Fresh Roasted Red Beet Hummus

Roasted red beet hummus is packed with essential nutrients including protein, fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C but low in calories!

Roasted Red Beet Hummus

Roasted Red Beet Hummus

Course Snack
Servings 8
Calories 125 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • cup dried chickpeas
  • 4 cups water, divided
  • 8 oz uncooked red beets
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cover chickpeas with 2 cups of water and allow to soak for 6 - 12 hours. Drain and rinse.
  • Add 2 cups of water and chickpeas to a saucepan. Turn heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 90 minutes or until tender, checking occasionally to ensure there is enough water to keep chickpeas from scorching.
  • Drain any excess water and set chickpeas aside to cool.
  • While the chickpeas are cooking, preheat the oven to 400℉.
  • Cut greens off the beets, leaving 1” of the stem. Wash thoroughly, brush with olive oil and wrap in aluminum foil. Roast until tender, 50-60 minutes.
  • Remove the beets from the oven and allow to cool. Peel the beet and cut it into cubes.
  • Combine chickpeas, beets, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil in a food processor. Pulse until smooth, adding additional olive oil as needed to achieve desired consistency. This step can also be done in batches using a blender.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Hack: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 4 months.
  • Hack: Freeze in serving-sized portions for a great and easy snack. Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before eating. If thawed hummus is grainy or lumpy after thawing, give it a quick spin in the blender or mini processor to smooth things out.
  • Hack: One 15 oz can of chickpeas can be substituted for the dried chickpeas. It is not necessary to soak or cook the canned chickpeas.
Keyword appetizer, buffet food, chickpeas, easy, football snacks, garbanzo beans, hors d'oeuvres, hummus, party food, red beets, snacks

Did you know?  Colorful foods add up to a healthy diet!  Check out the benefits of beets here!

Suggestion:  If you love beets, try this colorful orange and beet salad!

Hearty Healthy Black Bean Dip

This healthy black bean dip is a hearty, vegetarian dish that’s both flavorful and tasty. Serve it with chips or tortillas as an appetizer, snack or light meal!

Healthy Black Bean Dip

Healthy Black Bean Dip

Course Appetizer, Snack
Servings 6
Calories 245 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • cup dried black beans
  • 4 cups water, divided
  • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 red onion, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (3 tsp)
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • ¾ tsp smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ cup boiling water
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ¾ cup cheddar cheese (3 oz)

Instructions
 

  • Cover beans with 2 cups of water and allow to soak for 6 - 12 hours. Drain and rinse.
  • Put 2 cups of water and beans to a saucepan. Turn heat to medium. Cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes or until tender, checking occasionally to ensure there is enough water to keep beans from scorching. Drain excess water, if necessary.
  • (NOTE: The above step can be done ahead. Store beans tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.)
  • Heat the oven to 475℉ degrees.
  • Heat olive oil in a saute pan over medium-low heat. Add onions and saute for 5 -10 minutes until translucent but not browned. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about one minute.
  • Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, red pepper flakes and cumin. Saute for 30 seconds.
  • Add the beans, boiling water and generous pinches of salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
  • Transfer to an oven-safe dish and sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top.
  • Bake until the cheese has melted, 5 to 10 minutes. If the top is not as browned as you’d like, run the dip under the broiler for 1 or 2 minutes.
  • Serve immediately with corn chips, crusty bread, pita or rice.
  • Hack: One cup of frozen onions can be substituted for fresh onion in this recipe.
  • Hack: One 15 oz can of black beans can be substituted for the dried beans.
  • Hack: Store leftover dip in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Hack: Freeze leftover portions sealed in serving-sized portions for up to 6 months. Allow to thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating.
Keyword appetizer, black bean, cheesy dip, dip, easy, football snacks, healthy, hearty, legume, snack, vegetarian

Did you know? Black beans are a member of the legume family.  Legumes come in many options, are inexpensive and they’re packed with nutrition!!

Suggestion:  Serve this dip with some authentic Indian flatbread naan!

 

Homemade Cranberry Jalapeño Dip

What are you gonna do with that leftover whole berry cranberry sauce?  How about making this sweet-tart-but-with-a-kick cranberry jalapeño dip?

Cranberry Jalapeño Dip

Cranberry Jalapeño Dip

(Courtesy: Penny Jacques)
Course Appetizer, Snack
Servings 2 tbsp
Calories 71 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Put cranberry sauce in a colander and shake to remove as much jelly as possible, leaving just the sweetened cranberries.
  • Mix cranberries with cream cheese, sour cream and jalapeno pepper.  Refrigerate for several hours to allow flavors to blend.
  • Hack: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Keyword appetizer, buffet, cracker spread, Cranberry, cranberry sauce, cream cheese, dip, football snacks, jalapeno pepper, leftovers, party food, snack, sour cream

Did you know? People call cranberries a superfood for good reason: They have all kinds of health-boosting benefits.

Get the recipe for whole berry cranberry sauce here!

Easy Guacamole Dip in Cucumber Boats

Easy guacamole dip in cucumber boats is a low-carb snack that’s rich in nutrition and healthy fats…oh, and it tastes great!

Easy Guacamole Dip in Cucumber Boats

Easy Guacamole Dip in Cucumber Boats

Course Snack
Servings 2
Calories 175 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and mashed
  • ¾ tsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 tsp freshly chopped cilantro or ⅓ tsp dried cilantro
  • ½ tsp minced garlic
  • 1 cucumber, peeled, split lengthwise with seed removed
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Mix avocado, lime juice, onion, cilantro and garlic in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper on cucumber and fill “boat” with guacamole.
  • Serve immediately.
  • Hack: Place any leftover guacamole in a sealable bag. Roll to press out as much air as possible and seal tightly. Store in refrigerator for up to two days.
  • Hack: Fresh herbs can easily be frozen. Lay flat in a single layer and freeze. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and seal tightly. Store in the freezer for up to 12 months. Alternately, herbs can be chopped and placed in ice cubes trays. Cover in oil and freeze for future use.
Keyword appetizer, avocado, buffet food, cucumber, cucumber boats, dip, homemade quacamole, hors d'oeuvres, Mexican, picnic food, quacamole

Ever wonder how to tell if an avocado is ripe?  How long it will be good after you buy it?  Check out these tips to find out!

Suggestion: Serve this with or mix it with Simple Pico de Gallo (Easy Fresh Salsa) for an extra special treat!

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