Naturally Colored Pasta: Real Food Colors Like Spinach, Beet Root and Butternut Squash
Naturally colored pasta gets its color from real food ingredients, like spinach for green, beet root for red and butternut squash for orange. At Intermountain Pasta, we make colored and flavored pasta in Salt Lake City, bronze-cut and slow-dried, with clean ingredients and always real food.
Color is one of the easiest ways to make pasta stand out on a shelf. A bag of green, red and orange shapes catches the eye from across the aisle. But today’s shoppers read ingredient lists, and they want that color to come from something they recognize. That’s exactly how we do it.
What “naturally colored” means
When we say naturally colored, we mean the color and flavor come from real food ingredients mixed into the dough, and you’ll see each one named in the ingredient list.
We work with 16 real food colorings and flavorings:
- Spinach
- Beet root
- Butternut squash
- Tomato
- Red bell pepper
- Oleoresin paprika
- Turmeric
- Carmine
- Squid ink
- Jalapeño
- Basil
- Parsley
- Garlic granules
- Roasted garlic
- Black pepper
- Lemon oil
You can see the full list on our ingredients and colors page.
A few favorites
Spinach: green
Spinach gives pasta a fresh green color and a gentle, earthy flavor. Green pasta is a classic, and it works beautifully in holiday mixes, spring displays and tri-color blends.
Beet root: red and pink
Beet root gives pasta warm red and pink tones. It’s a showstopper for Valentine’s Day, the winter holidays and any display that needs a pop of color.
Butternut squash: orange
Butternut squash brings a warm golden-orange color and a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It’s perfect for fall and harvest displays and pairs well with simple butter and herb sauces.
Squid ink: black
Squid ink gives pasta a dramatic black color and a savory flavor. It’s a favorite for Halloween displays and seafood pairings.
Why retailers like naturally colored pasta
It’s visual
Color sells. A clear window on the bag lets shoppers see the colors right away, and that’s often what makes them pick it up.
It’s a clean label
Shoppers can read the ingredients and recognize them. “Spinach” and “beet root” are words people trust.
It works with seasonal shapes
Color and shape together are a strong combination. Picture red and green holiday shapes, or orange harvest shapes for fall. Our post on seasonal pasta shapes has more ideas for displays.
It’s versatile
Colored pasta fits gift baskets, kids’ sections, specialty aisles and deli cases.
What to tell your customers about cooking colored pasta
Our colors come from real food, so they behave like real food. A few honest tips you can share:
- Colors soften a little when cooked. That’s normal for colors from real food ingredients. The pasta will still look lovely on the plate.
- Don’t overcook. Cooking it just to done keeps colors brighter and the bite better.
- Keep sauces light when you want the colors to show. Olive oil, butter, herbs and cheese are perfect.
- Store it in a cool, dark place. Like all dried pasta, it keeps best away from heat and direct light.
Why slow drying matters for color
We dry our pasta slowly, at the right temperature and rate. Slow drying helps colors from real food ingredients stay true and keeps the flavor fresh. You can read more in slow-dried artisan pasta explained.
Every batch is also bronze-cut, so colored pasta has the same rough, sauce-gripping texture as our classic pasta.
Our base pasta
Our colored and flavored pastas are made with un-enriched durum wheat semolina. (Our organic einkorn pasta comes plain.)
Ways to carry naturally colored pasta
- Wholesale: approved accounts can stock our colored pastas.
- Private label: you pick the pasta, we fill our bags, your brand goes on the tag. We send you the dieline, or we can provide a designer.
- Custom manufacturing: want a specific color blend, recipe or package? We can make it with your ingredients or packaging.
For private label and custom manufacturing, our minimum is between 700 and 1,200 lbs, depending on the cut and how much it takes to fill a dry room. Filling the whole room is how the pasta dries evenly and gets the flavor and texture you love in artisan pasta. Most orders ship in 4 to 6 weeks.
Display ideas for naturally colored pasta
- Tri-color blend of green, red and orange for an everyday specialty shelf.
- Holiday red and green with seasonal shapes near the register.
- Fall orange with harvest décor.
- Black squid ink pasta for Halloween or a seafood display.
- Gift sets with an olive oil and a jar of sauce.
- A shelf tag that says it simply: “Colored with real food ingredients.”
Let’s make your shelf more colorful
Tell us what colors and shapes you have in mind, and we’ll help you plan. Request a quote, email sales@intermountainpasta.com, or call 801-977-9077. Call anytime and talk to a real person.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How is pasta naturally colored?
Real food ingredients are mixed into the dough. Spinach makes green, beet root makes red and pink, butternut squash makes orange and squid ink makes black.
What ingredients does Intermountain Pasta use to color pasta?
We use 16 real food colorings and flavorings, including spinach, beet root, butternut squash, tomato, turmeric, carmine, squid ink, basil and garlic.
Does naturally colored pasta keep its color when cooked?
The colors soften a little when cooked, which is normal for real food colors. Cooking it just to done helps keep colors brighter.
Is einkorn pasta available in colors?
Our organic einkorn pasta comes plain. Our colored pastas are made with durum wheat semolina.
More answers in our Buyer FAQ.