Considering just how healthy fresh beet recipes can be, it’s easy to think of adding them to your regular rotation of meals.
The thing about beets is that so many of us were conditioned to dislike them because our moms and grandmothers served us those yucky canned beets that just didn’t look or taste appetizing. However, when they’re prepared and cooked correctly, beets are super delicious, and they are full of nutrition.
Red beet recipes have a variety of flavors and textures too so there’s a recipe on this list that will satisfy anybody’s taste buds.
Beetroot, this vibrant and versatile vegetable, has become increasingly popular in the culinary world. Known for its earthy flavor and impressive nutritional profile, beets are often featured in a variety of dishes. These root vegetables are not only delicious but also loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that contribute to overall health.
Incorporating beets into your diet is not only a simple way to add some color to your plate, but also an opportunity to experiment with diverse flavors and textures. From smoothies and salads to main courses and desserts, there are numerous exciting recipes that showcase the full potential of beets. This article will explore some delicious and creative beet-based dishes that will surely inspire you to incorporate this superfood into your everyday meals.
Health Benefits
Beets are a highly nutritious root vegetable, known for their vibrant colors. They are packed with essential nutrients such as vitamin C, fiber, folate, and potassium. Consuming beets can help support a healthy immune system, improve digestion, and contribute to heart health. The pigments responsible for their ruby red and golden colors also offer antioxidants with potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Selecting and Storing Beets
When choosing fresh beets, look for firm roots with smooth skin and bright, crisp leaves. Ideally, the size of the beet should be between a golf ball and a tennis ball. This ensures they are tender and have a consistent flavor. Golden beets and ruby red varieties can both be found in most gardens or markets.
To store your beets, follow these simple tips:
Remove the leaves: Leaving them attached can cause the root to lose moisture and become soft.
Refrigerate: Keep beets in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Limit washing: Wash beets only when you are ready to cook or consume them, as dampness may spoil them faster.
Preparing Beets for Recipes
Beets can be enjoyed raw or cooked, but it is essential to prepare them properly. Follow these steps to make the most of your root vegetables in dishes.
Wash the beets thoroughly under cold, running water to remove dirt or debris.
Trim both the top and bottom of the beet using a sharp knife, leaving about 1 inch of the stem.
Peeled or unpeeled, you can now proceed to cook the beets as desired, such as boiling, baking, or roasting.
Remember, beets can stain your hands and cutting surfaces, so consider using gloves and a non-porous cutting board while prepping them. Enjoy your beets in a variety of delightful recipes!
Whichever beet recipe ideas you happen to choose, you’ll enjoy the combination of flavors and the amount of time it takes to make.
Sit back and pick your favorite easy beet recipe from below and get started adding healthy meals into your everyday routine.
When you add funky cheese to your best beet recipe, it brings on a new flavor that’s hard to find in other beet dishes.
This salad is the perfect combination of flavors and will show you that beets aren’t just for sandwiches or soups.
Be sure to use only the freshest ingredients and serve it right away because the longer this dish sits out, the more the beets will soak up the dressing and lose their original flavor.
This salad is perfect for a summertime meal or even as an appetizer for your dinner!
Wondering what to do with beets? There’s no better option than this balsamic dressing salad.
It’s the perfect recipe to make when you want something tasty yet simple and don’t have a ton of time on your hands.
You can dress it up with some goat cheese, feta cheese, or another kind if you so choose, but this is also an easy salad idea that doesn’t need any sort of extra ingredients.
This combination brings together earthy beets along with a balsamic glaze that will make your taste buds dance.
If you love salads then this is one beet salad recipe that you need to prepare for yourself soon!
Here’s another beet salad that is perfect as its own dish or as a starter to your main entree.
The combination of sweet apples and savory beets is one that shouldn’t be missed, especially if you like to eat healthily.
If you’ve never combined fruit and vegetables before then this beet recipe is a great way for you to start, especially since it’s so easy.
All you have to do is chop up all of your ingredients, mix them together in a bowl, and enjoy. The apple cider vinegar dressing is a nice touch to this veggie dish.
It’s also a great way to get kids to enjoy eating beets even if they’re not fans of veggies in general, especially because the color really pops and makes it more interesting than a kid might think.
You’ll enjoy how simple this recipe for beet hummus is to make, while still being healthy and good for anyone who tries it.
When summer is in full effect and you have the grill going, why not make some grilled beets?
This beet recipe is only going to take you a few minutes to prepare and is good for many servings. This way, you can either make it in batches or have leftovers the next day if you don’t finish them all in one sitting.
All you have to do is clean the beets, lightly oil them, season with salt and pepper, then grill them until they become tender.
Once they are cooked you can eat the beets whole or slice them up before serving with a dipping sauce of your choosing.
Omelets are a classic breakfast dish and adding beets to the mix is a great way to make it stand out and taste special.
What’s also great about this recipe is that you can add anything else to the dish that you want, like bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and more!
Whether you decide to cut up your beet or prepare it beforehand, this omelet will turn out perfect every time and bring a combo of flavors that will shock your taste buds.
A cooking secret is to use the beet greens from the top of the beets as well by cutting them up and throwing them into your egg mixture.
Here’s a simple and easy way to get beets into your life, even if you don’t think you like beets.
All you have to do is throw all of your ingredients into a blender, blend until smooth, and enjoy.
You’ll love how simple this is to make and that you can drink it fresh or store it in the fridge for later on. That’s why it’s probably best to make an entire blender worth so you don’t have to worry about making more every morning.
If you’re bored with the same old smoothies but don’t have time to make anything else then definitely check out this delicious recipe using beets.
Poke bowls have become a huge trend because of how healthy they are while also being incredibly easy to make.
This vegan beet poke bowl is no different and you’ll love the unique flavors that are packed into this dish.
If you or anyone you know likes to eat clean, then they’re going to want to try this recipe for sure because it’s tasty and good for anyone’s diet.
If you’re wondering what to make with beets you’ve found the perfect companion.
How you should cook beets: 3 Ways
There are several ways you can try cooked beets for these recipes. You can roast beets, put them in the instant pot, or you can boil them.
Roasting beets gives them a beautiful texture on the outside and makes the sweet flavor inside really stand out. It’s probably the best way to bring out everything the beet has to offer.
Throwing your beets in the instant pot is a perfect next choice because it cuts down on the time needed to cook your beets, so you can focus on more important things in your life.
Boiling your beets is another quick way to prepare your beets and although it won’t leave a crispy texture like roasting, they will still be perfect to add to salads.
What to do with cooked beets
You’ll want to plan ahead of time when cooking beets because roasting them can take up to an hour.
What you can do instead is roast the beets ahead of time so that when you’re ready to make your recipe you have them ready to go.
Using the instant pot will have your beets ready in under 30 minutes so you can make the recipe much faster than if you were roasting.
Either way you cook them, the best option is to make a ton of them in one sitting so that they are ready for you whenever you start cooking.
Our Best 10+ Delicious Beet Recipes (+Beet and Blue Cheese Salad)
These recipes are sure to please. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
