Simple, common spices are used in this simple dry beetroot curry recipe. This sabzi takes only a few minutes to prepare. This dry beetroot curry is not only incredibly simple to prepare but is also a healthy dish that goes well with rice or chapatis. For everyone who has been eating their beets in salads thus far, a beetroot curry is a must try due to the variety of health benefits it offers.
| Recipe Name | Beetroot Curry |
| Place of Origin | North Indian |
| Total Time Taken | 20 minutes |
| Preparation Time | 5 minutes |
Beetroot Curry Ingredients
- 2 cups beetroot, cubed
- ¼ cup coconut, grated
- ⅛ tsp turmeric
- Salt as per taste
Seasoning
- 1 ½ tsp ghee or oil
- ¼ tsp mustard seeds
- ½ cumin seeds
- 1 pinch asafetida
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 2 green chilli, chopped or slit
- 1 red chilli, broken
- 2 garlic cloves or ¾ inch ginger (crushed or finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp skinned black gram
- 1 tbsp bengal gram
To roast and powder
- 1 tbsp Bengal gram
- 1 tbsp skinned black gram
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Method
Step 1: It’s optional, but it adds a lot of flavour to the sabzi. Dry roast 1 tbsp chana dal and 1 tbsp urad dal in a skillet over medium heat till deep brown. Then add a few sesame seeds. Turn off the heat and continue to whisk until the seeds sputter. Remove and allow to cool. In a grinder, finely grind them. Place aside.
Step 2: Wash and peel beets, then cut them into half-inch cubes. They can also be grated. If you use a fine grater, the beetroot sabzi will get mushy.
Step 3: Heat the pan with 1 1/2 tbsp oil.
Step 4: Stir in the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and dal. Soon, the seeds will splatter; continue to toss and fry until the dal turns golden.
Step 5: Stir in the smashed garlic, green and red chilies, curry leaves, and hing. Cook until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Step 6: Cook for 2 minutes after adding the shredded beets. Cook, covered, on low heat until soft and tender. It only takes a few minutes. If you use chopped beetroot, add some water if they don’t cook.
Step 8: Once the beetroot is cooked, stir in the turmeric, powdered dal from step 1, and salt.
Step 9: Combine and cook for a minute or two, or until the mixture becomes aromatic. Stir in the coconut.
Step 10: Serve the beetroot curry with rice or roti.
Tips to Enhance the Taste
- When the curry is cooked, you can use a splash of lemon juice in place of the amchur powder.
- In a large pan, sauté the onions, ginger, and garlic over medium-high heat first. This adds a lot of flavour to the dish.
- Beets should be cut into small, bite-sized pieces. The smaller the diced beetroot, the faster it will cook over medium heat.
Serving Ideas
This simple beetroot curry recipe is a fantastic dish that you can enjoy with roti for a quick and easy meal. You can even serve this vegan curry with some yellow rice or black rice and beans, some croquettes, and some mango chutney or apple chutney.
Nutritional Content in Beetroot Curry
| Calories | 233 kcal |
| Fats | 11g |
| Carbs | 27g |
| Protein | 7g |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long should the beets be cooked?
Remove any remaining stems and taproots from the cleaned beets. Cover the beets with water in a large saucepan. 2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low heat and cook until the beets are fork-tender, about 25 to 35 minutes for medium beets or 45 minutes to 1 hour for large beets.
Q. What is the best way to prepare beets?
Cover with cold water in a pan. Bring to a boil, then lower to a low heat and continue to cook for 30 minutes or until the beetroot is tender to the tip of a table knife. Allow to drain and cool slightly. When the skins are cool enough to handle, rub them off with your fingers.
Q. How do you keep cooked beets?
Refrigerate cooked beets in shallow airtight containers or wrap securely in heavy-duty aluminium foil or plastic wrap to maximise shelf life for safety and quality. Cooked beets will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days if properly refrigerated.
Q. When cooked, do beets lose any of their nutrients?
Beetroots contain heat-sensitive nutrients. The antioxidant concentration diminishes as cooking time and temperature increase. Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin that can be damaged by cooking, is abundant in beetroot. Additionally, cooking causes it to lose more than 25% of its folate content.
Q. Do beets have any negative effects?
For the majority of people, beetroot is possibly safe when consumed orally in therapeutic doses. Stools or urine coloured pink or crimson due to beet. But this poses no threat. Beets are thought to increase the risk of renal injury and low calcium levels.
Q. Can cooked beets be frozen?
For up to three months, cooked beetroot can be frozen. To prevent the cooked beets from sticking together when packed, you must quickly freeze them. Although freezing cooked beets isn’t as effective as freezing raw ones, it’s still a choice.
Q. Who should stay away from beets?
Before using beets or beetroot juice in their diet, anyone who has low blood pressure or is currently taking blood pressure medication should consult with a healthcare provider. Oxalates are abundant in beets and can induce kidney stones in those at high risk for the illness.
