Too good not to share. Just too good. I made this glorious dish last week and lets just say it was a HUGE hit in the household. Not only did I like it (me and my crazy food tastes), but my mom LOVED it! I combined 2 new-to-me things as one dish and I am so glad I did. They work together like chocolate and peanut butter.
I present (…drum-roll…) Raw Balsamic TAHINI BEET NOODLES! The tahini and spiralized beet noodles are the new-to-me foods in this is dish. Since I absolutely adore raw beets and I have a lovely spiralizer, I had been wanting to make some beet noodles. I’ve only ever made zucchini noodles before this (and a failed attempt at eggplant noodles which actually lead to this recipe instead). Let me tell you. One large beet makes a boat-load of noodles! Mine made at least 5 or 6 cups! Spiralizing anything always leads to mass amounts of noodles though; you definitely get your produce-bang for your buck!
Now lets talk tahini. A few weeks ago, I tweeted asking how people like to use tahini besides in hummus. Well, the lovely folks of Soom Foods saw this tweet and started tweeting back and forth with me. They are sorta of local to me and they told me about some events they would be at (but not local enough). So instead, they asked if they could send me a jar to sample if I wanted. Of course I will never turn down free awesome food! I’ve never cooked or used tahini before (I’ve only had it already made in things). But I have had it on my foods to try forever now, just haven’t had the money to splurge on a whole jar (assuming that I might not like it or get much use out of it). By the way, if you don’t know what tahini is, it is just sesame seed paste (sesame seed “nut butter” if you will). Sesame is pretty awesome and I love toasted sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds so tahini would have to be a hit, right? Correct!
The sweetness of the beets combined with the tang and creaminess from the balsamic tahini sauce really was a perfect match. Plus I added in even extra raw crunch with some celery and an extra bitter bite with the arugula. It’s perfect eaten right away, but when my mom and I ate it the next day after it had time to marinate and get super chilled…my o my, it was taste heaven!
Raw Balsamic Tahini Beet Noodles
Ingredients: (serves 2 large portions or 4 smaller sides)
Balsamic Tahini Sauce:
+ 2 TB Balsamic Vinegar
+ 1 TB Tahini
+ 1/2 Tsp Chopped Garlic
+ 1/4 Tsp Onion Powder
The Salad:
+ 1 Large Beet (peeled and spiralized, about 4 cups)
+ 2 Celery Stalks (chopped)
+ 1 Cup Arugula
+ 1 TB Toasted Sesame seeds (topping)
Directions:
+ Spiralized your beet by peeling the outer “skin”, chopping both ends off, and then spiralize it!
+ In a small bowl, mix together the sauce ingredients.
+ In a large bowl, add the beet noodles, celery, and arugula. Then pour in your sauce and toss very well. Sprinkle in the sesame seeds.
+ Eat right away, or be patient and allow it to chill and marinate in the fridge for a few hours or overnight for optimal taste pleasure 😉
I was actually pretty shocked that my mom loved this so much. Since I had way to many noodles, I had put the extra in another container for some other time. But my mom (and I) gobbled this up so quick that I made a smaller batch the next day with the extra 😉
So tell me:
+ What is YOUR favorite use for tahini (besides using it in hummus)?
+ Have you ever made a dish that you were surprised was a huge hit?
*Recipe linking up for the week! WIAW, Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, #Foodie Friday, Real Food Recipe Roundup, Gluten-Free Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays!*
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Mmmm! Shared this great recipe for my post today – 12 Whole30 Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Thanks for the inspiration!! I am sure my readers will love it.
Chrissa – Physical Kitchness recently posted…Whole30 Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Thank you dear!
What a simple and lovely way to combine beets and an unusual dressing in a salad that looks as beautiful as any I’ve seen!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow recently posted…Roast Radishes, Not Just Potatoes
Thank you so much Laura 🙂
Veggie noodles are my jam! I love making tahini dressings, spreading it on toast, and baking with it. I just love the taste of it so much! Yum yum. Happy Thursday!
genevieve @ gratitude & greens recently posted…The Almost Scone: Vanilla Roasted Fig Biscuits
I would eat beets….and tahini forever! Just more of the world’s greatest foods!
This looks refreshing! I can’t wait to try beets this way.
Jackie recently posted…Adzuki Bean Salad
It’s the best!
This looks fabulous! Just pinned it for later!!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician recently posted…Dining with the Doc: Apple Dutch Baby
Thanks Sonali!
This looks fabulous. Pinning and sharing.
Gaye @CalmHealthySexy recently posted…Welcome to the Let’s Get Real Party #52
Thank you 🙂
I love beets, and tahini! This looks beautiful, Rebecca, thanks for sharing it at Savoring Saturdays!
Thanks Raia! They rock together!
Looks delicious and fresh!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Thanks Steph!
That looks so tasty and refreshing, perfect summery food! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
It is the perfect light side dish!
You guys stay making me hungry with these delicious looking salads! #sitsbloging
Thanks girl 🙂
Hi Rebecca,
Beet noodles – what a great concept. Love the ingredients in this recipe. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays blog hop. Twitter & pinned.
Thanks Marla! Beet noodles are amazing!
Not only does it look healthy & delicious but it’s also beautiful!! I have to give this a try!
Thank you Ana, you so sweet! XOXO
This is gorgeous! And I can almost taste it from here… you just inspired the sauce on my dinner creation tonight. Thanks for linking up!
Haha, thanks Laura! Tahini is so wonderful on anything!
This is DEFINITELY happening as soon I as buy a spiralizer. Pinned!
Yes it should! Get that spiralizer now! Haha XOXO
I never would have thought of making noodles from spiralized beets, so creative! And your photos are making me drool. Just beautiful!
Haha, thank you Brianna! Beets are so fun to spiralize!
Oh la la! I have never had RAW beets, just unsalted ones I roast from a can, but you know me, I LOVE VEGGIE NOODLES! so i totes have to try this once I unpack all my kitchen goodies and have settled in 🙂
You’ve never had raw beets! WHAT!? That’s unacceptable! You don’t know what love you are missing! Raw beets “beet” roasted any day 😉 Haha!
I made this and it’s awesome! I added a link back to your page-thanks for sharing the recipe
http://bestoflongislandandcentralflorida.blogspot.com/2014/08/raw-balsamic-tahini-beet-noodles.html
Awesome ways to make it your own!
Very fun recipe, I haven’t spiralized a beet yet!
You’ve got to try it! It’s awesome 😉
great healthy salad!
You bet!
This looks amazing! I love beets and tahini and it sounds like a great combo 🙂
It works so well together! Thank you 🙂
That looks incredibly refreshing, such stunning styling and photography too! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Thank you so much 🙂
Please tell me the brand of spiralizer that you have. Thanks in advance
The one and only Paderno World Cuisine, $35 on Amazon! It is the only and best one out there!
Wow, thanks for getting back with me so quick. I will check the one and only Pademo World Cuisine.
This looks amazing. I just bought a spiralizer because I wanted to do beets. I haven’t used it yet, but I will soon! Pinning this!
This should be your first beet recipe then 😉 You are going to have so much fun with the spiralizer! I’m so happy you bought one, haha!
I am seeing that spiralizer used all over the place. I really need to get one. Your recipe looks so beautiful. The colors are amazing! I make hummus so I always have tahini, but it would be nice to use it for other recipes as well.
Yes! Tahini is so much more than just a hummus addition! It’s fun to get creative with it!
Gorgeous colors! I really need to get a spiralizer!
Yes! And o the color of beets is probably my favorite thing about them!
Yum! Sounds like such a great combination. I wish I had a spiralizer!
Get one! They’re really affordable and worth it! Zoodles and beet noodles galore!
This recipe looks beautiful and is rather interesting. I love beets in my salads!
Thank you Jennifer! Well this salad is all beets 😉
What a beautiful dish of eye candy and your descriptions leave me salivating. I’m ready to jump up and grab my spriralizer this very moment! I didn’t grow beets is the garden this year, but you can bet I will be heading to the farmers market to pick a few up. Thanks for sharing your lovely recipe.
Blessings,
Shari
Go get ’em! Beets are the bomb! Haha, I hope you get to try it 🙂
Holy YUMM! Killer recipe for the WIN! Cant wait to try beets in my spiralizer…although Im imagining needing a dropcloth and special suit to wear. I tend to be messy! Cant wait to try this one!
It’s not messy! Your hands might get a bit red when handling the noodles, but other wise everything staying pretty neat and tidy!
I have been crazy about beets lately! I am tagging this post for next weeks menu! So yummy!
Yes!!! Beets are one of my favorite veggies! I have them everyday and always raw! They are just so sweet and crunchy and just taste so heavenly, haha!
That looks amazing! I can totally see beets and tahini working together and since I just happen to have both of these available, this will be made in some form or another. I think you’ve convinced me to make the change to a spiralizer. I love my zucchini noodle maker, but it doesn’t work well for anything else.
Do make it! And yes! A real full spiralizer is so much better than those cheap hand-held ones. They do only work with summer squash and zucchini!
The real spiralizer is so affordable too! You can get it on Amazon for less than $40, it’s totally worth it!