A healthy beet hummus recipe that supports your liver

Last week I went to a dinner party to celebrate a friend's engagement. When I was asked to bring an appetizer, I knew I wanted something healthy that was rich and flavourful enough that everyone would still enjoy it. I knew a hummus recipe would work, but it had to be something a bit more special than the basic recipe, so I decided to add the vibrant colour and natural sweetness of beets.

While I knew that the end result would look gorgeous, I was skeptical about how it would taste. To my surprise, and to the enjoyment of the guests, it was delicious. The beets added just the right amount of earthy, sweet flavour and paired perfectly with the lemon and garlic of the traditional dip.

The added bonus? Beets are an extremely nutritious vegetable packed full of fibre, antioxidants and liver-supporting properties. Known for their ability to increase the detoxification process, we were all able to feel a little less guilty about that extra glass of champagne!

For more on the health benefits of beets click here.

Healthy beet hummus recipe Ingredients 2 medium-sized beets (or 3 small) 1 19 oz can of chickpeas Juice of 1 ½ lemons 5 cloves of garlic ½ tsp sea salt (or more, to taste) ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup water

Directions 1. In a medium pot, cover beets with water and boil until soft (approximately 40 minutes).

2. Once cooked, run beets under cold water and peel off skins. Cut into quarters and let cool.

3. In a food processor add all ingredients and blend until smooth. Taste and add more salt if needed.

4. Serve with vegetable crudities, rice crackers or fresh bread.

Nutrition facts (Serving size 15 g) Calories 17 Total fat 1 g Cholesterol 0 Sodium 47 mg Potassium 14 mg Total carbohydrates 2 g Protein 1 g

Get more incredibly healthy recipes from Tara Miller here.

Tara Miller is a Toronto-based holistic nutritionist. Her educational background is from The Institute of Holistic Nutrition combined with a degree in psychology from the University of Guelph. This combination allows Tara to address the challenges individuals face when it comes to everyday healthy living. Tara is also the owner of the Health Hut Boutique in Muskoka where she offers effective and toxic-free beauty, household and specialty food items. You can follow her blog for holistic recipes and tips at Tara Miller Nutrition.