Roasted Beet Puree with Greek Yogurt and Lemon

Roasted beets blend into a silky, jewel-toned puree with greek yogurt, tahini, lemon, garlic, and warm cumin. Serve it as a vibrant dinner side, a spread for flatbread, or a vegetable-forward dip with crisp crudites.
Prep: 15 min · Cook: 60 min · Total: 75 min · Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 0.5 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp fresh dill (chopped)
- 2 lb red beets (scrubbed and trimmed)
- 0.5 cup plain greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp tahini (well stirred)
- 3 cloves garlic (unpeeled)
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 0.25 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- 0.75 tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F (204°C) with a rack in the center position, and line a rimmed half-sheet pan with a large piece of aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Place the 2 lb scrubbed and trimmed red beets and 3 unpeeled garlic cloves on the prepared sheet pan, drizzle with 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, and rub the oil over the beets with clean hands until the surfaces are lightly coated, about 1 minute.
- Fold the foil into a sealed packet around the beets and garlic, then roast on the center oven rack at 400°F (204°C) until a paring knife slides into the largest beet with little resistance, 50-60 minutes.
- Transfer the foil packet to a heatproof cutting board and let it stand closed for 10 minutes so the steam loosens the skins and the beets are cool enough to handle.
- Open the packet carefully to avoid the hot steam, then use paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to rub the skins from the beets; trim away any tough stem ends with a chef's knife.
- Cut the peeled beets into 1-inch pieces on the cutting board and squeeze the softened roasted garlic from its skins; discard the beet skins and garlic skins.
- Add the beet pieces, roasted garlic, 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp well-stirred tahini, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 0.5 tsp ground cumin, 0.75 tsp fine sea salt, 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and the remaining 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil to a food processor fitted with the metal blade.
- Process the mixture on high speed for 1-2 minutes, stopping once to scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula, until the puree is smooth, glossy, and thick enough to hold soft swirls.
- Taste the puree with a clean spoon and adjust only if needed with a small extra squeeze of lemon juice or pinch of salt, then process for 10 seconds more to evenly combine.
- Spoon the beet puree into a shallow serving bowl, use the back of a spoon to make swoops across the surface, and let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes so the flavors settle.
- Sprinkle the puree with 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill just before serving, and serve warm, room temperature, or chilled; if making ahead, refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 149
- Protein: 5 g
- Fat: 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 423 mg
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