Beetroot is a vibrant and healthy root vegetable that can give an interesting twist to your daily recipes with its unique taste, texture and colour. With its sweet and earthy flavour, it can be used in a wide variety of Indian recipes ranging from curries to snacks, breakfast dishes, rice recipes and even desserts.
If you love South Indian food or North Indian parathas, or even love to prepare some amazing homemade sweets, there are numerous recipes which involve the use of beetroots in them.
Here are 16 mouth-watering recipes using beetroots that you can prepare in 2026.
1. Beetroot Halwa
Beetroot Halwa is an amazing Indian dessert made using beetroots, milk, sugar, ghee and cardamom. The beetroots are boiled till they become soft, thereby allowing their sweet flavour to blend with other ingredients.
The beetroot halwa is garnished with cashews, almonds and raisins.
2. Beetroot Paratha
Beetroot Paratha is a healthy paratha prepared using wheat flour along with a spicy filling of grated beetroot.
It is very tasty when prepared in ghee or oil and can be relished with curd, pickle or butter.
3. Beetroot Poori
Beetroot Poori is a vibrant version of the popular Indian poori. Poori dough is made using mashed beetroot, wheat flour, salt and spices.
The dough is rolled into small circles and deep-fried until puffed up to make these beautiful crimson pooris that go well with aloo sabzi, chana masala or vegetable curry.
4. Beetroot Sabzi
Beetroot Sabzi is an easy-to-make vegetable dish. The finely chopped beetroot is stir-fried along with onions, green chillies, turmeric, mustard seeds and curry leaves.
Some fresh coconut can be added at the end to impart mild sweetness to the dish with its South Indian taste.
5. Beetroot Rice or Beetroot Pulao
Beetroot Rice is an attractive one-pot dish consisting of cooked rice, beetroot, which may be grated or chopped, and other fragrant spices.
Onion, peas, green chillies, cumin seeds, garam masala, and coriander leaves add more flavour to it. It is a good lunchbox recipe and is especially tasty when eaten along with cucumber raita.
6. Beetroot Pachadi
This South Indian side dish is made by cooking together beetroot, coconut, yoghurt, and various spices.
Cooked beetroot is mixed with a coconut preparation and yoghurt. A tempering of mustard seeds, dry red chillies, and curry leaves makes it tastier.
This dish is particularly liked in a South Indian Kerala-style meal.
7. Beetroot Poriyal
Beetroot Poriyal is an Indian preparation which uses lightly spiced beetroot cooked with mustard seeds, urad dal, green chillies, and curry leaves.
Grated coconut is added towards the end to improve its taste. It is especially tasty with sambar rice, rasam rice, and chapati.
8. Beetroot Cutlet or Tikki
Beetroot Cutlets are yummy snacks with a crispy outer layer and a tender inner layer. The grated beetroot is mixed with mashed potatoes, bread crumbs, green chillies and Indian spices.
These are moulded into small roundels and fried in a pan till crisp. They can be served with mint chutney or tomato ketchup along with evening tea.
9. Beetroot Thoran
Beetroot Thoran is an authentic Kerala vegetable preparation prepared with beetroot, grated coconut, curry leaves and spices.
These are cooked together till the beetroot gets tender without becoming soggy. The coconut oil is used to give it a special flavour.
It makes an excellent accompaniment to the steamed rice and sambar.
10. Beetroot Raita
Beetroot Raita is a refreshing yoghurt-based side dish. The grated or chopped cooked beetroot is mixed with curd, roasted cumin seeds, salt and coriander leaves.
The attractive pink colour of this dish makes it appetising, and the cooling effect of its taste goes well with spicy pulao, biryani and parathas.
11. Beetroot Kanji
Kanji is an Indian drink made from fermented beetroots. It has a unique sour taste and is prepared from beetroots, water, mustard seeds, salt, and spices.
The mixture is left covered for fermentation and is ready once it turns sour. It tastes great when it is served cold.
12. Beetroot Rasam
Beetroot Rasam is a tasty version of a South Indian dish called rasam. Beetroots are boiled along with tamarind, tomatoes, black pepper, cumin and other spices.
The mixture makes a sour, slightly sweet and spiced dish which can be had with steamed rice or enjoyed as a soup.
13. Bombay Beetroot Sandwich
The Bombay Sandwich is one of the most loved Indian street foods. Sliced beetroot is filled with cucumber, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and green chutney between buttered bread slices.
The sandwich can be served either fresh or fried to make it crispy.
14. Vegetable Grilled Sandwich
Vegetable Grilled Sandwich is one of the most convenient breakfast and evening snack recipes. One may add beetroot slices along with cucumber, tomato, onion, capsicum, and coriander chutney.
Put the filling inside the bread slices greased with butter and grill until golden. One may use this sandwich for any meal and customise it according to his/her preferences in terms of vegetables.
15. Beetroot Cheese Sandwich
Beetroot Cheese Sandwich is a wonderful recipe for those who love cheese. Beetroots, onion, capsicum, and boiled potatoes mixed with seasoning are layered with cheese and baked between bread slices.
The recipe results in crisp bread and melted cheese. It is a delicious recipe for kids’ lunch boxes and fast evening snacks.
16. Beetroot Soup
Beetroot Soup is a tasty dish cooked from beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Vegetables are cooked until soft and ground in a blender for a smooth consistency.
The dish is flavoured with black pepper, salt, and a bit of lemon juice.
Health Benefits of Beetroot
Beetroot is a very nutritious vegetable, which can form a great part of a balanced diet. Some of the nutritional qualities of this vegetable include:
Nutritional qualities:
Dietary fibre – helps with proper digestion and bowel movements.
Folate – assists in the formation of healthy cells.
Potassium – maintains muscle and nerve functions in a normal state.
Antioxidants – contain betalains, which give beetroot its characteristic red-purple colour.
Natural nitrates – may assist in maintaining healthy blood flow.
Beetroot can be consumed raw, boiled, roasted, steamed or mixed with other vegetables.
My Personal Favourite
One of my personal favourite dishes made from beetroot is Beetroot Cutlet, which has the unique combination of the sweet taste of beetroot with an Indian spice flavouring. Also, I like its crispy outer shell and soft potato-filled interior.
Another dish that I like very much is Beetroot Pulao due to its attractive appearance, high nutritional content and simplicity of preparation.
Conclusion
The uses of beetroot are quite diverse. Apart from the classic dishes like Poriyal, Thoran, and Pachadi, there are also snacks like Cutlets, Sandwiches, and Pooris that can be made from beetroot.
Here are 16 beetroot recipes that can be prepared at any time of the day, whether it is morning, noon, evening, or dessert. You can try out these dishes and add colour to your daily Indian meals.
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