Discover the Sweet Versatility of Sugar Beets with These Tasty Recipes

The Versatile Sugar Beet: Tasty Ways to Cook This Unique Root Vegetable

The sugar beet may lack the glamorous reputation of vegetables like kale or Brussels sprouts these days, but it deserves some time in the spotlight! These hardy root vegetables have a sweet, earthy flavor and adaptable texture that allows them to shine in all types of dishes when cooked properly.

What are Sugar Beets?

Sugar beets are a member of the Chenopodiaceae plant family, making them relatives of quinoa and spinach. Their exterior is rough, dark brown and scraggly, while on the inside their flesh is beautifully crimson and rings when sliced. Popular in European cuisines for centuries, sugar beets grow well in temperate climates with cooler temperatures.

While sugar beets have natural sugar content, they are nutritionally very different from the white processed sugar derived from them. The vegetables themselves provide antioxidants, fiber, folate and important minerals like iron, magnesium and calcium.

Selecting Fresh Beets

When buying sugar beets, look for small or medium sized roots that feel firm and heavy for their size. Avoid larger, elongated beets which tend to be fibrous with less flavor. The best texture comes from beets around 2-3 inches wide. Their greens should look fresh rather than wilted if still attached.

Storing Beets Properly

Before storing fresh beets, trim the leafy tops off the rounded roots while leaving about an inch of the stem. This prevents the leaves from drawing moisture and nutrients away from the vegetable. The beet roots themselves can keep for several weeks loosely wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator.

Don’t toss those leafy greens though! The leaves are completely edible and delicious when directly cooked, adding color and nutrition to dishes.

Raw Sugar Beet Apps and Snacks

While beets are often cooked, don’t underestimate how tasty and easy they can be to enjoy raw. Here are some recipes that highlight fresh, uncooked sugar beets:

Spicy Beet Hummus

This vibrant fuchsia version of hummus plays up the natural sweetness in beets. Paired with the lemon and spice, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your next gathering. The original recipe calls for canned beets, but swap those out for fresh raw grated beets during season for the ultimate flavor.

Pickled Beets

Pickling is one of the easiest ways to preserve fresh beets for enjoyment year-round. This recipe uses apple cider vinegar to pour over thin slices of raw beets along with onion and various aromatics. Enjoy these quick pickled beets chilled as a topping for salads or sandwiches.

Beet Chips

For a healthy alternative to greasy potato chips, try oven baking thin slices of raw sugar beets instead. Toss the slices in olive oil, salt and desired spices before laying them out on a lined baking tray. They roast up crispy, vibrantly colored and nutrient packed.

Cooked Beet Soups and Salads

While the texture of raw beets may not appeal to all palates, cookinghelps soften their cell walls and bring out their sweet qualities. Here are some flavorful beet soup and salad recipes to try out:

Red Velvet Beet Soup

This smooth, creamy blended soup manages to pack in 3 whole beets per serving, along with carrots, onion and garlic. Immersing the beets in vegetable or chicken broth allows them to impart their rich ruby red hue to the entire dish.

Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad

Roasting beet wedges concentrates their natural sugars and flavors to balance out bitter greens like arugula. This salad pairs those earthy roasted beets with the brightness of orange and grapefruit segments for a game changing flavor combination you’ve got to taste.

Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

Here the distinctive tang and creaminess of goat cheese creates a perfect foil for mellow roasted beets. Toasted walnuts lend delightful crunch to finish off this modern classic salad elegantly.

Hearty Beet Entrees and Sides

Beyond just salads, beets can bring their impressive nutrient density to all parts of the meal. Implement beets into your family’s regular dinner rotation with these savory cooked beet recipes:

Beet and Potato Pancakes

These crispy rustic pancakes are beloved in Eastern European cuisines. Grated raw beets and potatoes are mixed with onion, bound with egg and flour, then pan fried until golden brown. Top with sour cream or gravy for authentic flavor.

Balsamic Braised Beets

Braising vegetables in liquid helps break down their fibers while concentrating sweetness. Here, cubed beets are slowly simmered in balsamic vinegar, brown sugar and thyme until fork tender. Their glossy glazed exterior plays well with wild rice or quinoa.

Chocolate Beet Brownies

Shredded beet puree mixed into the brownie batter pumps this classic treat full of antioxidants, magnesium and iron while keeping it moist. With the chocolate flavors, you won’t taste the beet, but its nutrients will still shine through.

Golden Beet Fries

Can’t get enough beet recipes? Try out these unique golden beet fries, sliced and roasted similarly to potato french fries. Their yellow hue comes from having lower levels of the betalain pigments than standard red beets.

Beet Juice and Smoothie Recipes

Juicing or blending beets makes enjoying their many micro-nutrients easy. These beet beverage recipes all have gorgeous, vibrant jewel tones that brighten up any breakfast or brunch:

Beet Orange Juice

This fresh beet juice uses pineapple and orange juice to temper beets’ earthiness. The sweet citrus flavors combine with the beets’ betalain antioxidants for an nutrient filled elixir that almost looks like red wine!

Pink Beet Lemonade

Take old fashioned lemonade to the next level by integrating some grated beet into a simple syrup with ginger and lemon slices. Mix up a pitcher to quench summer thirst in radiant pink style.

Beet Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie bowls provide a perfect canvas for showcasing beets’ brilliant fuchsia hue. Blend up their sweet roots into a base along with banana, berries and milk of choice. Top artistically with any fixings that strike your fancy!

With their many versatile preparation methods and recipes to try, sugar beets can fit right into anyone’s diet. Let these healthy, colorful beet recipes convert you into one of the beet lovers out there!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.