Root vegetables are the perfect seasonal ingredient to kick your winter cooking up a notch. But one problem...how do you get the kiddos to appreciate them? We've got some root vegetable recipes that your kids are sure to love!
Root vegetables grow at the base of a plant underground. Although, even though we call them "root vegetables", they're not all technically roots. Some are bulbs that store nutrients to feed the plant during the winter months.
Examples of root vegetables include fennel, onions (bulbs), celery root, water chestnut (corms), turmeric, ginger (rhizomes), carrots, beets, parsnips (taproots), sweet potatoes, yucca (tuberous roots), potatoes, and yams (tubers).
You can buy most root vegetables year-round, but they peak during the fall through spring. Beets are the best during summer through fall. When in-season, roots are sweeter and juicier, but luckily, they're still delicious all year!
Root vegetables are super rich in soluble and insoluble fiber which helps boost the health of gut bacteria, as well as folate, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. In addition, root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes have plenty of beta-carotene, which benefits your brain, skin, lung, and eye health. Beets are a good source of vitamin B9 manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C. With root veggies, the brighter the color, the more nutrient-dense they are!
A fun twist on the classic dip that your kids will love.
PREP TIME
10 mins
COOK TIME
a few seconds
TOTAL TIME
10 mins
COURSE
Snack
CUISINE
Mediterranean
SERVINGS
6 people
CALORIES
150.0 kcal
1
beet
roasted, peeled, and chopped. Note: to roast a beet, wash then drizzle with olive oil and salt, wrap in tin foil, and place in the oven. Bake at 400 degrees for about an hour. Wait for it to cool then peel the skin off, which should be easy if it's done.
1
can
chickpeas
drained
2/3
cup
tahini
1/3
cup
fresh-squezed lemon juice
2
cloves
garlic
chopped
1/3
cup
olive oil
1
tsp
cumin
to taste
1
tsp
Kosher salt
Pink Beet Hummus
Combine the chickpeas, tahini, beet, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and salt in the bowl of a food processor.
With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin or salt to your own taste.
Garnishes can include chopped parsley, pine nuts, thinly sliced radishes, za’atar, more lemon zest, olive oil, or anything else you'd like!
Calories:
150.0 kcal
Carbohydrates:
17.0 g
Fat:
8.0 g
Protein:
5.0 g
Saturated Fat:
1.0 g
Serving Amount:
0.25
Serving Unit:
cup
Sodium:
450.0 mg
Sugar:
1.5 g
We see you working hard to get some variety and veggies in your kids' diet. Keep up the good work. Share your victories with the ones you love on FamilyApp, and keep on cooking!