ISO Fresh Beet ideas

[norgeskog]

I bought some fresh beets at Saturday Market. I had never cooked a fresh beet (only purchased canned ones that were pickled, thought they came that way ). The farmer lady suggested tossing with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and roasting (telling me not to cut them until baked). OMG were they ever good, just put melted butter and more pepper on them. I have about 5 left and cannot get to Saturday Market this week as my daughter is moving into her new house on Saturday, bummer. Anyone have a good way to roast/fix fresh beets???

[janetGood]

This sounds good but I have not tried it, I have a hard time finding beet Ideas also.
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbs. cornstarch
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup cooked beets
2 tbs. butter
1 tbs. chopped parsley
Blend ginger, sugar and cornstarch in heavy saucepan, gadually add vinegar, stir until smooth. Place saucepan over medium flame. Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add beets and butter, lower flame. Simmer gently 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot garnished with chopped parsley. Can also be used for carrots and sweet potatoes.

[HanArt]

I love roasted beets! I just use olive oil and salt.

They're good in a mixed green salad too with orange sections, roasted pecans, dressed with an orange vinaigrette.

If you can buy the beets with tops ... even better. Roast or boil the beets (whole), peel & slice, drizzle with melted butter and place on a bed of steamed tops that have been drizzled with butter and balsamic. Delish!

[buckytom]

norgeskog,

i have a special place in my heart, er, i guess that would be tummy (sorry , i mean stomach in adult speak), anyway, i love beets. pickled are always a favorite. borscht is, well, eastern european power food. but my absolute favorite is grated with fresh horseradish. my mil introduced me to this many easters ago, and it is an absolute must have now.

alas, this is one of the dishes we are now trying to reproduce, since she kept her recipe a secret to her grave. dw thinks she just boils, cools, skins, and grates the beet with a box grater. then she grates in a fresh horseradish root. you should be able to get fresh horseradish root in your farmer's market, if they're as good as they sound.

now comes the mystery. we are pretty sure she added a little vinegar; not sure if it was white or apple cider vinegar. then she added some herbs; possibly bay leaves. did she boil the mixture? did she add sugar?

we have decided to try different variations this year when my beets come to fruition in the garden.

but even plain, with just grated beets and horseradish, on a bed of greens with blanched asparagus, and a hunk o' farmers cheese and a crusty loaf, and a hearty red makes a good meal.

[Pam Leavy]

I prepared fresh beets for the first time last week. I made the beet casserole in the Joy of Cooking book. It is basically peeled then sliced raw beets, butter, a bit of brown sugar, lemon juice and a bit of water, covered in the oven for 30-40 minutes. It was really nice.

I am planning to try the roasting method next time. Beets are definitly an underrated vegetable.

Yummy!!

Pam

[jennyema]

My favorite way is a salad like Han Art suggests. I use a sherry vinaigrette and add some crumbled goat cheese.


I also sautee beets and beet greens (DONT FORGET ABOUT THEM -- THEY ARE YUMMY!! AND GOOD FOR YOU) with some olive oil and garlic.

I like to use a couple of different color beets for contrast.

I peel before I cook them.

[norgeskog]

Originally Posted by janetGood

This sounds good but I have not tried it, I have a hard time finding beet Ideas also.
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbs. cornstarch
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup cooked beets
2 tbs. butter
1 tbs. chopped parsley
Blend ginger, sugar and cornstarch in heavy saucepan, gadually add vinegar, stir until smooth. Place saucepan over medium flame. Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add beets and butter, lower flame. Simmer gently 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot garnished with chopped parsley. Can also be used for carrots and sweet potatoes.

those sound good, Janet, and I absolutely love ginger. Thanks

[norgeskog]

Originally Posted by HanArt

I love roasted beets! I just use olive oil and salt.

They're good in a mixed green salad too with orange sections, roasted pecans, dressed with an orange vinaigrette.

If you can buy the beets with tops ... even better. Roast or boil the beets (whole), peel & slice, drizzle with melted butter and place on a bed of steamed tops that have been drizzled with butter and balsamic. Delish!

Thanks HanArt, I love t he idea of the salad with oranges and pecans. ALso I get a wonderful champagne/orange vinegar from Trader Joes, you made my day. I had the farmer lady remove most of the green tops as I have no use for them, they use for mulch, but I did have some of the red stems, left them on to roast. They taste better with the added balsamic rather than just olive oil, S&P.

[norgeskog]

Buck's horseraddish with the beet idea remindes me of my aunts dish, only she made a jello mold (red jello) and put jullienne beets and carrots and celery in it, then made a mayo, sour cream and horseradish sauce for, now that was really good too.

Thanks every one for the great ideas,

[HanArt]

Originally Posted by norgeskog

Thanks HanArt, I love t he idea of the salad with oranges and pecans. ALso I get a wonderful champagne/orange vinegar from Trader Joes, you made my day. I had the farmer lady remove most of the green tops as I have no use for them, they use for mulch, but I did have some of the red stems, left them on to roast. They taste better with the added balsamic rather than just olive oil, S&P.

Lucky you with a TJ's!!! There's not a single one in the south. We stop at one in Indianapolis every year when we drive home to visit my mom in northern Indiana.

Keep those beet greens next time. Too good for the compost pile!!!