KIDS’ SHARE, WEEK 5: FOCUS ON BEETS
The fifth week of the weekly Kids’ Share included some colorful produce from Siena Farms and recipes that are perfect for the family to enjoy. This week’s share included: Red Ace Beets, Chioggia Beets, Scallions, Garlic, Boston Lettuce, Wrinkle-Crinkle Cress, and Apples. We were pleasantly surprised with this week’s prize – a rubber spatula, which was a great cooking tool to have when we cooked this week’s box.
This week, we decided to cook one of Chef Ana’s recipes: Beet Muhammara. “It took about 45 minutes in a 400 degree oven to roast the beets. My favorite part of this recipe was seeing the beautiful magenta color!” Abby said. Here’s the recipe!
Beet Muhammara
From Chef Ana 
Muhammara (say “moo-hem-AR-a”) is a Syrian dip that’s usually made with roasted red peppers. Chef Ana makes it that way, but sometimes she makes it with beets instead! Serve with crunchy, seedy crackers, pita chips, or carrot sticks.
Makes about 1½ cups.
Ingredients
1 cup coarsely chopped roasted, peeled red beets
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¾ cup walnuts, lightly toasted
½ cup sliced scallions (from about 4 scallions)
1½ tablespoons pomegranate molasses
1½ teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice; more to taste
1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper (or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Instructions
- Insert the metal chopping/pastry blade into the food processor.
- Put the beets, walnuts, and scallions into the bowl of the food processor. Put the lid on and use the pulse button (in several short bursts) to chop them very finely.
- Remove the lid. Add the oil, the pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, pepper, cumin, and salt. Press the “on” button and process steadily until everything is ground into a puree. Taste. Add a bit more salt, lemon juice, or pepper, if you think it’s needed.
- Serve at room temperature or cold. Store, covered and refrigerated, for up to three days.
Note: If you’d like a creamier taste, stir ¼ to ½ cup of Greek yogurt into the finished muhammara.
Fun Fact: Beets contain the mineral silica, which helps our bodies use calcium to keep our bones strong.
Stay tuned for next week’s Kids’ Share adventures! To learn more about the Kids’ Share, click here.