Recipe: Roasted Beets with Cumin, Lime, and Mint
Sweet, jewel-toned beets are a staple in our winter kitchen. About once a week, we roast up a batch to eat in salads and quick side dishes, such as this brightly flavored – and colored! – dish with cumin, lime, and mint.
This week we were lucky to have three different varieties of beets to play with: red, golden, and chioggia, so we came up with a composed dish highlighting all their gorgeous colors. But don’t worry, even if you only have one type of beet available, it will be lovely and tasty.
Complementing the earthy beets is a dressing of toasted cumin, honey, and lime juice, plus a garnish of fresh mint. These vaguely Moroccan flavors make the beets an excellent side dish for meals with couscous and chickpeas. They’re also delicious with crusty bread for lunch. Or add some arugula and goat cheese for a more substantial salad.
Roasted Beets with Cumin, Lime, and Mint
Serves 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
Beets:
- 8
medium beets (2 pounds without greens)
Olive oil
Dressing:
- 1/2 teaspoon
cumin seeds, toasted and ground
- 2 tablespoons
fresh lime juice
- 3/4 tablespoon
honey
- 2 tablespoons
extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup
mint leaves, sliced
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Clean the beets and trim off any tops. Rub the beets with a little olive oil and wrap them in aluminum foil. (If roasting various colors of beets, separate them into different foil packets.) Place in the oven and roast until they can be easily pierced with a fork, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Set aside to cool, then remove skins using your fingers or a towel. Slice beets into rounds.
Whisk cumin, lime juice, honey, extra virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Add the beets and gently toss to coat. (If serving various colors of beets, toss them separately to prevent staining.)
To serve, arrange beets on a plate and garnish with the mint leaves and a dusting of salt.
Related: Recipe: Tahini Beets
(Images: Emily Ho)