39 beetroot recipes that taste as good as they look (2024)

FAQs

How do you eat beets so they taste good? ›

There's no need to peel beets if you're going to cook them because the skin is easily removed once cooked. My preferred method is to roast beets, which concentrates their flavor and boosts their sweeter side. Wash and wrap them in aluminum foil and place them in a 400° oven for 40–60 minutes, or until fork tender.

If you like roasted beets, you'll love them grilled. Beets put directly on the grill grates sear and caramelize for a slightly smoky-sweet flavor. You won't get the same effect if you put them in foil—they'll be more like steamed beets. Grilled beets are perfect for any recipe calling for roasted.

Beetroots can taste bitter due to compounds like geosmin and saponins. To reduce bitterness when eating them as a vegetable, choose young beetroots, peel and cook them, combine with other flavors, blanch them, or remove the skin before cooking. 2nd method you can boil beetroot to reduce bitterness before cooking.

Beets are high in fiber, which is great for digestive health. They also can help your heart. "Many people might not think that beets are a heart-healthy food, but, actually, beets contain a high level of nitrates, which have a blood pressure-lowering effect," says Guy.

If you are nostalgic for the soft texture of canned beets from childhood but not the taste, you can give pickling beets a try using your roasted beets as a base. Apple cider vinegar, sugar, and salt transform and preserve these earthy roots and bring out their sweetness even more.

Steaming in the oven rather than baking helps preserve more of the healthy vitamins and minerals in beets. This method also helps beets better retain their beautiful, vibrant color.

Eating beets raw or juicing and roasting them may be more beneficial than boiling them. Beetroots, commonly known as beets, are a vibrant and versatile type of vegetable. They're known for their earthy flavor and aroma. Many people call them a superfood because of their rich nutritional profile.

My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole.

Arugula: The peppery and slightly bitter flavour of arugula pairs well with the sweetness of beetroot. Apples: The sweet and tart flavour of apples complement the earthy taste of beets. Balsamic vinegar: The sweetness and acidity of balsamic vinegar pairs well with the earthy taste of beetroot.

Cure your vegetables as you would a piece of meat for a couple of days. This can be achieved by rubbing the vegetable or mushroom with salt at a concentration of 1.75% of the vegetable's weight, wrapping it tightly in plastic or vacuum sealing it, and letting it sit in the fridge for 2-3 days.

How do you add flavor to cooked beets? ›

Flavors that pair well with roasted beets:

Balsamic vinegar, as well as red wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Black pepper. Carrots. Creamy cheese and dairy, including feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, ricotta, crème fraîche, sour cream and plain yogurt.

Beetroot and its juice help your heart and lungs work better during exercise. Nitric oxide from beets increases blood flow to your muscles. Some athletes eat beetroot or drink beet juice when exercising to improve their performance. Beets are rich in folate (vitamin B9), which helps cells grow and function.

How to prepare beetroot. To cook whole, wash but don't peel, then cut the stalks to 2.5cm and leave the root at the bottom; if either are trimmed too much, the beetroot's colour will bleed.

Raw or Cooked? Cooked. Low in calories and high in nutrients, cooked beets reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Benefits: Naturally occurring compounds in beets improve blood flow, help keep arteries healthy and reduce LDL cholesterol (the 'bad' kind).

Sometimes beets are peeled before cooking. They may also be scrubbed and cooked until tender with their skins on; the skins slip off fairly easily after cooling. (Some people are happy to leave the skins on; they are fine to eat.) You can also pickle cooked beets.