Beetroot Sabzi | Dry Beetroot Curry

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Beetroot sabzi recipe with step by step photos. This is a simple, satisfying and healthy Dry Beetroot Curry recipe prepared in South Indian style. The recipe has a base mix of onions, coconut, spices and herbs. It makes for an excellent side dish with any South Indian meal.

beetroot sabzi served on a white plate

Carrots and beetroots often make an appearance on our menu. I always buy both these root veggies and make simple stir fries or add them in pulao or mix veg dishes. During winters, I prepare Carrot Halwa and on occasions Beetroot Halwa too.

This beetroot bhaji has the sweetness of beetroots and coconut along with some heat coming from the green chilies and dry red chilies. The spices added also contribute their own flavors.

Beetroots are rich in iron, calcium and minerals and there are various ways you can include them in your meals. Using the same recipe, you can even make carrot bhaji. A few more Beetroot recipes that I have already shared are:

To prepare this easy beetroot bhaji, I have boiled the beetroots. Since the beetroot is boiled, the bhaji takes very less time to cook. This bhaji tastes delicious and is a regular at home.

Beetroot sabzi goes well as a side dish with dal-rice, rasam-rice and even dishes like Khichdi. You can also serve it as a side dish with chapatis.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Beetroot Sabzi (Dry Beetroot Curry)

1. First rinse 2 medium to large beetroot very well in water. Then add 2.5 cups of water into the pressure cooker. Also, add the beetroot.

You can also choose to steam the beetroots in a pan on the stovetop or the Instant pot adding water as needed.

beetroot with water in a pressure cooker

2. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon salt in the water. Pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles or 7 to 8 minutes on a medium heat.

pressure cookig beetroot

3. When the pressure settles down on its own, then only open the pressure cooker’s lid. Remove the cooked beetroot with the help of tongs carefully and set them aside on a plate to cool.

The crimson colored water can be used to make Beetroot Rasam, dal, pulao, soups and even for kneading chapati dough.

cooked beetroot

4. When the beetroot becomes warm, peel them.

peeled and cooked beetroot

5. Then chop the beetroot finely. Keep aside.

chopped beetroot in a plate

6. Keep all the ingredients ready for making beetroot sabzi.

ingredients for making beetroot sabzi in plate

Making dry beetroot curry

7. Heat a pan or kadai and add 1.5 tablespoons of oil to it. You can use any neutral flavored oil.

oil added to kadai

8. When the oil becomes hot, lower the flame. Then add the following ingredients:

  • ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • a generous pinch of asafoetida (hing)
  • 1 to 2 broken dry red chilies
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
spices and herbs added to oil

9. Saute until the mustard seeds and cumin seeds crackle on a low heat.

sauteing mustard seeds and cumin

10. Add ¼ cup finely chopped onions and 1 to 2 chopped green chilies. Keep the heat low to medium-low.

onions and green chilies added

11. Saute the onions stirring often until they become translucent and are softened.

sauteing onions

12. Then add salt as per taste.

salt added

13. Stir and mix well.

mixing salt with mixture

14. Add the boiled and chopped beetroots.

chopped beetroot added

15. Mix and stir very well.

making beetroot bhaji recipe

16. Cover the pan with a lid and cook dry beetroot curry for 2 to 3 mins on a low heat.

cooking beetroot bhaji with lid kept on pan

17. Since the beetroot is boiled, no need to cook the sabzi for a longer time. After 2 to 3 minutes, remove the lid and stir the beetroot sabzi.

stirring beetroot bhaji

18. Finally add ¼ cup of freshly grated coconut.

freshly grated coconut added to bhaji

19. Stir and mix very well.

beetroot sabzi mixed with coconut

20. After 1 to 2 minutes switch off the heat.

switch off the heat

Serve the beetroot sabzi hot or warm as a side dish with dal-rice or sambar rice combo. You can also serve it with roti or paratha. It can also be packed in the tiffin box.

beetroot sabzi served on a white plate

If you are looking for more sabzi recipes then do check:

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

beetroot sabzi recipe, dry beetroot curry recipe, beetroot bhaji recipe

Beetroot Sabzi (Dry Beetroot Curry)

This Beetroot ki Sabzi or Dry Beetroot Curry is a spiced South Indian style recipe made with beets, onions, coconut, spices and herbs. Make for a healthy meal when paired as a side with some roti or chapathi.
4.79 from 28 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine South Indian
Course Side Dish
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Easy
Servings 3
Units

Ingredients

For pressure cooking beetroot

  • 2 beetroot – medium to large or 1.5 cups chopped cooked beets
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or add as required
  • 2.5 cups water – for pressure cooking beetroot

Other ingredients

  • 1.5 tablespoons oil
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds – black
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
  • 1 to 2 dry red chilies – broken into two and seeds removed
  • 1 to 2 green chilies – chopped finely or ½ to 1 teaspoon chopped
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric (ground turmeric)
  • ¼ cup finely chopped onions or 1 small onion finely chopped
  • salt
  • ¼ cup fresh grated coconut as per taste

Instructions
 

Cooking beetroot

  • Rinse the beetroot first very well in water.
  • Then add 2.5 cups of water in the pressure cooker. Add the beetroot.
  • Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of salt.
  • Pressure cook the beetroot for 3 to 4 whistles or for 7 to 8 minutes.
  • Once the pressure drops down in the cooker on its own, remove the beetroot. You can use the water in soups, dals, rasams or to knead chapati dough.
  • When the beetroot, become warm, peel and chop them finely.

Making beetroot sabji

  • Heat a pan and then add oil.
  • When the oil becomes hot, reduce the flame to a low. Then add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, a generous pinch of asafoetida, broken dry red chilies, curry leaves and turmeric.
  • Saute until the mustard seeds and cumin seeds crackle on low heat. Ensure that the spices do not burn
  • Then add finely chopped onions and finely chopped green chilies.
  • Saute the onions until they become translucent.
  • Sprinkle salt as required. Stir and mix well.
  • Add the boiled, chopped beetroot. Mix and stir well.
  • Cover with a lid and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on a low heat.
  • Since the beetroot is boiled, no need to cook the sabzi for a longer time.
  • Remove the lid, stir the sabzi. Finally, add freshly grated coconut.
  • Stir well. After 1 to 2 minutes switch off the heat.
  • Serve beetroot sabzi hot or warm as a side dish with your meals.

Notes

  1. You could use raw beetroot also for this recipe. But it will take a longer time to cook.
  2. If using raw beets, then finely chop or grate them. Add the finely chop beets, after the onions are sautéed. Add some water and mix. Cover pan with lid and cook beets until fork tender.
  3. If you don’t have fresh coconut then use desiccated coconut. Desiccated coconut also tastes good in the dry beetroot curry.
  4. This recipe can be scaled as per your requirements.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Beetroot Sabzi (Dry Beetroot Curry)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 125 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Sodium 687mg30%
Potassium 238mg7%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 194IU4%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.03mg2%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.03mg2%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 39mg195%
Vitamin B6 0.1mg5%
Vitamin C 73mg88%
Vitamin E 3mg20%
Vitamin K 1µg1%
Calcium 39mg4%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 456µg114%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 22mg6%
Phosphorus 39mg4%
Zinc 0.4mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Beetroot Sabji post from the blog archives first published in September 2016 has been republished and updated on 26 July 2022.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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12 Comments

  1. Hi.
    I really enjoyed this recipe. One difference is I was short on time so instead of pressure cooking beets, I shredded them and cooked from raw. Was perfect.5 stars

    1. Thank you for this feedback and for sharing the variation you made to the recipe. Thanks for the rating too.