Three Easy Recipes That Will Have You Loving Beets

Have you ever said,

“I just can’t find a way to love beets”?

Over the past over a decade, I have heard so many people say this.

For some reason an innocent dark, staining root vegetable strikes fear in otherwise adventuresome veggie lovers. But, why?

Maybe because you haven’t found an easy go-to delicious way to prepare them...

Or all you've had before is canned beets...

Reality is, I didn’t grow up eating beets myself.

Not really because I didn’t like them.

But, being the picky me I used to be, I would have said I didn’t like them anyway. (Anyone else guilty of this??)

As an adult I’ve come to understand that it was probably because they just weren’t on the table almost ever. Never got a chance to get to know beets until…

...I joined my first CSA in 2004! And alas, I wasn’t in love with them at first sight.

But I decided to not be picky anymore. I wanted to eat them because they were there. In my fridge, ready, wanting me to use them. Healthy, local, available, fresh, beautiful… but tasty?

I didn’t want to let the farmer’s hard work go to waste. So I tried. And I tried. And I even threw some out at the beginning.

Over the years, I’ve come up with my go-to ways of preparing beets. I’ll share them with you here.  My absolute favorite is pictured below:  Beet Salad!

Master these two preparation methods below first. Then try these 3 simple recipes that got me loving beets and eating them on a routine basis! My daughter loves them, too!

Two basic beet preparation methods:

• Method 1:  Boiling

1. Take beets of roughly the same size in diameter and put them in a pot.
2. Cover with water.
3. Bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to a simmer until you can stick a knife through them easily.

• Method 2:  Roasting

1. Take beets of roughly the same size in diameter and put them on a sheet of tin foil.
2. Close them up in the foil (and put on baking sheet to catch juices just in case).
3. Roast at 375-400.
4. They’re done when you can stick a knife through them easily.

• No matter which method you choose above, peel your beets, by slipping off the skins. This isn’t as hard as you think it will be. It’s actually kind of fun! The cooking process has made it easy for you.
• Optional: Put your beets into a lidded container in the fridge until you are ready to tackle one of my…

Three Easy Recipes That Will Have You Loving Beets

1. Basic Cold (or Warm) Beet Salad

1. Chop your cooked beets into bite size pieces and put into bowl.
2. Add vinaigrette dressing and salt and pepper.
3. Optional: Add any of your favorite things like: goat cheese, feta cheese, bacon, chopped nuts, minced onions, chives, green onions, herbs, etc.

2. Basic Beet Hash

1. Chill your beets and chop them into bite size pieces.
2. Saute sliced onions until translucent.
3. Add beets and sauté until slightly browning and warmed through.
4. Add salt and pepper and other spices as desired.
5. Optional: add leftover roast beef, top with fried egg, add bacon, or add other leftover veggies.

3. Basic Beet Soup

1. Chop your cooked beets into bite size pieces.
2. Mince garlic as desired (or get fancy and roast it).
3. Combine with chicken broth and puree.
4. Add more chicken broth until you have desired consistency.
5. Add salt and pepper and other spices as desired (dill, thyme, cayenne, etc.)
6. Serve hot or cold.
7. Top with sour cream or yogurt (and optional horseradish!).

Bonus!  Check out our recipe page for beets for our other over two dozen favorite beet recipes!  

Amazingly, people come up to us often and say, “I don’t like beets, but I like your beets.”

That’s what fresh flavor straight from a farm and good preparation can do for you!

I want you to try this, even if you think you don’t like beets!  Let me know your favorite recipe for beets below!