Beautiful Beet Hummus

Who says hummus has to be brown or tan? What about a beautiful shade of magenta?! The other night we were invited for dinner and when I asked what I could bring I was told, “Either a healthy dessert or an appetizer. You always do a great job of making healthy food taste good.” Okay, appetizer or dessert? My decision – both!

I whipped up a batch of my Carrot Cookies and then searched through my cabinets and fridge. I was able to find chickpeas, garlic, tahini, and roasted beets from the night before. Oh yes – fresh lemons on the tree as well. What do you get when you mix all of these fabulous ingredients together - beet hummus!

Beets are definitely a favorite of mine. Not only are they beautiful in color but they are packed full of nutrients as well. Beets contain a unique phytonutrient called betalain, which is also what gives beets their bold color. There are two common betalains studied, betanin and vulgaxanthin, both of which provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. They also contain nutrients that protect against heart disease, birth defects and some forms of cancer – specifically colon cancer. In addition, these little red veggies are a great source of folate, manganese, and fiber.

Beets are best steamed or roasted and are a great addition to fresh greens, added to hummus, eaten on a veggie pizza (recipe coming soon), or with oil and lemon juice. Enjoy!

 Ingredients:

2 cups of roasted beets

1 cup of chickpeas, drained

¼ cup of water

2 cloves of garlic

2 tablespoons of sesame seeds (or tahini)

1 tablespoon of EVOO

½ teaspoon of cumin

Juice of one fresh lemon

Sea salt

Directions:

Heat EVOO in a small pan, add the sesame seeds, and roast slowly until seeds are golden in color. Make sure that all seeds get coated with the oil and stir frequently to prevent burning. Add all ingredients to a food processor, or high-speed blender, and process until it becomes a creamy, smooth texture.

Transfer to a small serving dish and enjoy! I served this with dense flax bread; however, raw veggies, whole-grain crackers, whole-wheat pita chips, or any other favorite would work as well.