Healthy snacks: oven-baked beetroot crisps with sea salt and thyme [vegan]

         Even if you are on a diet, or just like to eat healthy food, sometimes you just need a good old snack. For those times, there is an alternative for the clasic supermarket-bought potato crisps. The healthy option is this: oven-baked betroot crisps with sea salt and thyme: they are 100% natural, easy to make and full of vitamins!
        The red beetroot is a great source of potasium, iron and magnesium, and also vitamins (A, B6, B9, C), as well as proteins, antioxidants and fibre.
         

        

Ingredients (serves two):

- three red beetroots

- a few drops of extravirgin olive oil

- coarse sea salt

- some fresh thyme

Method:

1. Preheat the oven at 160 degrees Celsius.

2. Remove the stalks of the beetroot, leave them unpeeled, wash them under cold water and dry them in a towel (it is better if you use paper towels).

3. Slice the beetroot as thinly as possible with a mandoline or a very sharp knife. Place the slices in a bowl, add the olive oil (just a few drops) and use your hands to evenly distribute the oil on every slice. Every slice should be covered in a very thin coat of oil.

4. Line an oven tray with baking paper and place the beetroot slices on the baking paper, one next to the oder (do not put all slices at once as they will not bake evenly and they will not become crispy). 

5. Bake the beetroot slices at 160 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes (depending of how thin they are), check them after 20 minutes, just to make sure they will not burn. You will know that they are ready, when they start to shrink and become crispy.

6. When ready, take the crisps out of the oven, sprinkle some coarse sea salt, leave them to cool and then  add some fresh thyme. 

                                                   

There is no doubt that they are the best crisps I had ever eaten! 

Enjoy!