Beets! Should I grow them?

TrailRunner61

I'm a successful gardener and I've read that beets, like most veggies, are good for you. I love them pickled, but wont bother doing that. I roasted some with orange zest/juice/balsamic vinegar and they were kind of blah.
Do you have any recipes that you have tried and LOVED? I don't want to bother growing them if I cant get a good, healthy recipe that we will use again.

cindalinka

I love to juice them and add the juice to smoothies.

jlshea

I've just never been able to get into them for the most part. I know there is this soup called borscht that a Russian restaurant near me serves that is pretty good and should be pretty low in fat/calories.


http://natashaskitchen.com/2010/09/26/classic-russian-borscht-recipe/

(there are tons of variations to the recipe, this one just had high ratings)

climbing_trees

dessertswithbenefits.com loves to use beets in her healthy red-velvet cake recipes.
I haven't tried any of them but I am really curious! Using vegetables in desserts intrigues me~

avskk

I roast them'plain and refrigerate them (cut into chunks) in a Ziploc bag with lemon juice and dill. This is amazing and easy. I'd say definitely grow them.

Sunbrooke

You can shake young beet plants with olive oil and salt and bake them like kale chips. They are good in stir fry too. I haven't grow. Any full sized beets. We always eat the whole plant when they are small.

tchell99

Just made this last night: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/vegan-borscht/

I am not vegan and still think it turned out great!

Super_Amy

One of the great side effects of growing your own beet is beet greens. Beet greens are really tasty and you just prepare them like you would any other green.

CMoeDee

One of the great side effects of growing your own beet is beet greens. Beet greens are really tasty and you just prepare them like you would any other green.

I second this. The greens are great. I'm growing some beets right now.

I usually roast mine with either citrus slices (oranges & grapefruit) or add a little soft cheese (goat or ricotta) at the end, not a whole lot, but oh man, the flavor!

macybean

I plan to grow beets for the first time this year…mostly for the greens. I love beet greens!

For the root, I roast them. After cooling and peeling, I shred them and toss with a little olive oil, apple cider vinegar and salt.

Kanuenue

I take cooked beets and blend them until smooth with tahini, garlic cloves, a touch of plain Greek yogurt, and chickpeas for a beautiful and tasty hummus. I have heard it is more traditional to omit the chickpeas but I like the added protein and fiber.

JesterMFP

I just like them boiled, but if you're not into the flavour of them roasted, then you might not like them boiled either.

ils_1231

if they are premade for me ... pickled,etc. i like the red beets... just watch out if you eat too many!!!! my only suggestion would be to grow golden beets. they dont stain things. i have a tendency to look like a murderer when i make red beets.

sillyvalentine

Pickling beets is soooooo easy!

You can get the jars from the dollar store.

Just add beets (5 pounds ish), 1 cup sugar and half a quart of vinegar, maybe a 1/2 tsp pickling salt.

Chop the beets and boil them.
Keep the water.
Sterilize the jars by boiling them (and the lids).
Put boiled beets in the jars.
Boil beet water, vinegar, salt and sugar.
Pour water/vinegar mix over beets in jars.
Seal jars.
Place sealed jars in boiling water so they are covered. Cover pot and boil 10 mins.

sad_kitty

I love them roasted with a bit of oil and salt and pepper and rosemary. If you haven't tried golden beets yet, they're delicious, They taste a little less earthy than the deep red ones, but have a mild, sweet flavour. I like to roast them sliced up with other root veggies in the winter and toss them with a melted butter/grated ginger/maple syrup glaze.

huneydrop

boiled with butter and salt and pepper mmmmmmmmm!

debneeds2beskinny

I love them pickled, not so much any other way - but the greens are awesome!

queenjane1023

I like them roasted with a honey lime dressing, I've never had them any other way.

laurasnyder411

I'm not sure this helps but I just boil them. I love the taste. If you don't overcook them they have so much flavor.

TrailRunner61

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I'm definitely going to grow them, use the greens and maybe even pickle some.

SingingSingleTracker

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I'm definitely going to grow them, use the greens and maybe even pickle some.

Beets are great to grow since they are biennials.

I love to make juice out of them, or boil them, or grill them. I use a recipe that I have bookmarked for grilled beets, goat cheese, and walnuts from Food Network. Here's the link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/grilled-beets-with-goats-cheese-and-walnuts-recipe0.html

sesquive

A friend had an abundance of beets last Fall and she made this Chocolate-Beet cake. SOOOO good!

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2011/11/moist-chocolate-beet-cake-recipe-nigel-slater/

neanderthin

I'm a successful gardener and I've read that beets, like most veggies, are good for you. I love them pickled, but wont bother doing that. I roasted some with orange zest/juice/balsamic vinegar and they were kind of blah.
Do you have any recipes that you have tried and LOVED? I don't want to bother growing them if I cant get a good, healthy recipe that we will use again.

save the soil for the more expensive crops.............beets are cheap like.........might as well just buy them.

EllyNumia

Beets are the most amazing healing food on the planet! They both oxygenate cells and work phase 1 and 2 pathways of the liver. meaning they are both detoxing ( cleansing) and rejuvenating for the liver and all its 60 + metabolic and hormonal functions. I used it to help me clear cancer from the body. A very powerful food that I still have almost daily.
It grows well in sandy soils. And needs very little to make it grow. Grate raw with carrots and serve with a few raisins or goji berries for a pick me up. or like one other lady said juice it with carrot, apple and ginger. We call that in NZ liver lover or red demon. Divine! Enjoy!!! blessings, Elly

EllyNumia

OMG yes! :>:happy:

katya_be

I love beets. I was born in Ukraine, but raised in the USA, and beets are a staple in my kitchen. I grow them in my garden and use them in many recipes... Cooked beet salad, beet vegetable soup (borscht), raw beet cabbage slaw, russian vinaigrette. I recommend these recipes:
http://natashaskitchen.com/2012/11/25/moms-creamy-beet-salad-recipe/

http://natashaskitchen.com/2014/02/08/borscht-recipe-with-meat/

http://natashaskitchen.com/2013/05/18/easy-superfood-red-borsch/

http://natashaskitchen.com/2010/04/05/russian-bet-salad-no-cooking-required/

http://natashaskitchen.com/2010/06/21/russian-vinaigrette-recipe-with-beets-and-sauerkraut/

http://momsdish.com/recipe/366/beet-quinoa-salad

http://momsdish.com/recipe/136/marinated-beet-salad

http://momsdish.com/recipe/220/beet-garden-salad-goat-cheese

cwsreddy

Beets are the best! Do it!

But don't freak out when you pee red.