Beet Hummus (Mutabal Shawandar)

Beet Hummus is a traditional Syrian appetizer known as "mutabal shawandar," literally translating to "beet dip."  I'm classifying it as hummus because of the parallel to traditional chick pea hummus with the inclusion of tahini and lemon. As a child my mom did not make this and we would only eat it occasionally on trips to the Middle East, so I've put this together using only my sense of taste and memory and when my older family members (who are TOUGH critics when it comes to authentic cooking) tried it they gave a thumbs up...after some constructive criticism of course ;)

If you buy your beets boiled and peeled to save time (Trader Joe's and Costco both sell them in the refrigerated section of their markets) this is literally done in 3 minutes. So.so.so. easy and I LOVE the POP of color! This is a great side dish for game nights, bbq's or as a snack. Serve it cold or at room temperature...prepare it in advance and give it a quick stir before serving...no matter how you eat it the bright hues will cheer you up and satisfy your eyes before you even take a bite.

I'm a huge fan of using seasonal produce throughout the year and beets get major points because as a root veggie they are easy to get a hold of at any time. During the winter I love to eat this because I find it fun and refreshing, and during the summer its really satisfying because it's light and doesn't require any heated preparation. Anytime I can spend less effort for great results I'm in! Who's with me?

Funny story about the picture above. I took this plate out to photograph it and my boys came running after me wanting to get in the shots. One was dressed in an Iron Man costume and the other was mid costume switch lol.  They each grabbed a pita chip and cucumber and took a dip into the hummus. Without thinking about it Iron Man took a bite and exclaimed in surprise "Wow, I actually like it!"  When I finished my photos they eagerly polished off everything on the plate...needless to say I was thrilled because beets are SO HIGH in vitamin c and are an excellent immune booster and form of potassium and fiber! Go make this!!!

Serves 4-6

Ingredients
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-1 pound peeled and boiled beets
-1/4 cup Greek yogurt
-2 tablespoons tahini
-1 tablespoon lemon juice
-1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
-1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

Optional garnish: chopped parsley, walnuts, olive oil or black sesame seeds

*Serve with pita chips, pita bread, crackers and a variety of veggies

To make
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-Place you boiled and peeled beets (make sure they are cold and you have drained them from any liquid) into a food processor and pulse the mixture together until they are in small chunks. Do not puree to a complete paste to retain some texture in your dip.  If you do not own a food processor, you can grate the beets using a vegetable grater on the coarse side of the grater.
-Add the remaining ingredients (Greek yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses and salt) and mix together. Taste and adjust salt/pomegranate molasses content until it is tangy enough for your taste. If your dip is too watery, add more tahini. If it is too thick, add a little more Greek yogurt. Do not add water!
-Transfer to a bowl and add optional garnish.
-Serve with pita chips/bread/fresh veggies and enjoy!

Try these other delicious dips!

Babbaganoush

Guacamole

Olive and Garlic Cheese Dip

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Kishkeh Khadra: Yogurt, Whole Grain and Walnut Spread

Kishkeh Khadra is a protein and fiber packed dish that is a traditional breakfast item in Syria. I love preparing it because it comes together very quickly, can be made in advance, has versatile uses and is HEALTHY. I make a batch of this right before the weekend and we enjoy it for SavvyChef's legendary Sunday brunches and then as quick sandwiches throughout the week.

Traditionally the preparation process was lengthy and had to be planned for in advance. Fine bulgur (cracked whole wheat grain) would soak on a counter top for a few days until the bulgur had softened and the yogurt had soured. Then the "green" ingredients (onions and parsley) would be added and the toppings (Greek kalamata olives, walnuts and olive oil) would complete the meal.

Around these parts I've condensed the process into as little as 30 minutes...without compromising flavor or authenticity! I've done this by providing an optional hot water soak of the bulgur to soften it before adding to the yogurt and by adding a splash of lemon juice to achieve the sour tang to the yogurt that typically takes a couple days to accomplish.  Most days I'll quickly mix the yogurt, bulgur, salt and lemon juice the night before and pop it back into the fridge until I'm ready to add the rest of the ingredients. This is a handy meal for entertaining because of its "make-ahead" qualities.

Kishkeh Khadra always finds a place on my brunch displays and most people who haven't grown up eating it still love it and request the recipe. I can't tell you how many times I've texted it to friends or sat around a table as the hostess verbally shared the steps involved. Everyone's way varies slightly. Some people replace the yogurt with sour cream (don't try this, its not good) but here I'm going to give you the quickest and most authentic method. Warm pita bread and a sweet cup of tea take this this dish to higher levels of bliss :)

I go out of my way to expose my children to foods that are out of their comfort levels and to treat wholesome eating as a way of life, not as an effort that needs to be made. Knowing that my children are consuming high amounts of protein (yogurt and bulgur), whole grains and fiber (bulgur), healthy fats (walnuts and olive oil) and iron (parsley) really encourage me to keep this option available. This also makes a great post workout snack with some carrots, cucumber or celery sticks!

Serves 4-6

Ingredients
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-2 cups plain yogurt (Full fat really makes a difference in the creaminess and flavor)
-1/2 cup fine bulgur (cracked wheat, labeled as #1)
-1/2 tablespoon salt
-1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
-1 cup chopped parsley
-3/4 cup diced greed onions
-1/2 cup chopped walnuts

**If using 30 minute preparation method you will need 1/2 cup boiling water**

Garnish:
-kalamata olives
-chopped walnuts
-extra virgin olive oil

To make
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-Mix together yogurt, bulgur, salt and lemon juice in a container. Return to fridge and leave overnight (or up to 1 week). QUICK OPTION: Soak bulgur in boiling water for about 25 minutes (or until soft) then mix together with yogurt, salt and lemon juice.
-When you are ready to serve stir in chopped parsley, green onions and walnuts. Taste and adjust salt and water content. If the mixture is too stiff add water or yogurt 1 tablespoon at a time until you have the consistency of a chunky dip or something resembling hummus.
-Spread mixture on to a serving platter or bowl and top with kalamata olives, chopped walnuts and a drizzle of olive oil.
-Serve with pita bread and tea, veggie sticks or as a spread in sandwiches.
Enjoy!

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Looking for more brunch items? Try my other go-to dish: A delicious yogurt, pita and garbanzo bean dish called Tisi'yeh!

Babbaganoush

Babbaganoush is a versatile salad, dip, appetizer or side dish consisting of roasted eggplant and fresh vegetables. It has gained in popularity as a healthy vegan option in the past few years and there are lots of variations out there. I'm sharing the traditional Middle Eastern way as prepared in Syria. Other versions that are made with tahini are actually an eggplant dip (imtabal) while this is more of a chunky salad. I love having leftovers of this salad sitting in my fridge for a quick lunch. Babbaganoush is a sensory experience of different flavors and textures, and lots of bright colors that enhance any food display.

Serves 2 as a main salad or 4 as an appetizer or dip

Ingredients
---------------
-1 large eggplant (aubergine). Mine weighed 1.25 pounds
-1 cup diced tomato
-1 cup chopped walnuts
-1 cup chopped parsley
-1 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
-2/3 cup finely diced green onions
-1-2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (plus more to drizzle at the end)
-1 teaspoon lemon zest (or lemon juice, but I like the flavor of zest more)
-salt to taste
-Optional: drizzle of olive oil at the end

To make
------------

Roasted, cooled and ready to be peeled

-Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash and dry the eggplant and pierce all around with a knife, creating pockets for the steam to emerge while roasting. Place on a baking pan and put in the center rack of your preheated oven for 45-60 minutes until the peel looks dry and the eggplant is very soft to the touch. Remove from the oven and let it cool before handling. As it cools and the steam emerges it will collapse. If you are preparing this in advance at this point you can refrigerate it for several days.
-Peel the cooled eggplant and place the insides into a mixing bowl. Add the chopped tomatoes, walnuts, parsley, pomegranate and green onions. Add pomegranate molasses, lemon zest and salt. Stir and taste. Adjust pomegranate molasses and salt to your taste.
-Top with a drizzle of pomegranate molasses and optional olive oil. Serve with pita chips or pita bread.
-Enjoy!

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Chipotle Black Bean Quesadillas with Cumin and Chive Dipping Sauce

This quesadilla was sort of a happy accident...I didn't even plan on posting the recipe (hence the lack of great photos) but so many of you have requested it after my instagram photo that I figured you'd be happy to find out how easy it was! I recently mentioned I've been trying to focus on more vegetarian dishes, and this dish was born as a replacement to chicken quesadillas. It's embarrassingly simple. I kinda don't want to tell you about it. But hey...we all need those "halfway there" meals, right?

I made these to take to a girl's night and they vanished pretty quick.  I heard that the ones I left at home for my family also disappeared. So I'm thinking these babies are either pretty tasty or they have a magic component that makes them vanish into thin air...

Serving: 1 quesadilla

Ingredients
---------------
-1 10 inch flour tortilla
-1 Morning Star chipotle black bean veggie burger (I purchased at Costco)...alternatively if you don't have access to these veggie burgers you can mix a 15 ounce drained can of black beans and same sized can of drained corn with 1 tablespoon taco seasoning, but it won't have the exact same texture or flavor that everyone is raving about.
-3 tablespoons shredded Mexican blend cheese
-cooking spray
-1 teaspoon taco seasoning

To make
-----------
-Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
-Spray tortilla with cooking spray and sprinkle taco seasoning over the oiled side. Fold over flour tortilla in half to make a half moon, with the seasoned side facing out. Open the tortilla up and sprinkle half the shredded cheese.
-Remove the veggie burger from package and break it up to fit over the cheese. Don't worry about precooking the veggie burger.
-Sprinkle the remaining portion of cheese and close the tortilla into half moon shape.
-Place onto a baking sheet and bake in the middle rack of the oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until the tortilla crisps and cheese melts
-Remove from the oven and cut in half.
-Serve with dipping sauce.
-Enjoy!

Cumin and Chive Dipping Sauce
----------------------------------------

This sauce is very versatile and one I make to accompany many dishes. I switch up the flavors a little bit every time but I've found that my basic version is everyone's favorite, so that's what I'll share with you :)

Ingredients
--------------
-1 cup plain yogurt (I usually use fat free)
-2 tablespoons milk (start with 1 tablespoon and add more to desired consistency)
-2 tablespoons dried chives (or diced fresh green onions)
-1 teaspoon cumin seeds
-1 teaspoon paprika
-1 teaspoon ground coriander
-salt and pepper to taste
-optional: 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro

To make
------------
-Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until everything is incorporated and smooth.
-Serve and enjoy!

I'd love to connect with you! Like SavvyChef on facebook and follow @savvy_chef on instagram.  Tag #savvychef in your creations!

Guacamole

Holy mole, its time for some guacamole! :) There are a million and one ways to make an avocado dip, and most of them are good. I've found that there are a couple key ingredients that need to be part of the mix for a superb guacamole.

1. Ripe, GREEN avocados. If the avocado isn't ripe enough, it won't mash easily and you won't have a smooth consistency. Ripe avocados are soft to the touch.
2. Garlic or onions (red or green). These ingredients add a spice to the guacamole and make it so tasty.
3. The use of cilantro. If its in there, the dip is going to taste better. Guaranteed!

Serves 1 or 2.

Ingredients
------------
-1 large avocado, peeled and mashed.
-1 green onion, finely chopped (green and white tips)
-2 tablespoons minced cilantro
-juice from 1/2 squeezed lemon
-salt and pepper to taste

Assembly
-----------
-Mix all the ingredients together and serve with tortilla chips!

Olive and Garlic Cheese Dip

I made this as a spur of the moment appetizer for some guests, and it was a hit! Everyone loved it and I was surprised at how quickly it came together. It's ready in less than 5 minutes!

Ingredients
-----------
-8 ounce package cream cheese
-1 cup ricotta cheese
-1 1/2 cups green olives with pimento
-4 peeled garlic cloves
-a couple splashes of hot sauce
-1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

Assembly
-----------
-Toast the chopped walnuts in a skillet or oven until lightly browned.
-In a food processor, puree the garlic cloves, then add the olives, cream cheese, ricotta and hot sauce. Pulse until combined.
-Transfer dip into a serving bowl and garnish with toasted nuts. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, veggies or baguette slices.