Beetroot powder recipe and its uses

Packed with nutrients, beetroot powder is a versatile substance that has many uses in the kitchen and in the cosmetic industry.

Easy to make beetroot powder found its place as a natural sweetener, colorant or as nutritional supplement. 

The dark red vegetable, beetroot known also as red beet, table beet, garden beet, or just beet is one of the healthiest and most versatile vegetables we can use in the kitchen.

However, this helpful root has its specific earthy taste that some people tend to avoid.

I have a bad beetroot memory myself from when I was still in school and eating in the school cafeteria. The lunch ladies used to throw boiled beetroot in the mashed potatoes making them all pink and soggy which completely turned me off of beetroot for years.

It took me a while to give them a second chance, but I’m so very glad I did.

Gradually, I discovered various forms of processing beetroot from preserved beetroot to beet chips to my latest discovery, dried beet powder.

I preserve this way also rosehips, making this tasty rosehips powder.

If you do not need the taste of beetroot but still want to include it in your diet for its health benefits turn your attention to a powder.

The powder contains a very concentrated amount of beets that can fit into one small spoonful. The powder can be added to a smoothie, soup or tablets and your daily beet dose is met.

What is beet powder made of?

The beetroot powder is made of dehydrated beets. Once sliced beets are thoroughly dehydrated (all the moisture is gone), then finely ground to make a powder.

The powder has various colours like pink, purple, orange and reddish-brown, depending on the colour of the beets.

The process is quite messy due to beetroots being a strong colourant. 

What is beetroot powder good for?

Turning beets into beetroot powder is the best way to preserve beets. Moreover, the powder form is a concentrate of all the healthy nutrients in 1 teaspoon of beetroot flour which is equivalent to an entire beet.

Beets are a great source of fibre, manganese, potassium, vitamins C and B9. They also contain antioxidants such as betalains that help us fight against free radicals and protects us against chronic disease. (1)

This study describes how beetroot significantly helped in lowering blood pressure and therefore promotes heart health (2)

Beetroots contain folate and iron that help flush toxins out of the liver and aid with detoxification of our body (3) This ABC juice is a great way to implement a daily dose of beets in your diet.

Surprising uses of beetroot powder

Beet powder is a versatile ingredient with a specific colour and taste that can enhance our plate or our overall look

A) Nutritional supplement

The powder consistency of beetroot powder allows us to use it easily when cooking to enrich the food for both its taste and colour. Dried beetroot powder maintains all its minerals, vitamins and nutrients so that is why people like to add it to their sauces, gravies or soups.

If you belong to smoothie lovers you know how easy it is to hide undesirable taste within the mixture. That is why people add beetroot powder to their smoothies!

You can sprinkle it on the top as a garnish for extra colour or flavour on yoghurt, pancakes or salad 

Another popular and the easiest way to take your daily dose of beetroot is in a beet powder capsule form or 1 teaspoon. Beets contain just the right portion of vitamins and minerals that our body needs.

B) a natural sweetener

In the past beetroot was primarily used as a natural sweetener. Beetroot powder contains primary sugars such as glucose and fructose and can provide a natural little sweetness to some sweet and savoury dishes. I like to use it in smoothies instead of other sweeteners

C) a natural colorant

Its radiant colour serves as a great natural dye for fabric, food like this pink latte or skincare products. Instead of using artificial colourants that are harmful to your skin or body, turn to the natural pinkish beetroot powder. When mixed with carrier oil you can create beautiful lipstick or blush. The pistachio project has created some DIY natural blush recipes in various tones. 

D) in skincare

D) it’s not only its colour but also medicinal benefits that make beetroot powder one of the most wanted ingredients in skincare products. Vitamin C and folic acid are capable of skin cell renewal. They protect the skin, increase its firmness and collagen creation. We have used the beetroot powder to enhance medicinal benefits for skin in these exfoliating sugar scrub bars and in this homemade rose soap

How to make beetroot powder

There are three methods of making the beetroot powder.

The first one is a traditional method using nice weather and patience that I did.

First step

Wash, peel and grate the beets. I used a food processor to make an equal piece of beets to they can dry at the same time. 

Second step

Place them on a tray and cover with parchment paper to avoid direct exposure to sunlight.

Third step

Let it dry thoroughly, shake it here and there so all the pieces are dry.  It took 4 days to get a completely dry mixture. You don’t want any moisture to stay there as it can spoil the whole grinding process. So just check if you take a piece between your fingers, it should be easy to break in two pieces, it shouldn’t bend.

Fifth step

Once dried use a grinder to grind the mixture into a powder. This takes some time, depending on the power of your grinder you might want to stop and start again to prevent overheating of the grinder. 

Sixth step

Keep the powder in a dark airtight container out of moisture and to keep its colour at the longest.

The second method is using the oven on low heat. This method is faster however can burn your beetroot. Depending on your oven, it takes around 15-20 minutes to roast in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius with shuffling in between to ensure uniformity. Be careful not to burn the beet pieces.

The third method is to use a food dehydrator to dry the beetroots pieces.

How do you store this dehydrate beetroot?

To avoid any moisture store the beetroot powder in an airtight container without direct exposure to sunlight. It can last over 1 year with slight changes in the colour depending on the way it is stored.  

Does beetroot powder dissolve in oil?

This is important for those who want to use beetroot powder as a colourant for oil-based skincare products. Please note that the red (pinkish)  pigment is water-soluble only so it will not perform in oil-based skincare products. It will only disperse and eventually sink to the bottom.

Does beetroot powder stain?

If you accidentally dye your fingers with beetroot powder no worries, soap and warm water is the solution. If you stain your clothes apply some vinegar to the stain and spread it gently with a sponge. Be careful not to damage it. The stain will probably resist for a while, but after normal washing in the washing machine, it should be gone.

What is your favourite preservation method of beetroot?