Beet Hummus

Okay, it might seem like a silly question, but it’s really not! If you’ve never cooked a beet before, you might not know how to prepare them for cooking.

Well, don’t worry, it’s a breeze! First, twist off or cut the stems and leaves and place them to one side. Don’t throw them away though – they make a delicious salad ingredient.

Using a vegetable scrubbing brush, scrub the beets in cold water until all the dirt and debris have been removed. Don’t stress too much about the dirt around the stem area, as you’ll need to chop off the stems once your beets have been cleaned.  

Lots of people think beets taste like dirt. Literally, like dirt. Well, this filthy reputation is completely unwarranted and I’m going to prove it with this recipe.

Firstly, let’s get to the root of the problem. For some people, beets taste too earthy. This is because they contain a compound called geosmin. Geosmin is something that is found in other foods such as spinach and mushrooms.

Some people are particularly sensitive to geosmin. Actually, geosmin is that distinctive earthy smell that comes after a rainstorm. 

Some love it, some hate it. Either way, this can be toned down with certain flavors and modes of preparation. 

First, clean your beets properly. You’ll want to remove all the soil from your beets before you cook them – see the previous section.

Secondly, roasting beets brings out their natural sweetness, which in turn tones down the earthiness that can be off-putting for some.

Adding ingredients like balsamic vinegar to beets when roasting them add even more of a subtle sweet character to their overall flavor. 

Beet hummus is a wonderful way to add extra flavor to snacks as part of a healthy, balanced diet. 
 
Firstly, the main ingredients in beet hummus, beetroot and chickpeas, are both full of nutrients.

Beetroot, or beets, are a great source of fiber, folate, vitamin C, potassium and manganese. They are also packed full of antioxidants.

As you’ll find out below, tahini is also a super healthy ingredient. All of this adds up to what is, despite its rich creamy taste, actually very good for you!

You should also use cooked chickpeas when making beet hummus. You can buy raw chickpeas and cook them yourself.

It can be quite time consuming, so I don’t blame you at all if you buy the ready-cooked stuff, which tastes completely fine.

When you think of hummus, you immediately think of chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice and salt. Oh, and what’s that other thing in there… um…

Oh, yeah… “tahini.” Well, we don’t really need that do we? 

You may not be all too aware of what tahini is, what it tastes like or whether you even need it in hummus at all. In actual fact, tahini is a key part of hummus.

It’s like the bass player in the band – most people don’t even know it’s there. Without it, it just wouldn’t be the same.

Tahini is a paste made from roasted and ground sesame seeds. It’s a traditional Middle Eastern ingredient that brings a slightly salty, nutty, creamy taste and texture to dishes.

That’s why it’s a crucial part of making hummus, both in terms of the delicious savory flavor and smooth silky consistency.

What’s more, tahini is packed full of vitamins and minerals. In fact, eating foods with tahini can lead to an improved immune system, better skin, hair and heart health, liver detoxification and improved cellular function.

How’s that for a super food?!

Yes, you can! Okay, so we’re not talking about morning, noon and night here. Everything in moderation.

Still, keep it to small portions and hummus can certainly be a part of your daily diet. Just make sure you get a balanced variety of foods for optimal healthy heating.

As it’s a really good source of protein and fiber, hummus makes a great alternative to other high calorie foods. In this way, if eaten as part of a balanced diet, hummus can contribute to weight loss.

It’s that old American-British thing again. There’s no difference at all, just a different way of saying things.

In the States, it’s known as a ‘beet’ and in the UK it’s known as ‘beetroot.’

Beet or beetroot hummus is delicious when served as a dip for your favorite crunch raw vegetables. Think carrots, cucumber, pepper or broccoli. Or just go for the breadsticks.

Equally delicious is spreading hummus on toast or crackers.

On that note, have you ever thought of making a hummus sandwich? Yep, I know, it sounds like something you might have made in college for a midnight snack, but trust me.

It’s absolutely delicious! Check out my hummus sandwich recipe and tell me you don’t love it!

First, let’s take care of how to correct overly thick hummus. It sounds simple and it is – just a splash of water or a drizzle of olive oil and should have a smoother, silkier texture.

Now, to make it creamier. Simply add more chickpeas. Or, you could even add a tablespoon of Greek yogurt.