Ingredients for 1kg dip:

• 600g precooked beetroot in vinegar (£1)
  

  Ingredients

• 3 garlic cloves
• Hand full of small green chillies (10p)
• 1 small red onion
• 1 small fresh tomato
• 2 stock cubes
• 400 ml plain vegetable oil
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• Salt and black pepper

Note: as this was part of the menu for 6 people, you will only need just about 300g of this dip to serve the vegetables cakes. The relative cost spent for this dip is £1.10 (for 1kg) or 5-6p per serving on this menu.

Method:

If the beetroot has skin, peel it, cut off the extremities and chop them. Blend in a food processor until smooth. Remove from the processor and set aside.

Now peel and roughly chop the onion, garlic and chopped tomato. To that, add black pepper and salt. Put all of that in the food processor, remove the tail of the green chillies, add in

the processor and blend until smooth also set aside. To not mix with the beetroot at this point.

In a deep pan with a lid, heat 200ml oil and fry in it until crisp the 3 sprigs of fresh thyme. Now pour in the oil the onion garlic and tomato mix. Stir and cover. For 10 minutes opening from time to time to stir.

By covering we are looking for the water in the mix to evaporate. Once

the water has evaporated, only clear oil will be bubbling up on the surface of the mix as shown on the photo right.

Now, add the blended beetroot, stir to combine well the content of the pan, add the rest of the oil taste, add freshly grinded pepper and salt, stir and cover for 20 minutes. Make sure to cover the pan because the content bubbles up and spits, the splashed of beetroot might redecorate the kitchen.

Open the pan from time to time to stir. After 20 minutes, there should be no liquid left in the pan. What should be visible is just the oil again, bubbling up above the dip. Remove from heat and serve hot. Leave the rest to completely cool down before spooning into jars.

I served mine as part of a starter.

This dip is great and can be used for chips and other vegetables. Also use it as a spread for sandwiches or mixed into a simple salad. Use is as you would mayonnaise or mustard or simply offer some to friends and family if you’ve got too much.

Enjoy!

See more about this vegan menu here.