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Roasted Beets With Dukkah and Sage

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Photograph by Joshua Kissi, food styling by Roscoe Betsill, prop styling by Amy Wilson

There’s no better party side than one that can be made ahead. You can roast the beets and make the dukkah, a coarse Egyptian and Middle Eastern nut and spice blend, for this dish days in advance, then you’ll just need a few minutes to assemble before dinner. The dukkah holds well up to a week; make extra and use to brighten other roasted veg or meat.

This recipe was adapted from ‘The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food,’ by Marcus Samuelsson with Yewande Komolafe and Tamie Cook.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    8 Servings

Ingredients

Roasted Beets

2 lb. small or medium red beets (about 12 small or 8 medium)
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
Kosher salt

Dukkah and Assembly

1 Tbsp. coriander seeds
1 Tbsp. fennel seeds
2 tsp. cumin seeds
¼ cup raw cashews
¼ cup raw pistachios
1 Tbsp. benne seeds or sesame seeds
½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup fresh lime juice
¼ cup thinly sliced sage or mix of basil and mint, divided

Preparation

  1. Roasted Beets

    Step 1

    Preheat oven to 425°. Combine beets, oil, vinegar, several pinches of salt, and ¼ cup water in a baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake until beets are tender, 50–60 minutes. Uncover and let sit until cool enough to handle. Peel and cut each beet into 4 wedges, or 6 wedges if they are larger.

    Do ahead: Beets can be roasted 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

  2. Dukkah and Assembly

    Step 2

    Toast coriander seeds, fennel seeds, and cumin seeds in a dry small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until slightly darkened and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a spice mill, mortar and pestle, or small food processor; let cool. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Add cashews, pistachios, benne seeds, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt; pulse again until coarsely chopped.

    Step 3

    Toss roasted beets, red onion, oil, lime juice, half of sage, and ¼ cup dukkah in a medium bowl to combine; taste and season with salt. Arrange on a platter and top with more dukkah and remaining sage.

    Do Ahead: Dukkah can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

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