture on a platter
surround with more diced beets
spoon beet syrup around the pasta in a decorative fashion
place baby candy strip beets
garnish with fresh chervil
*cheese aficionados may consider adding French Bucheron or Spanish Cana de Cabra

5 Star Makeover Cooking Group

hosted by 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks!
fabulous beet round-up posts on 2/24/2012

Resplendent Baby Golden Beet Salad

 if you haven’t already
be sure to taste golden beet salad with the eyes here

red, pink, or gold?