Beets? What do you do with them?

[joyfulheart]

I just got a bunch of beets in my csa and haven't a clue what to do with them.

I've never tasted a beet. Do you eat them raw? Cook them?

I know, I know...clueless! But willing to try!

Any recommendations most appreciated!

[no5no5]

Mmmmmm.

Wash gently, then boil them whole with their skins on, until a fork goes in easily. Remove from the water. When they've cooled a bit, you can peel them by hand (dying your hands pink for a day or so). We love them so much we just eat them right then & there with just a pinch of salt, but you can cut them up & put them in salad or whatever. If the water isn't too gritty (i.e., if you washed them well) you can save it for a soup, or to cook rice in, if you like pink rice.

You can roast them too. I make a roasted root vegetable salad that is lovely and pink, with just a bit of (vegan) mayo and some dill.

ETA: The tops can be cooked like kale or chard.

And be forewarned...your urine will turn pink.

[jwpsgurl]

I love beets!! I prepare them by trimming the greens down to about an inch. Putting them in a baking dish with about a 1/2 inch of water, covering with foil and baking on 35o for about 30 minutes. Then the skins just come right off. I slice them, and marinate them in some olive oil and vinegar. Yum!!

You can make beet soup, too!

[Bokonon]

You can also steam them in the microwave. I love beets with some crumbled feta and a little balsamic vinegar. YUM! My CSA has had beets for the last 2 deliveries, and they also have spring mix and oranges, so those 3 ingredients plus some feta = super yum!

[cristeen]

Lately I've been pickling them. But my fave way to eat them is to roast them like a pp mentioned, cool them, peel and shred/grate. Mix with pressed garlic, mayo, s&p, let it sit overnight. Just before serving, stir in some toasted walnuts. I can eat a whole bowl by myself.

[elanorh]

Roast with olive oil, garlic, onion, rosemary (and maybe some thyme). Delicious!

Another version not mentioned above is "Harvard Beets" - steam the beets (peeled and sliced). Then make a sauce with 1/2 cup of the beet water, honey, cornstarch, vinegar - after it thickens, pour over the beets and let sit for about 10 minutes before serving (I'm sure there's a precise recipe for this somewhere).

I have a friend who peels and slices her beets, raw, and puts them in a mixture of vinegar and Italian dressing - eats them cold and raw (sometimes with cucumbers). This is surprisingly good, and the first I'd ever heard of beets raw!

You can make a beet 'cole slaw' too - use shredded raw beets with cabbage.

Borscht is the beet soup most have heard about. It's delicious. Check allrecipes.com and I'm sure you'd find several versions to try.

....And, in terms of pink urine - I always thought that was natural too but actually, it's a sign of a zinc deficiency (discovered this via the Food Allergies board here). After supplementing zinc for about a month, the pink pee disappeared for me! Amazing but true.

[JessicaS]

It does make the stool red. I always make sure to let dh know whenever ds has had beets while he was at work. I am worried he will change his diaper and be "AAAHH!!!! OH NOES!!!! CALL THE DR!!!!"


You can eat them raw just make sure you wash them really well. They are good grated over a saladwhen raw. I love beets and like them steamed or roasted as well. They can be a bit earthy for some people but they are a super food, rich in nutrients.

[Learning_Mum]

I'm guessing beets are beetroot?

Boiled, roasted or cold sliced on a sandwich with cottage cheese. I ate so many beetroot and cottage cheese sandwiches when I was pregnant with DS1!

Yum, I love beetroot! I'm getting a craving for some now!

[Plaid Leopard]

I only like raw or pickled beets.

I grate or thinly slice the beets, then add grated/sliced apple, a splash of apple cider vinegar, some balsamic vinegar, and a bit of agave syrup. You can eat them right away, but I prefer to let them marinate for a bit.

[northcountrymamma]

Originally Posted by Plaid Leopard

I loonly like raw or pickled beets.

I grate or thinly slice the beets, then add grated/sliced apple, a splash of apple cider vinegar, some balsamic vinegar, and a bit of agave syrup. You can eat them right away, but I prefer to let them marinate for a bit.

I love raw beets...it's usually the only way we eat them (though we steam them from time to time too).

we do that same recipe that you quoted without the agave syrup (too high is fructose and too highly processed). Beets are nice and sweet on their own, I don't typically sweeten them. Add some goat cheese, kale, red cabbage sometimes too, mmmm!

[hteb83]

I like them grated in salads, roasted, or in soup (with onions, carrots and tomatoes - a bit like borsht)

[no5no5]

Originally Posted by elanorh

....And, in terms of pink urine - I always thought that was natural too but actually, it's a sign of a zinc deficiency (discovered this via the Food Allergies board here). After supplementing zinc for about a month, the pink pee disappeared for me! Amazing but true.

Crazy. DH & I both supplement with zinc, and we still have pink urine.

[Addie]

I love beets! If you're prepping them raw, be aware that the juice will stain your countertops and hands. If you get the beets with greens attached, keep them and cook like you would any other green.

This beet rosti from Mark Bittman is outrageously good. If you have a food processor, definitely use it to grate the beets.

Simple pickled beets - boil beets until tender, slice into a jar. Heat equal parts water, sugar and cider vinegar. Pour over beets and refrigerate. I add some thinly sliced raw onions too.

Slice raw beets not too thinly, maybe 1/2 inch, and grill until tender and slightly charred. Serve with basalmic vinegar and chevre

I've had a lot of beets, but never pink urine. Guess my zinc level is good?

[kjbrown92]

Originally Posted by elanorh

....And, in terms of pink urine - I always thought that was natural too but actually, it's a sign of a zinc deficiency (discovered this via the Food Allergies board here). After supplementing zinc for about a month, the pink pee disappeared for me! Amazing but true.

I thought it was a sign of low stomach acid (which zinc might help).

I just had beets tonight. I peel and slice mine before cooking, because I think it's easier. And boil until tender. I just put a little sea salt & pepper on them. But I love pickled beets too.

[GoGoGirl]

This won't use up too many of your beets, but we like mashed pinktatoes. Just boil some of the beets along with potatoes, and then mash them up with whatever you add to make your mashed potatoes. They taste just like regular mashed potatoes, but they're fuchsia! (I secretly wish all my food was fuschia )

[jtsmom]

My 8 yo loves beets. I just boil them til they're tender (it takes longer than you'd think) and put them with butter and salt. I've never had pink pee or stools, but my dh and dd tell me they do. I don't understand why this is a problem for some of us but not others.

[captivatedlife]

cut into thin sticks (think carrot sticks) and dipped into hummus. That was lunch today.

[northcountrymamma]

we only get pink pee when we eat cooked beets...with raw, I never notice this.

from what I understand the reasons your urine turns pink is either due to genetics, iron deficiency or the other foods eaten along with beets (spinach rhubbarb, or other oxalic acid containing foods). It is basically just an inability to break down the type of pigment in the beet.

[joyfulheart]

Holy moly, who knew you could do so much with beets!

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I haven't tried the beets yet, but tonight for dinner, I sauteed the beet greens with butter, shallots and lemon juice and love, love, loved it!

Tomorrow -- the beets...

[serenbat]

no one mentioned picked eggs???

pink eggs what is more FUN!!