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    Zen and Zaatar » Recipes » Appetizers and Snacks

    Mutabal Shawandar (Garlic Roasted Beet Dip)

    Published: Mar 27, 2019 · Modified: Mar 30, 2025 by Zena | Zen and Zaatar · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    Mutabal shawandar is a vibrant colored Syrian roasted beet dip. This Mediterranean recipe is a great appetizer when you are looking to switch it up from the usual hummus. Sweet beets are accompanied by fragrant roasted garlic in this vegan beetroot dip!A vegan Mediterranean roasted garlic beet dip, Mutabal Shawandar or Shamandar makes a perfect appetizer or mezze with pita chips or raw veggies. Try this beet hummus, a Syrian recipe, as an alternative to traditional hummus!

    This Syrian dip is a great addition to your mezze platter, the traditional Middle Eastern way to serve appetizers as an assortment.

    A vegan Mediterranean roasted garlic beet dip, Mutabal Shawandar makes a perfect appetizer with pita chips or raw veggies. Try this beet hummus, a Syrian recipe, as an alternative to traditional hummus!

    Did you know that beets are full of antioxidants, can reduce inflammation, and are even said to lower blood pressure? This Mediterranean beet dip is a great way to reap the benefits of this superfood with a unique, simple recipe.

    A vegan Mediterranean roasted garlic beet dip, Mutabal Shawandar makes a perfect appetizer with pita chips or raw veggies. Try this beet hummus, a Syrian recipe, as an alternative to traditional hummus!Tahini makes this dip ultra creamy and a great accompaniment to your favorite cracker or raw veggie. For the best result, it is important to use a super smooth, high quality tahini.

    A vegan Mediterranean roasted garlic beet dip, Mutabal Shawandar or Shamandar makes a perfect appetizer or mezze with pita chips or raw veggies. Try this beet hummus, a Syrian recipe, as an alternative to traditional hummus!

    I hope you guys love this recipe as much as I do and don't forget to tag your recreations on Instagram #zenandzaatar @zenandzaatar! Or just pin this recipe for later! 💕

    Recipe

    This roasted garlic beet dip makes a delicious vegan thanksgiving appetizer.

    Mutabal Shawandar (Garlic Roasted Beet Dip)

    Zena Hassoun
    A vegan Mediterranean roasted garlic beet dip, Mutabal Shawandar makes a perfect appetizer with pita chips or raw veggies.
    4.55 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 2 minutes mins
    Cuisine Middle Eastern
    Servings 4 (about 3.5 cups)
    Calories 212 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb. beets
    • 1 head garlic
    • ¼ cup tahini
    • Juice of one lemon
    • ½-1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil + more for serving
    • 2 tablespoon water as needed

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400F. Drizzle olive oil over washed and scrubbed beets, and cover with foil on a baking sheet. Cut the top off the head of garlic and drizzle with olive oil. Cover the garlic with foil as well. Bake beets for 45 mins - 1 hour, until tender.* Roast garlic for 40 mins - 1 hour, until caramelized, soft, and fragrant.
    • Place cooked beets and caramelized garlic in a food processor or high speed blender along with tahini, lemon juice, and salt. Process until smooth. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time if too thick.
    • Taste and add more salt or lemon juice as needed. Serve alongside pita bread, crackers, or raw veggies. Drizzle with extra olive oil. Enjoy!

    Notes

    *Alternatively, boil beets until tender, or use cooked beets.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 5gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gSodium: 385mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9g
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @zenandzaatar on social!
    A vegan Mediterranean roasted garlic beet dip, Mutabal Shawandar or Shamandar makes a perfect appetizer or mezze with pita chips or raw veggies. Try this beet hummus, a Syrian recipe, as an alternative to traditional hummus!
    A vegan Mediterranean roasted garlic beet dip, Mutabal Shawandar makes a perfect appetizer with pita chips or raw veggies. Try this beet hummus, a Syrian recipe, as an alternative to traditional hummus!

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    Comments

      4.55 from 11 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Grant in San Francisco says

      November 13, 2020 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      This is 'da bomb' and my new GO TO hummus alternative. My beets took a bit longer (75 min) to get the softness I wanted. In lieu of a garlic glove I had peeled cloves available so just drizzled them with oil and put then in a foil pouch in with the beets. Used Mediterranean sea salt that gave it a nice punch. After a good whirl in the food processor, tasted it, and added a pinch more salt, and some garlic confit that I had in the fridge. WOW! Had to stop myself from wolfing down the whole batch ... definitely going to bookmark your site and try some other of your creations.

      Reply
    2. Grant in San Francisco says

      November 13, 2020 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      This is 'da bomb' and my new GO TO hummus alternative. My beets took a bit longer (75 min) to get the softness I wanted. In lieu of a garlic glove I had peeled cloves available so just drizzled them with oil and put then in a foil pouch in with the beets. Used Mediterranean sea salt that gave it a nice punch. After a good whirl in the food processor, tasted it, and added a pinch more salt, and some garlic confit that I had in the fridge. WOW! Had to stop myself from wolfing down the whole batch ... definitely going to bookmark your site and try some other of your creations.

      Reply
    Headshot image of the author of Zen and Zaatar, Zena Hassoun, MS.

    Welcome!

    Hi, I’m Zena, a passionate home cook with a Master’s in Medical Health Sciences. I’ve been vegan for nearly a decade and love creating approachable, Mediterranean-inspired recipes that nourish your body and soul.

    More about me

    55+ Vegan Recipes for Real Life

    The cover image of my e-cookbook, with text overlay "Vegan is Delicious: 55+ nourishing, innovative, plant-based recipes to satisfy vegans and omnivores alike! by Zena Hassoun, M.S., creator of Zen and Zaatar."

    Tired of the same meals or relying on takeout? Vegan is Delicious is full of flavorful, plant-based recipes (with photos!) plus a 7-day meal plan to make home cooking feel effortless.

    Get it now!

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