Easy Beetroot Curry (a dairy-free recipe) (2024)

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This vibrant beetroot curry could just be the perfect vegan dish for a Halloween night dinner. Serve it with some fried black rice for a truly gory experience. I kid, I kid! Maybe! But seriously, looking at this healthy Sri Lankan beetroot curry, it’s hard not to wonder “what died right there in the pan?”

Easy Beetroot Curry (a dairy-free recipe) (1)

In this beetroot curry, chopped beetroot is simmered in a well-spiced, creamy coconut curry sauce. It is thick and so tasty.

Let’s be honest, this beetroot curry looks a tad bit gory. It’s all red blobs and red oozy stuff… the kind of stuff that might fill your nightmares! Which just might make it the perfect dish to serve up for Halloween.

I would not be surprised if your first thought looking at this IS NOT “mmm mmm mmm delicious!”

But, that is exactly what it is. This fusion Sri Lankan beetroot recipe is simply finger-licking delicious!

If you don’t believe me, I urge you to give this recipe a try. I find this curry so tasty that many a time I have made it and enjoyed it like it were soup. Straight out of a bowl!

Some of the reasons I love this easy beetroot curry are:

• It is so tasty,
• It is filled with nutrients that make me feel good,
• It is creamy,
• It is plant-based, and
• I can make this beetroot curry with 12 pantry staple ingredients!

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What are the 12 ingredients needed to make this beetroot curry?

The 12 ingredients needed, including simple spices, are:

  1. Red onions
  2. Fresh garlic cloves
  3. Fresh ginger
  4. Fresh beets (I used medium-size beets that were not canned)
  5. Coconut milk
  6. Tomato paste or tomato puree
  7. Coriander powder
  8. Smoked paprika
  9. Turmeric powder
  10. Cayenne pepper (or green chillies)
  11. Cilantro
  12. Olive oil (or coconut oil or vegetable oil)
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A few tips when making this beet curry:

• Use full-fat coconut milk. When making curries, I prefer to use thick coconut milk (not sponsored, by the way). But, beware, some cans of coconut milk are not creamy – with shards of coconut. And, those would not work in this recipe. You could also grab a carton of coconut milk from the refrigerated section, where the other nut milk is sold.

• Sauté the onions, ginger, and garlic in a large pan first, over medium-high heat. This adds so much flavor to this dish.

• Do not be afraid to add in the cayenne. You could also substitute the cayenne for green chilies. Beetroot, when cooked, tends to be ever so slightly sweet. And the cayenne (or green chilies) balances off the sweetness of the beetroot beautifully. However, if you are reluctant to add in the cayenne, just add in1 teaspoon instead of 2 teaspoons.

• Cut the beets into small, bite-sized pieces. The smaller the chopped beetroot is, the quicker it will cook over a medium flame.

• After adding the beetroot cubes and other ingredients to the pan, make sure to let everything come to a low simmer over medium heat while keeping the pan covered. This helps cook the beets so they are tender.

From October 2016

Food has this amazing ability to unite people. To draw people close to each other. And, occasionally, a person comes along with that same ability. Maybe you’ve met a person, or several, like that?

Well, my daughter told me about this new student on the football team at her high school who does just that. She told me that even as a 17-year-old, this boy has a way of drawing players to him, of leading them without them even knowing he is leading them, of setting a tone of good sportsmanship on the field and off the field, which has led to camaraderie and more wins this year than ever before.

But today, today I don’t fall into that category of uniting anyone. Today, I am here to divide and conquer!

Okay, so maybe that conquer part was a bit too dramatic. But, let’s face it – when it comes to the humble, sometimes unsightly, beetroot – you either love it or abhor it!

I happen to lovebeets. A few years ago, I even did a “Beetified” series where I doctored up fellow bloggers’ recipes with beets!

In my humble opinion, from their gorgeous coloring to their versatility and taste, beets have my heart!

But, back to this Beetroot Curry.

This curry is a spin on the Sri Lankan beetroot curry my mom makes. Traditional Sri Lankan beetroot curry is a more spiced sauté of beetroot, onions, ginger, garlic, mustard seeds, curry leaves, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, Sri Lankan curry powder, and red chili powder, to name a few. It is a gloriously aromatic and delicious dry beetroot curry that is intoxicatingly delicious with a bowl of plain rice.

If red beets are not your cup of tea (or bowl of curry), you could use golden beets. Each variety of beets are such healthy vegetables, packed full of goodness.

A spin on the Sri Lankan beetroot curry of my youth…

The beetroot Curry you see here is just as aromatic and delicious, but, it makes use of ingredients that you can find at most grocery stores here in the United States.

And, I also added in some coconut milk to have a bit of curry because sopping up this curry with warm rice, roti, or bread is simply glorious.

From prep to finish, this beetroot curry should take about 45 minutes – if you prep as you go. However, if you prefer to peel and cut everything before you start cooking, this might take longer. However, as stoves differ in temperature, cooking time is sure to differ too.

Easy Beetroot Curry (a dairy-free recipe) (6)

What to serve with this vegan beet curry?

For a quick and simple meal, this easy beetroot curry recipe is a delicious side dish with some roti.

For a more elaborate meal, you could serve this vegan curry with some yellow rice or black rice and beans, some croquettes, and some mango chutney or apple chutney.

And, for a Halloween theme, you could serve this easy beetroot curry with some black rice, some baked purple potato fritters, and some pumpkin chili sauce.

Thanks so much for stopping by. If you make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think of it, or tag your creation on social media with @savoryspin or #savoryspin. For more fusion, spice-filled, recipe ideas, please subscribe and follow me onFacebook,Instagram, and/orPinterest!

As the CEOH (chief eater on here), I hope to cajole you to enjoy cooking at home more. To experiment with ingredients and have fun in the kitchen. And, I hope to do that by sharing mostly easy, dairy-free, budget-friendly, fusion recipes that can be made with ingredients from your local grocery store.

Easy Beetroot Curry (a dairy-free recipe) (7)

Beetroot Curry

Savory Spin

This creamy yet dairy-free, gorgeously colored Beetroot curry is not only delicious but it can be whipped up in less than 45 minutes and is creepy enough to spook your Halloween dinner party guests!

4.68 from 55 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Easier Sri Lankan Recipes

Cuisine Fusion

Servings 4 servings

Calories 187 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large red onion
  • 4 cloves fresh garlic
  • 1 inch chunk of fresh ginger
  • 2 medium sized fresh beetroot not canned – approx 1 3/4 cups cubed
  • 1 cup full fat oconut milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 tsp coiander powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper to season
  • [Optionl] 1 tbsp fresh cilantro and 1/2 tsp pepper flakes to garnish

Instructions

  • Peel and chop up the onion.

  • Add olive oil to coat the bottom of a pan

  • Add onion and saute for about 10 minutes, stirring often.

  • While onion sautes, peel and chop the ginger and garlic cloves and peel the beetroot and cube them in bite-sized pieces as well.

  • Then add garlic and ginger to the onion in the pan and stir until well incorporated.

  • Then add in the cubed beets.

  • Pour in the coconut milk and water, and spoon in the tomato paste as well as the coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, and cayenne pepper.

  • Stir until all ingredients are well incorporated.

  • Cover pan and let come to a very low simmer over a low-medium flame for about 25-30 minutes or until the beetroot is tender. Make sure to keep an eye on the curry and add more water as needed.

  • When beetroot is tender, remove the pan from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Garnish with chopped cilantro and chili flakes.

  • Enjoy with rice or roti.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 187kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 5gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 174mgFiber: 4gSugar: 12g

Keyword Easy Beetroot Curry

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy Beetroot Curry (a dairy-free recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat beetroot raw? ›

You can even enjoy them raw, either sliced thinly or grated. Choose beets that feel heavy for their size with fresh, unwilted green leafy tops still attached, if possible. Because dietary nitrates are water-soluble, it's best to avoid boiling beets if you'd like to maximize their nitrate content.

How to consume beetroot? ›

You can make beetroot a part of your regular diet; it can be added to soups, salads, and juices raw or cooked.

What can you add to beetroot to make it taste better? ›

Beets' earthy flavor profile pairs wonderfully with fruits and vegetables that provide complementary sweet, savory, citrusy, or spicy notes. Here are some of my favorite ingredients for beet juice blends: Fruits: oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime, pineapple, mango, strawberries, raspberries, apples, pears.

What can you put on beets to make them taste better? ›

Flavors that pair well with roasted beets:

Arugula and other bold greens, including collard greens. Avocado. Balsamic vinegar, as well as red wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Black pepper.

What is the easiest way to cook beetroot? ›

How to prepare beetroot. To cook whole, wash but don't peel, then cut the stalks to 2.5cm and leave the root at the bottom; if either are trimmed too much, the beetroot's colour will bleed. Bake in a low oven for 2-3 hrs, either wrapped in foil or in a little water in a lidded casserole dish.

What's the best way to cook fresh beetroot? ›

Trim off the remaining stem and taproot from the cleaned beets. Place the beets in a large saucepan and cover with water. 2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until fork-tender, 25 to 35 minutes for medium beets or 45 minutes to 1 hour for large beets.

Do you peel beets before cooking? ›

TIPS FOR cooking beets

Keep checking whichever method you're using. Don't remove the beet skin before cooking. It's really not necessary and it's much easier to do so after cooking. Some also find that removing the skin prior to cooking takes away some of the beet's earthy test.

Does beetroot burn belly fat? ›

There is no evidence to suggest that beetroot can directly burn belly fat. Beetroot is healthy and nutritious. But no single food can cause fat loss in a specific body area. Following a balanced, calorie-controlled diet and engaging in regular physical activity are essential.

How soon after eating beets is urine red? ›

Here's how the test works, according to Gonzalez: "Eat at least half of a raw or cooked beet (do not use fermented pickled red beets) with your meal. If you notice red urine or stool 12 to 24 hours later, your transit time is normal. If it happens in less than 12 hours, your body may not be absorbing nutrients.

How many times a week should you eat beets? ›

Moreover, beets are low in calories with zero cholesterol and a small amount of fat. However, the root is high in sugar and carbohydrates, so while you can consume the greens on top of the root in unlimited quantities, you should only have the root a few times a week. Beets are best from early spring to late fall.

What is the healthiest way to eat beetroot? ›

Retain the good-for-you nutrients in beets by roasting them or sautéing them instead. Or lightly steam them for just a few minutes, suggests Doyle.

Who should not take beetroot? ›

Anyone who has low blood pressure or is currently taking blood pressure medication should speak with a healthcare professional before adding beets or beetroot juice to their diet. Beets contain high levels of oxalates, which can cause kidney stones in people with a high risk of this condition.

Can we eat beetroot and banana together? ›

One option is beetroot banana smoothie, which is highly nutritious if added to your diet. Beetroot is rich in folate and manganese, whereas banana is rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, which make beet banana smoothie a great drink.

How do you make beets more palatable? ›

My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole.

How do you get the bitter taste out of beetroot? ›

Roast for Sweetness

Roasting beets deepens their natural sugars while tempering bitterness. Bake whole, wrapped beets at 400°F for 60-75 minutes until easily pierced by a fork. Allow to cool before peeling and juicing. Incorporating roasted beets creates a smoother, mellower, almost nutty-flavored blended juice.

How do you make beets taste like meat? ›

Cure your vegetables as you would a piece of meat for a couple of days. This can be achieved by rubbing the vegetable or mushroom with salt at a concentration of 1.75% of the vegetable's weight, wrapping it tightly in plastic or vacuum sealing it, and letting it sit in the fridge for 2-3 days.

How do you mask the taste of beetroot? ›

Yes, beets taste earthy and a little bitter. While this isn't a bad thing, Martinez says they're best when paired with bright, sweet, and fresh flavors. If you're boiling them, add plenty of salt (as if you were boiling pasta) and about a quarter-cup of red wine vinegar to the water.

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