Superfood Beetroot & kale tapenade served on crunch toast

Ever since I tasted beetroot as a schoolkid, I was hooked…food which made your plate go purple! I love beetroot! What’s more, it is terrific for you & has a rising status as a new superfood star.

What’s so good about it? It is particularly high in chemicals called nitrates, which may be responsible for many of it’s benefits. Nitrates, help reduce blood pressure & improve circulation, so beetroot may help prevent heart attacks & strokes, improve sports performance (by increasing delivery of oxygen to the muscles) & delay the onset of dementia (through improved blood flow to the noggin).

Beetroot is crammed with a purple pigment, betacyanin, which helps detoxify the body It is also believed to by a powerful anti-cancer food, an immune system booster (by deoxygenating cells & stimulating the production of new blood cells) & a mood enhancer (through increasing the body’s production of sertonin).

Beetroot is also rich in an anti-oxidant (alpha-lipoid acid) which is brilliant for diabetics as it reduces blood glucose levels & increases insulin-sensitivity. The fibre content also helps keeps you regular!

Superfood Beetroot & Kale Dip (Veggie pate!)

This dip is so tasty & so easy. Throw the ingredients into a blender & whizz to a paste! It is gorgeous as a dip to accompany crudités, on a cheeseboard, an accompaniment to salads & sandwiches instead of of chutney or pickle. What’s more, it is sugar-free!

To add to the nutrient content & thicken up the dip, I use ground chia seeds. For those wanting a more sloppy dip, you can add more olive oil.

Preparation: 5 mins

Serves 4

250g cooked beetroot (not pickled)

80g almonds (or cashews)

2tbsp Extra Virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp salt

10g fresh coriander

50g Kale

1tbsp ground chia seeds

Pepper to season

Whizz in a blender. Season to taste. Delicious!

I love serving mine on rye bread or toasted wholemeal bread with broccoli, kale & chia soup (recipe also available), as the sweetness & earthiness of the beetroot compliments the freshness of the green soup.

To add an extra nutrient boost, sprinkle ground flaxseeds on top.

Don’t forget you can find my favourite recipes in my FREE eBook here.