How To Eat Beets In Best Possible Ways

With their sweetness and rich color, raw beets can rock many dishes. Some of the recipes that can be prepared utilizing the raw beets include:

Raw Beet Salad

Combining the vibrant red color of beets with some yellow and greens from different vegetables can make a stunning-looking salad. You can even make varieties like cheesy ones by simply adding goat cheese to the dish. A drizzle of your "kind of " vinaigrette and you will have a salad packed with layers of flavor.

For the preparation, you will be requiring the following ingredients:

-Shredded beets, carrots, any citruses and apples

-A tangy dressing

Combine these ingredients and with each bite expect a burst of flavors. For a nutty deviation, add some walnuts to the salad.

Beet Carpaccio

Beet carpaccio is a light dish and can make a tasty appetizer. The dish utilizes thinly sliced beets which are then added with other ingredients including:

-Arugula

-Citrus dressing(Orange/lemon)

-Toasted nuts(walnut)

For making, the circular thin slices of beets are arranged in a circular pattern and topped with the remaining ingredients. You may also add some cheese for that creaminess. Once drizzled with the dressing, you will get a fresh-tasting dish that has a balance of sweet, savory and tangy flavors.

Beet Slaw

Beet slaw is another refreshing dish that combines the sweetness of raw beets and the crispiness of vegetables. A tangy dressing makes the best match for the slaw. Ingredients that can give fine results include:

-Shredded raw beet

-Shredded carrots

-thinly sliced cabbage

-Any tangy dressing

The slaw even gets better with some toasted sunflower seeds or chopped walnuts. It can make a side dish as well as a perfect topping for tacos, burritos or wraps.

Others

Beet tartare and wraps are some uncommon recipes you can prepare from raw beets. For the tartare, which is a twist on classic steak tartare, mix finely chopped raw beets with capers, onions, mustard, and herbs. With some crackers on top, a plant-based tartare gets ready.

Thinly sliced beets also work well on wraps. You can use beets as a substitute for wraps or tortilla chips (for a healthier version) and then layer them with hummus, avocado, veggies, or protein. This way can be perfect to create a light meal or snack.

Cooked beets are even more flavorful as the use of heat caramelizes the beet sugars. As a result, cooked beet dishes have a depth of flavor and are tender as well. Some ways to enjoy this nutrient-rich vegetable in a new light include:  

Roasted Beets

Roasting beets is the easiest beet recipe that exists. The roasting process brings the charm to the dish-it caramelizes the natural sugar present in the beets providing a deep, roasted flavor. The recipe requires:

-Whole beets (red, golden)

-Olive oil and seasonings

Simply, wrap the beet in aluminum foil, it's better not to peel beets before roasting. Add olive oil and salt to the beet and roast them until fork-tender. This beet dish can be served as a perfect side dish for roasted meats or grilled vegetables. The roasted beets can be further used in other dishes like:

• Beet salad, beet hummus and beet dip can be prepared with roasted beets. The roasted flavor and the natural sweetness of these beets make all the dishes versatile in taste.
• Roasted beets can also be combined with quinoa, chickpeas, avocado, and a light dressing to make a healthy bowl. This can be a way to prepare a healthy lunch or dinner. 

Steamed Beets

Beets can be steamed to make a perfect base for different recipes. After cleaning and trimming off the greens, all you need to do is steam them with peels-on. Once they are done, peel them off and serve them as such. If you want to enhance the flavor, salt, olive oil and vinegar will make the perfect additions.

There are also other ways to enjoy steamed beets. Some of them are:

• In soups, cakes, patties and salads

Boiling beets however is not recommended as it might wash away their nutrient content.

Oven Baked Beet Chips

Chips can not get healthier than this! When baked, the thinly sliced beets will crisp up but the flavor will remain the same, full of natural sweetness and earthy flavor. Start the recipe by gathering the following ingredients:

-beets

-olive oil, salt and pepper

For getting that ultra-thin cut, it's better to use a mandolin slicer. Also, you need to be careful about how you arrange the beet slices, without a single layer & well-spread beets you may not get the desired results. 

Beet Soup

A beet soup/borscht is prepared by using several ingredients:

-Beets that are peeled and grated

-Chicken broth

-Potatoes, peeled and sliced

-Carrots, peeled and sliced

-olive oil

The grated beet is sauteed initially, followed by the addition of broth and water. The remaining sliced vegetables are then added to the boiling mix and simmered until every ingredient gets cooked thoroughly. After simmering and seasoning, thus prepared beet soup can be served.

Vegan Beet Burger

A delicious plant-based patty can be prepared using beets. With its earthiness, beets can provide a deep flavor to each bite of the burger. Prior to preparation, assemble:

-Grated beets, oats/ breadcrumbs, canned cooked lentils/ black bean

-All-purpose flour and aromatics

Use a food processor or simply mix the ingredients in a bowl until everything sticks together. Form patties, make sure to maintain a thickness of about 1/2 inch and then simply grill them for a few minutes. Serve on toasted buns for the best flavors and add a topping of your choice.

Beet Fries

Beet strips when baked to perfection can make ideal fries. For fries with crunchy exterior and tender interior, start with:

-peeled beets sliced into thin strips

-olive oil and your favorite spices

The beet strips need to be tossed in olive oil, salt and spices before baking/ roasting. Once they are out of the oven, dip them into ketchup, garlic aioli, or even a tangy mustard and enjoy them hot. The fries do not need to be consumed this typical way, you can also spice things up by creating a yogurt-based dressing or sprinkling the fries with some parmesan cheese or fresh herbs.

Beet Pesto

Beet pesto gives a colorful spin to the classic basil pesto. To make an easy beet pesto, all you need is:

-steamed beets with no skin

-walnuts and lemon

-olive oil, basil leaves and mint leaves

-garlic and Parmesan cheese

In a blender, take all these ingredients and make a smooth pesto. For any kind of thickness, add water to meet the desired consistency. The pesto can work best in pasta and even can be used as a dip as well as a spread for sandwiches.

Beet recipes are also about getting creative. The ways you can incorporate beets in your daily diet more include:

Ginger Beet Juice

Beet juice can be prepared in a straightforward way. You just need to add cut beets, apples, ginger, lemon and some water in the blender.

If you don't like the earthiness of the juice then you can add more apple or lemon to balance it out. You may even want to stain the juice through a fine sieve. Serve the juice with ice for the best flavors.

Creamy Beet Smoothie

For a healthy start to the morning, beet smoothie makes a perfect choice. To make the drink not so beety, get other fruits like pineapple and berries. Honey for sweetness and Greek yogurt for creaminess are also perfect additions.

Blend till the mixture gets smooth. You can add more fruits if the beet's earthiness is strong. Kale or any greens can be added if you prefer some greens in your smoothie. Also, some chia or flax seeds will make a perfect morning meal.

Beet Pickle

Beet pickle makes a side you can store for weeks. When perfectly fermented, the beets get tangy, making a perfect addition to salads and sandwiches. Any types of beets and vinegar are the primary ingredients needed for the preparation.

The sliced beets need to be cooked prior to pickling, followed by adding vinegar to it. You can also play with spices here or even use some sugar to balance the acidity of the vinegar. After adding the brine, you can consume them right away. But it's better to let the pickle sit for a few days to allow the flavors to sink in.

Beet Candies

Beet candies can be perfect for kids who are picky eaters. The recipe also doesn't demand much, you just need to cook them and give them a glaze.

You can use honey as a sweetener to make this treat healthy or cook some extras like citrus or orange glaze. This unique twist to the traditional candies comes with benefits and also satisfies the sweet tooth.

Beet Pancakes

A healthy start to the morning, nothing can beat what beet pancakes have to offer. The preparation requires:

-Beet that is cooked and pureed, flour

-baking powder, salt, sugar, eggs and milk

-butter and vanilla extract

Mix the dry ingredients and add the smoothened wet ingredients' mix. Cook the pancakes in butter. Serve warm with some fresh berries and a sweetener. A dollop of yogurt can make the pancakes freshening.

If you think beets only red beets exist, then you are in for a colorful surprise! The different types of beets include:

• Red Beet: This is the most common type of beet. It has a strong earthy flavor and a deep crimson flavor.
• Golden Beet: It has a golden yellow color. It is sweeter compared to the red beet.
• Chioggoa Beets: This beet looks quite different. It has concentric rings of red and white and is slightly less earthy than the red beets.
• Avalanche Beets: These are sweeter varieties of beets and are white in color.
• Bulls Blood Beets: These varieties have edible greens and roots. The greens have the same red color as the root and the flavors they carry are also quite similar.
• Sugar Beets: Sugar beets are used in the production of sugar. They are specifically bred for this purpose and are sweeter than most of the beets.

Beets are health heroes. These root vegetables have abundant amounts of antioxidants and beneficial compounds that support our health. Here are some major ones:

Improves Blood Flow

Beets have high nitrate content which is related to the widening of blood vessels. So, consuming beets can improve blood flow in the body, hence keeping our cells active with a constant supply of nutrients.

Good For Heart

Beets can help get your blood pressure down. As a result, you won't have to face most of the cardiovascular problems.

A Natural Detoxifier

Beets are detoxifiers, they don't let fat accumulate in your liver. Moreover, they also help flush out toxins from the body.

Good For Immune System

Rich in iron and vitamins, beets also help you feel your best by boosting the immune system. Diets containing beets hence keep your immune functions vital.

Good For Skin

The skin benefits is attributed to the antioxidants. These compounds are what keep skin healthier and glowing.

• Beet stains are quite concerning. So, to avoid them, use gloves when peeling or cutting beets.
• Use vinegar to clean any beet stains.
• Beet greens are equally edible. Don't throw them away rather, sauté them to get a quick side dish. For a more balanced taste, add some lemon juice to them.
• While roasting beets, keep the skin on to preserve the natural sweetness of beets. On completing the process, you can peel off the skin.
• If you find the strong flavor of beets overwhelming, balance the flavor with something strong like citrus, feta, horseradish, or balsamic vinegar.