Ingredients:

  • 2 medium red beets, scrubbed and stems removed
  • 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed (reserve 2 tbsp liquid)
  • 1/3 cup high-quality tahini
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp ice-cold water
  • 1 English cucumber
  • 4 rainbow carrots
  • 6 radishes
  • 1 cup sugar snap peas
  • 1/2 cup toasted pita wedges

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Wrap the 2 medium red beets tightly in aluminum foil. Place them on a baking sheet
  2. Roast the beets for 45 minutes until a knife slides easily into the center. Allow the beets to cool enough to handle. Use a paper towel to rub the skins off; they should slip away easily. Chop the beets into quarters.
  3. In your food processor, combine the 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/3 cup tahini, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tsp cumin, and 1/2 tsp sea salt. Pulse for 1 minute until the mixture looks pale and thickened.
  4. Add the chopped beets to the processor. Blend for 2 minutes until the mixture is bright pink and no large chunks remain.
  5. Add the 15 oz of chickpeas and the 2 tbsp of reserved chickpea liquid. Process for 3 minutes, scraping down the sides halfway through.
  6. While the processor is running, slowly drizzle in the 2 tbsp of ice cold water. Watch as the hummus turns from a dense paste into a light, whipped mousse.
  7. Slice the English cucumber into diagonal rounds and the 4 rainbow carrots into long sticks. Thinly slice the 6 radishes into rounds. Keep the vegetables in ice water until serving to ensure they stay incredibly crispy.
  8. Spread the beet hummus into a shallow bowl, using the back of a spoon to create swooshes. Drizzle with a little extra tahini if you like. Arrange the sugar snap peas, radishes, carrots, cucumber, and 1/2 cup toasted pita wedges around the bowl.
  9. Sprinkle a tiny bit more sea salt or a few sesame seeds over the top. The aroma of the fresh lemon and cumin should be the first thing your guests notice. Serve immediately for the best texture.