Spooned over hearty fall greens such as kale or chard, this delicious side dish can also double as a main meal; its flavours absolutely pop with our zesty herb topping. The beets are packed with amazing nutrients, plus they’re delicious served hot, at room temperature, or cold.
Add some crunch
This dish is a meal in itself. Scatter toasted pine nuts or pecans overtop for some added crunch.
Roasted Roots and Lentils with Tahini Dressing and Zesty Herbs
Ingredients
- 4 medium-size red or yellow beets
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 large leek, washed, trimmed, and sliced into 1/4 in (0.6 cm) rounds
- 14 oz (398 mL) can lentils, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) tahini
- 1 orange, zest and juice, divided
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) salt
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh mint
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories199
- protein6 g
- total fat10 g
- sat. fat2 g
- total carbohydrates23 g
- sugars11 g
- fibre6 g
- sodium62 mg
Directions
01
Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). In ovenproof saucepan with tight-fitting lid, place unpeeled beets with rosemary and a splash of water. Cover and place in preheated oven. Bake for 45 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a thin sharp knife.
02
Meanwhile, in skillet, heat 1 Tbsp (15 mL) oil. Add leeks and sauté over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add a splash of water, if needed, to keep them from sticking. Fold in lentils, remove from heat, and set aside.
03
In high-speed blender, combine tahini, 2 Tbsp (30 mL) orange juice, maple syrup, and salt. Add 2 Tbsp (30 mL) water and whirl until blended and creamy. Add a little more water if needed. Set aside.
04
In small bowl, combine parsley, mint, 2 tsp (10 mL) orange zest, and garlic. Stir to blend. Set aside.
05
When beets are tender, remove from oven and discard rosemary. When beets are cool enough to handle, scrape off skins. Cut into wedges and place in serving bowl. Scatter leeks and lentils overtop. Drizzle with tahini dressing and scatter chopped herb mixture overtop. Toss before serving and serve at room temperature. Season with salt and pepper, if you wish.
READ THIS NEXT
SEE MORE »
Poached Sablefish and Bok Choy with Lemongrass, Ginger, and Chili
While sablefish’s texture and fat content stand up admirably to the heat of the grill, this firm fish is also delicious poached. For this recipe, sablefish’s luxurious taste is combined with a light fragrant broth of lemongrass and ginger punctuated with the heat of Thai chili. Sustainability status Sablefish, also known as butterfish or black cod, is a rich and satisfying fish, plentiful in omega-3s and sourced sustainably from the Pacific Northwest. Skin and bones Sablefish has large pin bones. Ideally, your fishmonger will remove them, but if not, before you begin, locate them along the fish’s centreline and, using a pair of needle nose pliers, grasp them firmly to remove. You can leave the skin on for this recipe, which may help the fish hold together a little better while cooking, but it can be tricky to peel the skin away from the cooked fish and discard before plating. I opted to remove the skin first and simply keep a close eye on the cooking time, being careful to remove the fish from the poaching liquid before it flakes apart.
Salmon Tacos with Red Cabbage and Orange Slaw with Lime Yogurt
These mildly spiced salmon tacos served with sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds will bring a party together. Make a small quantity of salmon go further when you pair it with a fresh red cabbage slaw featuring citrus and cilantro. Drizzled with some bright lime yogurt, the flavours come together perfectly. Sustainability status Wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are considered among the most sustainable, as the fishery is subject to limited harvests. With salmon stocks in decline, supporting managed fisheries such as these can help maintain populations into the future. That may also mean eating salmon less often than we do now. Salmon is a favourite Salmon is the most popular variety of fish in Canada and the second most popular in the US.
Mussels with Tomato, Saffron, and Fennel
B12-rich mussels are a very good and economical source of protein and iron. Steamed mussels are a classic way to enjoy seafood—and so is this rich, aromatic broth of tomato, fennel, and saffron. Be sure to allow saffron to fully infuse to get the full flavour benefit, and finish off the dish with the fragrant fennel fronds. Sustainability status Farmed mussels are considered highly sustainable due to their low impacts on the environment. They are easy to harvest, require no fertilizer or fresh water, and don’t need to be fed externally, as they get all their nutritional requirements from their marine environment. Mussel prep Selection: Look for mussels with shiny, tightly closed shells that smell of the sea. If shells are slightly open, give them a tap. Live mussels will close immediately. Storage: Keep mussels in the fridge in a shallow pan laid on top of ice. Keep them out of water and cover with a damp cloth. Ideally, consume on the day you buy them, but within two days. They need to breathe, so never keep them in a sealed plastic bag. Cleanup: In addition to being sustainable, farmed mussels tend to require less cleaning than wild mussels. Most of the fibrous “beards” that mussels use to grip solid surfaces will have been removed before sale. But if a few remain, they’re easily dispatched: grasp the beard with your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward the hinge of the mussel and give it a tug. Afterward, give mussels a quick rinse and scrub away any areas of mud or seaweed, which, with farmed mussels, will require minimal work.
Open-Faced Shrimp Sandwich with Celery, Radish, and Sunflower Shoots
The delicate flavour of shrimp is highlighted with just a touch of lemon and a hint of mustard, while radish and celery give some fresh crunch to this dish. Eat it in lettuce cups, on top of greens, or served on whole grain bread for a filling snack. Sustainability status Both wild and farmed shrimp can be sustainable depending on where they’re caught and how they’re raised. See our article “Sea Change” for more information about choosing ethical shrimp.