Beet-Chickpea Cakes With Tzatziki Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Chickpeas and beets are two of my favorite ingredients. Whether eaten together or separately, I simply can’t imagine a week without them appearing in at least a couple of my meals. The heartiness of chickpeas and the earthiness of beets, lifted with a splash of vinegar, make a most satisfying meal, but when shaped into cakes and topped with garlicky, dill-packed yogurt, they reach a whole new level of deliciousness. These are great warm or at room temperature, served solo, or tucked into warm pita with chopped tomatoes, crunchy lettuce, and a generous spoonful of tzatziki.

These savory cakes are delicious made with other root vegetables, too—try grated carrot, parsnip, or rutabaga in place of some or all of the grated beets. You can also use chopped parsley instead of dill, or flavor them with finely minced rosemary instead (cook it a little first by adding it to the pan after the garlic is cooked).

If you plan on cooking dried chickpeas for this recipe, be sure to use a pressure cooker or slow cooker, as boiling them often doesn’t result in evenly cooked or creamy chickpeas—if you don’t have a pressure cooker, I suggest using canned chickpeas. Just be sure to drain and rinse them well. These cakes can be shaped, stored in an airtight container, and left in the fridge overnight or frozen. Once frozen, defrost completely, then brush the cakes with oil and bake as directed.

Tzatziki is a fantastic Greek yogurt dip made with cucumbers, dill, garlic, and olive oil. The first time I ate it was on a trip to Greece with my best friend many years ago. The tzatziki we had was served with cooked beets and beet greens—the simple and extremely tasty combination has stuck with me ever since. Don’t save it just for these cakes; tzatziki is delicious served with roasted vegetables, simple grains, and crunchy summer salads.

This recipe is slightly adapted from At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen by Amy Chaplin, © 2014. Reprinted in arrangement with Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO. www.roostbooks.com —Amy Chaplin

Directions

1. Beet & Chickpea Cakes
2. Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper, lightly brush with olive oil, and set aside.
3. Place the chickpeas in a bowl and crush with a potato masher; set aside. (Don’t mash the chickpeas completely, the mixture should be somewhat chunky.)
4. Warm the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes or until starting to brown. Add the garlic and salt and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the grated beets and continue cooking for another 6 to 8 minutes, or until the beets are cooked. Add the balsamic vinegar and remove from heat. Add the onion-beet mixture to the mashed chickpeas along with the chopped dill and mix well to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Use an oiled ⅓-cup measure to shape the mixture into cakes. Place on the prepared sheet pan and brush the top and sides of each cake with olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes, rotate the tray, and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until brown on the bottom. Remove from the oven; allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
6. To serve, slide a thin spatula under each cake and flip onto a plate so the bottom side is up. Top with tzatziki or serve it on the side.

1. Tzatziki
2. Grate the cucumber on the largest holes of a box grater, place in a strainer, and squeeze out juice with your hands. Drink or discard the juice.
3. Add the grated cucumber to a medium bowl along with the yogurt, dill, garlic, salt, olive oil, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir to combine, season with more salt and pepper to taste, and serve drizzled with olive oil. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Makes about 2 cups.

Recipe by: Amy Chaplin