Walnut Beet Dip
Truth be told I used to hate beets! I would order a beet salad because I loved all of the other ingredients typically in a beet salad (cheese and nuts) and pick out all of the beets. I was to embarrassed to order a beet salad sans beets because that would just sound weird when ordering - haha! Fast forward and now I love beets. One of my besties made a delicious beet and walnut dip for my baby shower and I wanted to recreate something similar. This is a great dish for almost any diet restricted guest you want to please as it is:
gluten free
dairy free
peanut free
grain free
vegan, paleo, and Whole 30
Walnuts are actually my favorite nut! Seriously! I know I am one of the few that would go as far to say that it is my favorite of all the nuts but it is true. I have to eat some every day. I literally crave them. Why should you love walnuts too? Here are a few benefits:
highest in omega 3 of all nuts. omegas are brain food and fight inflammation.
contain high amounts of cooper, manganese, molybdenum, Vitamin E and biotin
contain L-arginine (amino acid) which supports heart health
where else can you quickly and easily get protein, healthy fats, fiber, plant sterols, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals?!?
mood booster
And this beet walnut dip is a delicious way to up your walnut intake. It is also a fun change up to hummus. I don’t think there is a healthier dip out there so dig in and eat until your heart is content.
Walnut Beet Dip
INGREDIENTS
3/4 c raw walnuts
1/2 c EVOO
2 packages of organic Love Beets (16 oz total)
Pink salt & pepper to taste
2 tsp of fresh chopped Thyme, mint, or basil
2 tsp lemon zest
DIRECTIONS
Blend all ingredients together except for 1 tsp of herbs and 1 tsp zest, in a food processor.
Using a spatula pour puree into your favorite serving dish and top with remaining 1 tsp lemon zest and 1 tsp of herbs.
Use fresh veggies (carrots, endive, sliced radish, etc.) tortilla chips, or crackers to dip away.
*This makes a great puree to place under fish or chicken or even use as a pasta sauce and thin out with some starchy cooking water from the pasta.