Roasted Beetroot Dip - Perfect Picnic Food | Greedy Gourmet

Question 1

Should I roast the beetroot beforehand?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Roasting beets brings out their natural sweetness, which tones down the earthiness that can be off-putting for some.

Question 2

Why do beetroots taste 'earthy'?

Accepted Answer

For some people, beets taste too earthy. That's due to a compound called geosmin. Geosmin is found in other earthy foods such as spinach and mushrooms. Also... you know that distinctive earthy smell that comes after a rainstorm? That's geosmin!
Some people love the earthy flavour that comes from this particular compound. However, other people are susceptible to geosmin.
That's why roasting them beforehand helps to balance out the flavour.

Question 3

How do you scrub beetroot?

Accepted Answer

As I said, I prefer to scrub beetroot, as you get more flavour and nutrition. However, many people have never tried – if you’ve never cooked a beet before, you might not know how to prepare them for cooking.

Yes, it's time-consuming, but don’t worry, it’s straightforward! First, twist off or cut the stems and leaves and place them on one side. Don’t throw them away – they make for 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; you’ll need to chop off the stems once your beets have been cleaned.

Question 4

Can I make this beetroot dip ahead of time?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. This beetroot dip lasts 3–5 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

You can also heat it through if you’d instead serve it warm. Place it into a saucepan and heat gently until thoroughly warmed.

Description

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition