This middle eastern inspired golden beet spread is as delicious as it is healthy and pretty to serve. It would make a great addition to any party platter to dip vegetables or spread on pieces of toasted flatbread, and is versatile enough for adding to sandwiches too. The beets give the spread a nice sweet flavor, without any added sugars. And the golden beets make it incredibly bright and colorful, beautiful alongside your veggies. Doesn’t something that’s pretty make it even yummier to eat? I’m not sure how that works.
Golden beets are slightly sweeter than red ones, and you can use either variety for this recipe. I simply had golden beets on hand, and wanted a sweet spread to accompany some tangy flavors in a sandwich I was making, so chose to run with the golden beets and loved the flavor. So do feel free to experiment with either kind of beet for this recipe.
About za’atar spice
Za’atar is a middle eastern blend of spices and sesame seeds that is added to many different kinds of recipes, or even eaten as a condiment (such as a dip or topping for bread). I was introduced to this spice on a flatbread, where it is the predominant element along with a drizzle of olive oil and is absolutely amazing (I am seeking a good way to remove the olive oil from the equation – stay tuned!). Here is the history and additional information from Wikipedia.
You can either make Za’atar or purchase the finished product from a middle eastern grocery store or online. It is inexpensive and easy to find, as long as you are at the right kind of market (either large enough, or one that carries middle eastern foods). If you make your own, it’s only four ingredients.
Golden Beet Spread
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Wash and add the golden beets to a roasting pan, and roast in oven for around 1 hour.
- Deseed and chop the jalapeno into several pieces.
- Once tender, remove from oven and let cool. Peel and slice the beets into pieces, and add to food processor with the garlic, jalapeno, and vegan yogurt. Process until smooth.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients along with the paste to a mixing bowl, add combine well.
Notes
You can find vegan yogurt in most natural food grocery stores these days. Find an unflavored yogurt for this recipe. You can also make your own yogurt quite easily with a little bit of patience. Here is a basic overview, and a whole number of recipes, at One Green Planet.
Benefits of beets
Beets are a nutritious addition to a plant-based diet. They sometimes get a bad rap because of their sugar content, however they are loaded with fiber which means your body can easily process the sugar and you don’t experience the negative effects associated with processed sugar (where the fiber is stripped out).
- For information on the nutrition found in golden beets, see this page.
- See this page to learn more about beets, sugar, and fiber.
- Wondering what the difference is between golden beets and red ones? Look no further.
- Find nutritional information for beets here.
