Beetroot
Many people have strong feelings about beetroot. Love them or hate them, it’s hard to deny that there are so many good reasons to eat them! With an incredible variety of delicious dishes, there is sure to be an option everyone can fall in love with.
Beetroots are members of the amaranth family and are related to chard and spinach. They come from the taproot of the beet plant and have a rich, sweet, and earthy flavour. The leaves of the beet plant can be eaten too.
The leaves and roots of the beet plant are both highly nutritious and offer many health benefits. High levels of betalains, which give beetroots their colour, are thought to help reduce inflammation. They are also rich in nitrates, folate, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A and bran and provide a range of other overall health benefits.
For more information about beetroots, check out these useful resources: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-cook-beets-and-why-youll-want-to/ and https://www.eatingwell.com/article/291398/how-to-cook-beets-so-theyre-actually-delicious/.
Storage & Preparation
Beetroot should be stored in a reused plastic bag or sealed container in the vegetable crisper of your refriederator. Make sure to cut the leaves off just above the root to prevent the leaves from drawing moisture and nutrients from the vegetable before you store them. They should stay fresh between 2-3 weeks, possibly longer.
There are so many delicious ways to cook with beetroot and it’s advisable to try a range of methods to figure out which ones you like best. Most commonly, they are be roasted, boiled, or steamed, then either eaten on their own or added to a huge range of dishes, including bakes, pastas, risottos, smoothies and more. Beetroot is also great raw, either grated or chopped finely and added to salads, sandwiches or as garnish on soups. You can also try juicing them or pickling them!
See the recipes below for some inspiration.
RECIPES
Appetizers
Leek & Beetroot English Winter Soup Recipe
A delightful English winter vegetable soup using leeks, beetroot, potato, carrot and an assortment of garden herbs.
https://www.kindearth.net/leek-beetroot-english-winter-soup-recipe/
Fresh Beetroot Hummus
This beautifully colored hummus is the most addictive snack we’ve ever made. Be prepared for it to be gone in seconds!
https://lifestyleofafoodie.com/fresh-beetroot-hummus/
Beetroot and Feta Salad
Beetroot and feta cheese make for a delicious combo in a salad, with the sweet flavour from the beetroot perfectly balancing the salty feta cheese.
https://www.scrambledchefs.com/beetroot-and-feta-cheese-salad/
Roasted Beetroot, Carrot & Kale Salad
This kale salad with roasted beetroot and carrots is not only pretty to look at, it’s also bursting with flavour and nutrients! It can be made in advance, so it’s the perfect salad for meal prep, parties and gatherings or tasty weeknight meals.
https://www.hauteandhealthyliving.com/roasted-beet-carrot-kale-salad/
Mains
Smoky Black Bean and Beetroot Burger
10-ingredient, smoky black bean beet burgers with walnuts, quinoa, and a blend of spices. Hearty, nutritionally dense, and simple to prepare.
https://minimalistbaker.com/smoky-black-bean-beet-burgers/
Creamy Beetroot Risotto
This vivid risotto is simply baked in the oven, so there’s no need to spend lots of time at the stove stirring
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/creamy-beetroot-risotto
Roast Beetroot Falafels with Tahini Sauce
A delicious beetroot inspired falafel recipe with the addition of optional coriander (cilantro) leaves. Baked or grilled to maintain a wonderful, healthy, gluten-free, vegan falafel.
https://www.kindearth.net/roast-beetroot-falafels-with-tahini-sauce-easy-gluten-free-vegan-deliciousness/
Sides
Roasted Beetroot
Learn how to roast beetroot with this simple recipe! No foil here. For best flavour, slice the beets and roast them on a pan, as you would other vegetables.
https://cookieandkate.com/perfect-roasted-beets/
Desserts
Beetroot Carrot and Apple Cake
This beetroot, carrot and apple cake is great for any time of year when you want to sneak in a few fruits and vegetables. It is moist and easy to make and features a delicious spiced glaze (optional).
https://fraicheliving.com/beet-carrot-apple-cake/
Fudgy Dark Chocolate Beetroot Brownie
Dark Chocolate Beetroot Brownies are incredibly moist and chocolatey! You would never know that they’re loaded up with beetroot! These brownies are easy to make and will be a hit for any brownie lover.
https://pinchandswirl.com/fudgy-dark-chocolate-beet-brownies/
Beetroot Crepes/Pancakes
Do you have kids (or adults) in the house that won’t eat beetroot? Try this super easy, super quick, and super delicious recipe! There are a bunch of other delicious and easy beetroot recipes on this webpage too.
https://www.momjunction.com/articles/beetroot-recipes-for-kids_00388464/
