Delicious Beetroot Dip with Greek Yogurt, Walnuts & Feta Cheese (Egyptian Beet Dip)
This creamy, earthy, and tangy beet dip, topped with crunchy walnuts and crumbled feta, is a Middle Eastern classic turned modern party favorite. Serve it as an appetizer or a colorful meze dish everyone will remember. Let’s make it together!
Join the My Cretan Recipe Facebook group.
A Middle Eastern-Inspired Beetroot Dip
Don’t you agree? This stunning magenta dip is a feast for the eyes! Besides, it’s also a healthy, flavorful appetizer rooted in Middle Eastern culinary traditions.
Known for its simplicity, this beetroot dip combines roasted beets with Greek yogurt, a ton of spices, garlic, lemon juice, and a topping that combines feta cheese and toasted walnuts (or any other nut you have at home).
The result is a smooth dip that’s incredibly aromatic. It’s perfect for entertaining, and it offers a beautiful, bold contrast to more common dips like hummus or baba ganoush. It can be your new party favorite but also a simple and nutritious spread to serve every day.
How to Make the Egyptian Beetroot Dip
This dip comes together easily once your beets are cooked. I recommend you to roast them, because this way, you will enhance the natural sweetness—but boiling, steaming, or microwaving work as well.
Once cooked, you will blend the beets with garlic, spices, yogurt, and lemon juice until you get a smooth and silky cream.
The final touch is the garnish: I enjoy serving it with crumbled feta, some toasted walnuts, and a generous drizzle of olive oil.
How to Cook Beetroots
There are several effective methods to prepare beets for this dip, depending on your time and equipment:
- Roasting (Recommended)
Roast the beets in the oven for maximum flavor. This method intensifies their natural sweetness and gives them a deeper, more complex taste. Wrap each beet in foil and bake at 220°C (425°F) for about 1 hour until tender.
- Boiling
My grandma’s way… this is a good alternative if you’re short on time. You can boil the beets whole and unpeeled in water for around 30 minutes, or until a fork can easily pierce through them. Let them cool slightly, then rub off the skins.
- Microwaving
The fastest method, the way my mother sed to prepare them. Place beets in a microwave-safe dish with a splash of water, cover, and microwave for about 10 minutes. The steam will cook them through quickly.
- Steaming
A healthy method that preserves both color and nutrients. Steam the whole beets for about 30 minutes or until tender.
Egyptian Beet Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 beetroots medium-sized
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 cup Greek yogurt strained
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp paprika sweet or smoked
- salt and pepper to taste
- toasted pine walnuts, almonds, or pistachios for garnish
- crumbled feta cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F)
- Trim the stems of the beets about 1 cm from the root and scrub them clean. Wrap each beet individually in aluminum foil.
- Wrap the garlic cloves in foil as well. These will roast alongside the beets but should be added halfway through cooking.
- Place the foil-wrapped beets on a baking tray and roast for 1 hour. Add the wrapped garlic to the oven 30 minutes after the beets have started baking.
- Once roasted, let the beets cool slightly. Peel off the skins (they should slip off easily), then roughly chop the beets.
- In a food processor, combine the chopped beets, roasted garlic, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and paprika. Blend until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer to a bowl and chill until ready to serve.
- Before serving, top the dip with toasted nuts and crumbled feta cheese. A drizzle of olive oil adds the final Mediterranean touch to the recipe!
Notes
- Calorie count will vary slightly depending on the type of yogurt, feta, and nuts used. For a lighter version, you can use low-fat Greek yogurt or reduce the oil and nuts.
- This recipe makes about 2½ to 3 cups of dip (serves approximately 6–8 people as an appetizer or part of a meze spread).
Nutrition
Party Tips: How to Serve this Beet Dip as an Appetizer
This beet dip is as beautiful on a party table as it is delicious. Here are a few ways to serve it to impress your guests:
- Serve it in a shallow bowl so you can garnish generously and let the vibrant pink color shine through.
- Use a swirl technique by spreading the dip in a circular motion with the back of a spoon, then drizzle olive oil and sprinkle toppings over the surface.
- Add height and color by garnishing with fresh herbs like mint (it matches the flavor of beets and garlic well) or parsley for added freshness and visual appeal.
- You can also prepare more sophisticated mini servings by spooning the dip into small glasses or cups for individual portions—perfect for cocktail parties or mezze platters.
What to Serve with Beet Dip
This dip pairs well with a wide variety of dippers and sides:
- Pita bread or pita chips
- Warm, crusty bread or baguette slices
- Crudités like carrots, cucumber, and celery sticks
- Crispy crackers or seed flatbreads
- Falafel or grilled vegetables
- Grain salads like tabbouleh or couscous for a fuller mezze spread
Colorful and full of flavor, this Egyptian-inspired beet dip brings a unique flair to your table. It’s creamy, tangy, slightly smoky from the spices, and deeply satisfying.
Serve it to elevate your appetizer game or simply to enjoy a nutritious snack.
Pin for Later
Egyptian Beet Dip Recipe
Gabi Ancarola
Gabi is a travel writer who has lived in Crete for over a decade. Through her blog, Crete Insider, she has helped travelers uncover local experiences. Passionate about food and Cretan cuisine, she now attends Greek cooking lessons to bring the island’s flavors straight to your kitchen!
>> Interested in learning to cook in Crete, or discovering all of the top spots to eat in Chania and around the island? Book a food tour or plan your trip with me.
2 Comments
Angelo
This is a delicious appetizer! It had a strong garlic taste that goes along nicely with the yogurt
Anthonymartin
Tasty and fresh!