Ruby Red Beet and Garlic Dinner Rolls

Vibrant Beet & Garlic Dinner Rolls: A Wholesome Twist to Your Table

Welcome to a culinary adventure that promises to transform your dinner table with a splash of color and an explosion of flavor! Today, we’re diving into the delightful world of homemade dinner rolls, but with a unique and visually stunning twist: beets. These aren’t just any ordinary rolls; these are our delectable Beet & Garlic Dinner Rolls, a recipe that combines the earthy sweetness of beets with pungent garlic, resulting in a truly unforgettable experience. Perfectly soft, wonderfully savory, and boasting a charming pink hue, these vegan rolls are guaranteed to be a conversation starter at any meal.

This post is brought to you with support from Love Beets, a brand we adore for making the magic of beets accessible and mess-free. We believe in supporting companies that align with our passion for good food, and Love Beets certainly fits the bill, helping us bring delicious and innovative recipes like this one to your kitchen. Thank you for supporting the brands that enable us to create and share!

The Power and Beauty of Beets: More Than Just a Pretty Color

Beets are truly a powerhouse vegetable, often celebrated for their vibrant color but equally deserving of praise for their impressive nutritional profile. Beyond turning your dishes into stunning shades of pink and red, beets are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including folate, manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C. They are also an excellent source of fiber, supporting digestive health, and contain beneficial plant compounds that contribute to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Integrating beets into your cooking, whether in juices, smoothies, or savory dishes like these garlic dinner rolls, is a fantastic way to boost your nutrient intake. For these vegan dinner rolls, the beets not only infuse the dough with a beautiful, natural pink tint but also add a subtle, earthy sweetness that perfectly complements the robust flavor of garlic. It’s a culinary secret weapon that enhances both the visual appeal and the nutritional value of your meal, making every bite a delight for the senses.

Imagine the smiles these charmingly colored rolls will bring to your family and friends. While the color might be initially surprising for a dinner roll, it’s a testament to the natural beauty of ingredients and a fun way to encourage everyone, especially kids, to enjoy wholesome vegetables. These pink dinner rolls are a testament to how culinary creativity can turn simple ingredients into something extraordinary. They prove that healthy eating doesn’t have to be bland or boring; it can be exciting, delicious, and incredibly vibrant!

I must admit, I’m absolutely obsessed with the delicate pink hue these rolls achieve! While my initial thought was to aim for a deeper red, the soft pink that emerges after baking is utterly charming and equally captivating. It’s a gentle blush that promises a hint of sweetness and a touch of elegance to any meal.

Seamless Baking with Love Beets Organic Cooked Beets

For this recipe, the secret to effortless preparation lies in using Love Beets organic cooked beets. Let’s be honest, working with raw beets can be a bit of a production. From the risk of staining everything in sight – clothes, countertops, hands – to the considerable time required for roasting or boiling, it can often deter even the most enthusiastic home bakers. This is where Love Beets truly shines, offering an incredible convenience that streamlines your cooking process.

Love Beets provides already cooked, perfectly tender beets that eliminate all the fuss. No more scrubbing, peeling, or long cooking times. They come ready to use, making them incredibly versatile for a range of recipes. Simply puree them, blend them into smoothies, or even serve them straight from the pack. This convenience is a game-changer for anyone looking to incorporate more beets into their diet without the typical mess and waiting. Their commitment to organic quality also means you’re getting a wholesome product you can trust.

Beyond their plain cooked beets, Love Beets also offers an array of other fantastic products, including their smoky-BBQ shredded beets, which I highly recommend trying if you get the chance. They’re incredibly flavorful and versatile, perfect for adding a unique twist to salads or sandwiches. But for our homemade dinner rolls, the plain organic cooked beets are precisely what we need. Their natural sweetness and tender texture are ideal for pureeing and integrating seamlessly into our dough.

With pre-cooked beets, the preparation for these rolls becomes wonderfully straightforward. All you need to do is a quick puree in a food processor, transforming them into a smooth mixture that’s ready to be incorporated into your dry ingredients. This simple step saves you valuable time and effort, proving that baking delicious, vibrant bread doesn’t have to be a daunting task. It’s all about working smarter, not harder, especially when you have quality ingredients like Love Beets at your disposal.

Crafting Your Perfect Pink Dinner Rolls: The Baking Journey

Baking these beet garlic rolls is a truly rewarding experience, transforming simple ingredients into fluffy, flavorful bread. While the dough for these rolls requires two rises, I promise you, the wait is absolutely worth every minute. These rises are crucial for developing the structure and flavor of the bread, resulting in rolls that are incredibly light, airy, and tender. Patience is key when working with yeast, and the reward is a batch of exceptionally delicious vegan bread rolls.

The journey begins with activating the yeast, a simple step that ensures your dough will rise beautifully. Once the yeast is bubbly and active, you combine it with the creamy beet puree, a touch of unsweetened non-dairy milk, minced garlic, and aromatic dried herbs like oregano and parsley. This mixture forms the heart of our flavor profile, infusing the dough with a delightful balance of earthy, savory, and herbaceous notes. The olive oil contributes to the dough’s tenderness and richness, making it a joy to work with.

Kneading is an essential part of bread making, developing the gluten that gives the rolls their characteristic chewiness and elasticity. Whether you use a stand mixer with a dough hook or knead by hand, the goal is to achieve a smooth, supple dough. The first rise allows the yeast to work its magic, doubling the dough in size and developing complex flavors. This initial rise creates a light and airy texture, making these easy dinner rolls incredibly soft.

The Art of Shaping: Adding a Touch of Elegance

Once the dough has completed its first rise, it’s time for shaping. While you can certainly opt for traditional round rolls, I highly recommend trying the decorative knot technique. It’s surprisingly easy and adds an incredible visual elegance to your savory rolls. The resulting rolls are not only delicious but also beautiful, perfect for special occasions or simply to elevate an everyday meal.

To achieve this intricate look, the dough is rolled out into a rectangle and cut into strips. Each strip is then gently rolled and tied into a knot, creating a visually appealing pattern. This step transforms a simple roll into a gourmet-looking bread, showcasing the lovely pink color of the beet-infused dough. If you’re new to shaping bread, don’t worry! There are many resources available to guide you. For those who prefer visual instructions, I’ve linked a helpful YouTube video that demonstrates how to create these beautiful knots. While the original video might be a bit shaky, the technique itself is straightforward and rewarding to learn:

You can watch the how-to video for shaping the dough HERE.

After shaping, the rolls undergo a second rise, allowing them to proof and become even lighter before baking. This final rise contributes to the fluffy texture and helps them achieve that perfect golden-brown crust in the oven. Once baked, these fluffy dinner rolls emerge from the oven, ready to be enjoyed. For an extra touch of indulgence, brush them with a little softened vegan butter and sprinkle with sea salt while still warm. This simple addition enhances their savory flavor and adds a delightful textural contrast.

Beet & Garlic Dinner Rolls

By Brita Britnell

Prep: 2 hrs 25 mins • Cook: 15 mins • Total: 2 hrs 40 mins

Beet & Garlic Dinner Rolls
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Ingredients

  • 2 Love Beets Organic Cooked Beets (they come in a pack of 3, but you only need 2)
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar
  • 1 packet of active dry yeast
  • ½ cup of warm, but not hot water
  • ⅛ cup of unsweetened non-dairy milk (make sure you get plain, not vanilla, etc.! Almond milk is a great choice)
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced or crushed/mashed
  • 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon of dried parsley
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 3 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons of salt
  • Optional for topping: sea salt and softened vegan butter

Instructions

  • Using a food processor, puree beets until they are in very small chunks, about the size of rice.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, yeast, and warm water. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
  • Into the same bowl (after the 10 minutes), stir in the non-dairy milk, minced garlic, oregano, parsley, and olive oil.
  • In a large bowl (preferably of a stand mixer), stir together the flour and salt. Pour the beet puree into the flour mixture and stir, rubbing the beets into the flour using the back of a spoon to distribute evenly.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of the dry ingredients and beet mixture, and mix until just combined. This can be done by hand, with the paddle hook of a stand mixer, or with a wooden spoon. It should begin to form a shaggy dough.
  • Using the dough hook (or kneading by hand), knead the dough for 7-10 minutes on medium speed. The dough is done once it begins to get smooth and elastic. If the dough is excessively sticking to the hook, sprinkle in a bit more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until manageable.
  • Using your hands, roll the dough into a ball. Lightly grease the ball with olive oil, leave it in the same bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for one hour, or until doubled in size.
  • Once risen, turn the dough out onto a well-greased surface (I’ve found this easier than a floured surface). Roll the dough out into a rectangle that’s approximately 8 inches by 15 inches long and about ¼ inch thick. A gently greased rolling pin works best for this.
  • Cut the rolled dough into strips that are 8 inches long and 1 inch thick.
  • Taking one dough strip at a time, roll the dough gently and then form the knots according to THESE instructions.
  • Place the shaped rolls 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Place them in a warm spot and let them rise for another 1 hour, or until visibly puffy.
  • Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops just begin to brown and the rolls are cooked through.
  • Once done, remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the baking sheet.
  • Optional: For an extra burst of flavor and a beautiful sheen, brush the tops of the warm rolls with softened vegan butter and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt. This step is highly recommended for an amazing finish!
  • ENJOY your freshly baked Beet & Garlic Dinner Rolls!

Nutrition

Serving: 14 rolls

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Serving Suggestions and Creative Variations

These Beet & Garlic Dinner Rolls are incredibly versatile and can elevate almost any meal. Their savory profile and unique color make them a perfect accompaniment to a wide range of dishes. Serve them warm alongside a hearty lentil soup, a vibrant salad, or a comforting pasta dish. They are also fantastic with a simple spread of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or even just enjoyed on their own as a satisfying snack.

Thinking about variations? The possibilities are endless! You could try incorporating different dried herbs like rosemary or thyme for an alternative aromatic twist. For a touch of heat, finely minced chili flakes could be added to the dough. If you’re not strictly vegan, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast can add a cheesy flavor, or you could even mix in some dairy-free cheese shreds for an indulgent, gooey center. Imagine a cheddar-beet roll – delicious!

These rolls are also perfect for making mini sliders. Their delightful color makes them a hit at potlucks, brunches, or any gathering where you want to impress with something both visually appealing and incredibly tasty. They are a wonderful alternative to traditional white bread, offering a boost of nutrients and an exciting flavor profile.

Embrace the Joy of Homemade Baking

There’s something truly special about the aroma of freshly baked bread filling your home. These Beet & Garlic Dinner Rolls offer not just a delicious treat, but also the immense satisfaction of creating something beautiful and wholesome from scratch. It’s a rewarding culinary experience that showcases the delightful possibilities when you combine simple, natural ingredients with a bit of patience and creativity.

Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting your journey, this recipe for beet recipes is designed to be accessible and enjoyable. The use of pre-cooked beets simplifies the process significantly, allowing you to focus on the joy of kneading dough and watching it transform. So go ahead, gather your ingredients, and prepare to enchant your taste buds and impress your guests with these vibrant, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying garlic bread rolls. Happy baking!

If you tried this recipe, we’d love to hear about it! Mention @foodwithfeeling or tag #foodwithfeeling on Instagram to share your creations!