Beet Smoothie + Hummus Toast Brunch Spread

This simple beet smoothie recipe uses just a handful of fresh fruit and vegetables for a delicious and healthy drink perfect for breakfast or this hummus toast brunch spread.

When it comes to a good brunch spread I’m of the firm belief that the drinks involved are just as important as the food. Sometimes that means a spicy bloody Mary (with lots of accoutrements of course), other times, that means something a little better for me like this easy beet smoothie recipe.

It’s the perfect pairing for a spread of both savory and sweet breakfast options like in this hummus toast breakfast bar!

*This post is sponsored by Sabra. All content and opinions are my own.

I realize beets are polarizing. Some people love them (me), some people think they taste like dirt (my husband).

I get it, they are indeed an “earthy” vegetable but I happen to love that (especially when roasted like in this Roasted Beet and Squash Goat Cheese Barley recipe). 

This simple beet smoothie recipe uses just a handful of fresh ingredients: apple, carrots, ginger and a squeeze of lemon to create a refreshing drink with a vibrantly gorgeous red color.

Its taste will surprise you because the result is a great balance of earthy beet flavor with just enough sweetness from the apple and carrot and then a pop of refreshing and lively lemon and ginger. 

A lot of beet smoothies tend to go the fruity, creamy route (like my wild blueberry beet smoothie recipe) in an effort to almost mask the true beet flavor. And while that can be delicious for sure, I love this easy beet smoothie recipe because instead of masking, it embraces.

The flavor and color is beet forward but tamed to the perfect level by the other fresh ingredients — check out our informational post on how to make a smoothie for all the options you can use.. It’s like the vegetable version of a prune smoothie, a fruit that also comes with an unjust bad reputation.

When I get my kitchen back (in hopefully a week at this point!) from this never-ending kitchen renovation, this red beet smoothie will be exactly the kind of thing I start making again to start the day (in addition to coffee because let’s be honest, I will never be a smoothie > coffee person. Ever.) It’s also the perfect drink to whip up for breakfast/brunch spread like shown here.

I talked about hummus toast taking over the breakfast scene this year back in January and I still stand by that statement. When you can make an entire breakfast spread like this one centered around hummus toast and all the combination possibilities, it’s a food trend that can’t be ignored.

Beet Smoothie & Hummus Toast Combinations

For this breakfast spread I wanted to do a mixture of both savory and sweet hummus toast options because the ingredients in the beet smoothie go so well with either approach.

Beet Feta Hummus Toast:

For this combination, I used mini bagels as the “toast”. 1 – because bagels are one of my favorite carbohydrates and 2 – because anything in “mini” form is cute and tastes better (it’s a fact).

I used the same cooked beets I used in the beet smoothie on this toast, sliced thinly and paired with some salty feta cheese crumbles. 

I stuck to the classic Sabra hummus for this one to let the beet and feta flavors shine through on top. 

Fried Egg, Tomato & Sprout Hummus Toast:

If you’re like me and can’t resist a runny egg (try this strawberry chile jam breakfast sandwich if so) , this hummus toast is for you!

With roasted garlic hummus as the base on a piece of toasted chewy sourdough bread (yum!), fresh sprouts, ripe tomato slices and a fried egg are piled on top. 

Two pieces of this hummus toast along with a glass of the beet smoothie and you have a filling, nutritious breakfast!

Grilled Nectarine Basil & Pistachio Hummus Toast:

For the sweet hummus toast approach, I grilled some nectarine slices (a great way to bring out flavor in any underripe fruit by the way), thinly sliced some fresh basil and sprinkled a few chopped pistachios on top of another piece of sourdough with classic hummus.

I had thought I’d drizzle this hummus toast with honey for some added sweetness but it honestly didn’t need it. The grilled nectarines caramelized (and if you’re into that, check out this basil nectarine upside down cake – so good!) beautifully and brought the perfect amount of sweetness to each bite. The pistachios are the exact pop of texture this toast needed too so don’t skip those (or use another nut you like)!

Hummus toast is so versatile, the possibilities are endless. It’s the perfect option when hosting a bunch of people because the hummus base is vegan and gluten-free and each person can top according to their needs and taste.

From smoked salmon to roasted fruit to fresh or pickled vegetables – there’s literally a hummus toast for everyone!

When I was planning this kitchen renovation, I knew the counter space was going to be significantly larger than what we had before. With the new counters installed just yesterday it’s even bigger than I had imagined and my mind immediately started thinking of all the ways to entertain and enjoy it.

I think a brunch like this with a smoothie bar, hummus toast spread and maybe even a breakfast charcuterie board is the perfect way to break in the new space!

Love this beet smoothie and brunch spread? Check out these other recipes too:

Spiced Orange Beet Apple Chutney – a great spread for a brunch event
Rosemary Sea Salt and Vinegar Beet Chips – a fun unique way to enjoy beets
Everything Bagel Breakfast Strata
Savory Hummus Waffles – another way to enjoy hummus for brunch