Delicious Roasted Carrots and Beets with Tahini: A Healthy & Flavorful Side Dish
Transform your meal with this incredibly easy and remarkably flavorful side dish: Roasted Carrots and Beets with Tahini. This vibrant recipe masterfully combines the natural sweetness of roasted root vegetables with a creamy, zesty tahini sauce and the delightful crunch of toasted pistachios. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or as an elegant addition to your holiday spread, it’s a versatile dish that promises to impress with its simplicity and rich taste. Roasting vegetables is truly the secret to unlocking their deepest flavors and natural sugars, making them irresistible.
Roasted Carrots and Beets with Tahini: A Culinary Delight
There’s something truly magical about roasted vegetables, and here at our kitchen, they are an absolute favorite! The oven’s dry heat caramelizes their natural sugars, intensifying their sweetness and creating beautifully tender textures with slightly crispy edges. This transformative cooking method is why you’ll consistently find a variety of roasted vegetables gracing our dinner table throughout the year.
Among our cherished roasted vegetable recipes are classics like Roasted Broccoli, the exotic Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower, and our vibrant Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables. But today, we’re shining a spotlight on a truly special combination: Roasted Carrots and Beets with Tahini. This dish takes humble root vegetables and elevates them into a sophisticated and incredibly satisfying side.
If you’ve never experienced the delight of roasted beets, you’re in for a treat! When subjected to the oven’s warmth, beets lose some of their characteristic earthy notes that some people find challenging, transforming instead into incredibly tender, sweet, and mellow morsels. Paired with the familiar sweetness of roasted carrots, this duo creates a harmonious base for our dish. What truly sets this recipe apart is the addition of toasted pistachios, which provide a fantastic textural contrast and nutty flavor, along with a generous drizzle of our creamy, tangy tahini sauce. A final sprinkle of fresh parsley adds a burst of freshness, making this combination the perfect accompaniment to almost any meal.
This exquisite Roasted Carrot and Beet recipe is inspired by The Middle Eastern Kitchen: Authentic Dishes From the Middle East, a cookbook I recently had the pleasure of reviewing. Upon receiving this culinary gem, I knew immediately that I had to share its wonders with all of you.
For many of you who frequent my website, your interest lies in Mediterranean recipes and the health-focused Mediterranean diet. If this resonates with you, then this cookbook is an absolute must-have! It serves as a fantastic gateway to the rich and diverse flavors of the Middle East, offering a treasure trove of traditional and contemporary dishes.
The cookbook features many classic Mediterranean and Middle Eastern staples such as vibrant tabbouleh, creamy hummus, crispy falafel, smoky baba ghanoush, and various delectable grain bowls. I personally love having a diverse collection of cookbooks and online resources to draw inspiration from for my weekly meal planning, especially when it comes to discovering new and exciting Middle Eastern recipes. This particular book stands out not only for its approachable and easy-to-follow recipes but also for the variety of innovative and delicious dishes it introduces. It truly makes Middle Eastern cuisine accessible and enjoyable for home cooks of all skill levels.
Are Beets Healthy? Unpacking Their Nutritional Power
Absolutely! Beets are nutritional powerhouses, often referred to as “superfoods” due to their impressive array of health benefits. They are naturally low in calories but burst with essential vitamins and minerals that are crucial for overall well-being. These vibrant root vegetables are an excellent source of vitamin B9 (folate), which is vital for cell growth and function. They also provide a significant amount of dietary fiber, promoting healthy digestion and helping to regulate blood sugar levels.
Beyond these, beets are packed with manganese, a trace mineral involved in bone formation and metabolism, as well as iron, essential for red blood cell production and oxygen transport. You’ll also find a good dose of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, and potassium, which plays a key role in maintaining healthy blood pressure and fluid balance. Regular consumption of beets can contribute to keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range, actively fighting inflammation throughout the body, improving digestive health, and supporting cognitive function and brain health. Incorporating beets into your diet is a simple yet effective way to fuel your body with an abundance of beneficial nutrients.
Nutritional Information of Carrots: More Than Just Good for Your Eyes
Carrots are another highly nutritious vegetable, widely recognized for their vibrant color and crunchy texture. While famously known for supporting eye health, their nutritional profile extends far beyond that. Carrots are an outstanding source of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that the body converts into Vitamin A. Vitamin A is critical for good vision, immune function, and healthy skin.
In addition to beta-carotene, carrots supply a generous amount of potassium, which is important for heart health and maintaining fluid balance. They are also rich in dietary fiber, aiding digestion and contributing to a feeling of fullness, which can be beneficial for weight management. Vitamin K1 is another key nutrient found in carrots, playing an essential role in blood clotting and bone health. The antioxidants present in carrots, including beta-carotene and other carotenoids, help to combat oxidative stress, potentially lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Adding carrots to your meals is a delicious way to boost your intake of these vital nutrients.
How Do You Make Roasted Carrots and Beets? Simple Steps for Flavorful Results
Creating this delicious side dish is incredibly straightforward, requiring minimal effort for maximum flavor payoff. Follow these simple steps to bring this vibrant dish to your table:
- First, preheat your oven to a robust 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). This ensures the vegetables roast efficiently, developing that desirable caramelized exterior and tender interior.
- Begin by preparing your vegetables. Thoroughly wash and peel the beets and carrots. The key to even roasting is to chop them into consistent, bite-sized pieces. While you can opt for larger or smaller chunks, remember that the roasting time will vary accordingly. Aim for a medium size, roughly quartering the beets and cutting carrots into similar wedges. This ensures they cook evenly and become tender at the same rate.
- In a large mixing bowl or directly on your baking sheet(s), toss the chopped beets and carrots generously with olive oil, ensuring every piece is lightly coated. Season them with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and any additional spices like cumin and coriander as per the recipe. Spread the seasoned vegetables in a single, even layer on a baking tray. If you have a large quantity, it’s crucial to use two baking sheets to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to steaming instead of roasting. Roast for approximately 1 hour, or until the vegetables are fork-tender and slightly caramelized at the edges.
- While the carrots and beets are beautifully roasting in the oven, take this time to prepare the creamy tahini sauce and toast your pistachios. For the sauce, simply whisk together tahini, Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh lemon juice until smooth and creamy, then season with salt to taste. For the pistachios, you can quickly toast them in a dry skillet over low heat for 5-6 minutes until fragrant, or spread them on a separate baking sheet and roast for 5-10 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Once the vegetables are perfectly roasted, remove them from the oven. Arrange them artfully on a serving platter. Drizzle generously with the prepared tahini sauce, allowing its creamy texture and tangy flavor to complement the sweet vegetables. Finally, sprinkle the toasted and coarsely chopped pistachios and fresh parsley over the top for a burst of color, crunch, and herbaceous notes. Serve warm and enjoy!
What Should I Pair These Roasted Beets and Carrots With? Versatile Serving Suggestions
The beauty of these Roasted Carrots and Beets with Tahini lies in their incredible versatility, making them a fantastic accompaniment to a wide array of main courses. Their sweet, earthy flavors, combined with the creamy tahini and crunchy pistachios, complement both rich and lean proteins beautifully.
I particularly love pairing this dish with grilled meats. The vibrant vegetables provide a fresh contrast to savory proteins. Consider serving it alongside succulent Shish Tawook Chicken, adding it as a flavorful component to a Mediterranean Steak Rice Bowl, or pairing it with this delicious Chicken Shawarma Recipe. The bright flavors truly cut through the richness of the meat, creating a balanced and satisfying meal.
Seafood also makes a wonderful pairing. The subtle sweetness of the roasted vegetables harmonizes beautifully with lighter fish dishes. A few of my favorite seafood pairings include this easy and flaky Baked Cod with Lemon Recipe, a perfectly cooked Black Sea Bass, or the ever-popular Garlic Salmon. The tahini sauce adds a unique, creamy element that ties everything together.
Beyond proteins, these Roasted Beets and Carrots are also a fantastic side for hearty vegetarian meals or as a complement to a comforting bowl of soup. Enjoy them alongside this warming Red Lentil Coconut Soup or a classic Homemade Minestrone. Their robust flavors and satisfying texture add depth to any soup-based meal. You could even integrate them into a grain bowl with quinoa or couscous for a complete and nutritious vegetarian main course. Whether you’re planning a casual weeknight dinner or an elaborate holiday feast, this dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
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Roasted Carrots and Beets with Tahini
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Ingredients
- 8 beets, quartered
- 8 carrots, peeled, cut into wedges- same size as the beets
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup pistachios, toasted and coarsely chopped
- 1 teaspoon tahini
- 1 Tablespoons Greek yogurt, plain
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- Salt to taste
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the beets, carrots, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a roasting plan. Roast for 1 hour, or until tender.
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Meanwhile, for the dressing, whisk together the tahini, yogurt, extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl. Add salt to taste.
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Transfter the roasted vegetables to a platter and drizzle with the tahini dressing and add the pistachios.
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Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- To toast a large quantity of whole nuts, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the nuts onto a baking sheet in a single layer, then roast for 5-10 minutes. Check them regularly, because they will burn easily.
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Nutrition
Calories: 182kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 0.1mg, Sodium: 531mg, Potassium: 699mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 13652IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 62mg, Iron: 2mgNutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.