It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we cannot think of a better recipe to share than this pink-colored Beet Hummus recipe. This is a vibrant play on classic hummus that’s easily made by putting all the ingredients into a food processor. Not only is the color truly captivating and will look great for any party spread, it is also packed with nutritious, plant-based ingredients. With about a 1/3 cup serving used as a dip for vegetables, you get only about 200 calories, but also 6 grams of protein, 5g of fiber, essential fats, and many vitamins and minerals. Talk about a well-rounded snack. Healthy sure is beautiful!
Ingredients:
- 1 large beet (or 2 small), peeled
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about 2 Tbsp of lemon juice)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Optional toppings: za’tar seasoning, lemon zest, nuts,large salt flakes, chopped herbs (parsley, basil, oregano), sesame seeds, or
swirls of olive oil are great ideas!
Instructions:
Peel the beets and put into a baking dish with ¼ inch of water at the bottom. Cover with foil and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 1 hour. A fork should be able to slide right through. Let cool and cut into quarters.
- Combine the cooked beets, chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, garlic, cumin, and salt in a food processor. While blending, slowly drizzle in the olive oil to combine. Blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. You may prefer more lemon, garlic, or salt.
- Sprinkle on your desired toppings and serve. The hummus will keep in the fridge for 1 week or in the freezer for 3 months.
Nutritional Information:
- Calories: ~1381
- Carbs: 82g
- Fiber: 19g
- Sugar: 8g
- Protein: 38g
Be sure to check in with your health this month to reduce your risk for breast cancer by living a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to reduce your risk for breast cancer:
- Do you drink alcohol? Recommendations are to not drink at all, but if you do, to limit your
consumption. - Do you eat a nutrient rich diet? A plant-based diet full of whole grains, a variety of fruits and
vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats (nuts, vegetable oils, and fatty fish) is
recommended. - Are you at a healthy weight? Being overweight causes increased inflammation and certain hormone
circulation that may increase your cancer risk. - Are you physically active? Exercising for 30 minutes most days of the week can decrease your risk.
- Are you overly stressed? Dealing with emotional or physical stressors in a healthy
way is key to reducing physical signs of inflammation. Support is important!