This Athlete Beet Hummus was fun and timely! We LOVE hummus and because my boyfriend is part Lebanese, he loves making it, which works out for me. What he doesn’t like is when traditional hummus is tweaked, or so he says. 😉 I, on the other hand, look at it like a tatoo. While the body is beautiful all naturale, it can also be beautiful when you add a little artwork. I’m not suggesting it’s better, but why not spice it up once in a while!
As runners, we’re always trying to fuel better, so in preparation of some big races, as well as something fun for Valentine’s Day, I talked him into adding beets to his infamous hummus – Paul’s Hell Yeah Hummus. It turns out that he’s not a big fan of beets. He’s Lebanese and wasn’t a fan of olives either…enter Misty. We are now toward the end of what I’m calling the “olive project,” and he adds them to our Mediterranean dishes without my involvement. You must know I never forced him, only gave him a hard time about his ancestors being ashamed. In saying that, I believe athletes should eat beets and consume beet juice, so now the “beet project” begins! 😊
BEETS & ATHLETES
Beet juice is full of nitrates, which your body converts to nitric oxide (NO), which is shown to enhance athletic performance and cardiovascular health. Nitric oxide can increase blood flow and lowers the amount of oxygen your muscles need. Athletes should be able to run faster, move more efficiently, and have more power. Unless you’re an elite runner, it’s likely you won’t see any significant time improvements. However, beets have other benefits, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are great for everyone. They can also improve oxygen flow, which is good news for our high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts.
THIS ATHLETE BEET HUMMUS IS:
- Real Food
- Gluten-free
- Dairy Free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
KITCHEN GADGETS
- Small food processor
- Small sauce pan (for chickpeas)
- Small sauce pan (for beet)
- Measuring cup and spoons
The recipe…
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Athlete Beet Hummus
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 5 Minutes
- Total Time: 15 Minutes
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Pin RecipeDescription
Athlete Beet Hummus is a fun twist to the already delicious and nutritious hummus snack.
Ingredients
- Paul’s Hell Yeah Hummus (recipe below)
- 1 medium boiled beet1
- Juice of 1 lemon, small to medium size
1Boiled Beets. Trim beets and place in small sauce pan. Make sure they are covered in water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until you can easily stab through the center with a butter knife. Cool and peel.
Instructions
- Add everything, including Paul’s Hell Yeah Hummus, to the food processor and process until smooth or creamy.
- Add the chickpea juice a little at a time until you reach your desired texture, thick vs. creamy.
- Serve warm or allow to cool.
- Enjoy with veggies or your choice of pita bread or chips!
Paul’s Hell Yeah Hummus
- 15 oz can chickpeas, boil for 5 minutes to soften, then strain and save the juice for desired thickness. (slotted spoon works great)
- Juice of 1 lemon, small to medium size
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/2 teaspoon pink salt
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon avocado or extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to the food processor and process until you reach desired consistency.
- Add the chickpea juice a little at a time until you reach your desired texture, thick vs. creamy.
- Enjoy warm or allow to cool!
Notes
While the beets are not completely overpowering in this, you can taste them, so if you don’t like beets, stick with Paul’s Hell Yeah Hummus.
- Category: Snacks
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern (Real Food, Gluten-Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian, Vegan)
Keywords: Beet Hummus
