Beets

This recipe is adaptable to how much time you have.  I had roasted a whole bunch of garlic and had it in the fridge so I used roasted garlic and boiled beets.  You could also roast the beets and the garlic together until tender, probably about 1 hour, before proceeding with the recipe.  It'll be tasty no matter how you make it!

This is a tasty and easy dish that uses local ingredients that can be found most of the year.  Delicious way to dress up leftover roasted or boiled beets!

2 cups cooked beets, peeled and chopped
2 cups raw apples, peeled and chopped
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
4+ pats of butter
dash of nutmeg, to taste

Grease a baking dish and combine all ingredients into it.  Cook at 350 degrees for one hour and serve hot.

¾ cup pureed beets (roots peeled, chopped, boiled, drained & pureed)
¼ cup applesauce
3 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon oil
Butter, salt and pepper to taste
*Optional toppings: Sweet: maple syrup & whipped cream; Savory: goat cheese or feta cheese or sour cream with parsley

Combine beets, applesauce, and eggs and season with salt and pepper to make batter.  Heat oil in skillet, and fry spoonfuls of the batter on both sides.  Top with butter and optional toppings.

Here's a great recipe for cold soup from our friend and CSA member Sherry.  Delish and extremely beautiful color!!

4 medium-sized fresh cooked beets, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 cup chicken broth (or water)
2 cups sour cream
1/2 large cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon honey
1 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
garnish with chopped fresh chives, if desired

Puree in blender beets, cucumber, chicken broth (or water).  Whisk in sour cream, honey and dill.  Chill at least 2 hours.  Sprinkle with garnish.

Borscht is basically beef, beets, vegetables and broth.  If you don't have some of these veggies you can substitute with others.  Cabbage is also good in this as well.  You can get creative with whatever you have!

1 bunch beets (roots only), about 3/4 to 1 pound
3 tbls butter
3 cups water
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbls chives, chopped (optional)
Sour cream

Chop beets into 1/2” cubes. Heat butter over medium-low heat in a heavy-bottomed pot. Add beets and sauté gently for 30 minutes or until tender. Add water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes. Puree, either with a handheld blender, or by allowing it to cool slightly before pureeing in a blender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with optional chives and a dollop of sour cream. Serves 2-4.

Availability: July

Storage tips: Refrigerate in a plastic bag. Beet Greens should last at least a week.

One of our favorite ways to use beets during the hot summer months is to make a cold salad with them.

1 bunch beet roots, chopped into bite-size pieces
1-2 tbls of minced onion (or green onion tops)
2-3 oz chevre (soft goat cheese), plain or herbed
2 tbls minced walnuts
2-3 tbls olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbls minced fresh herbs (chives, dill, parsley, etc.), optional

Boil beets until tender. Drain and cool. Put in a bowl and mix in onion, chevre, and walnuts. In a small bowl or jar mix together olive oil, vinegar and optional herbs.

4 cups raw beets, grated
2 tbls butter
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbls flour
½ cup water

Heat the butter in a pan, add beets, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cook, covered, over very low heat for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Now sift flour on top of beets. Do not stir. Recover and cook for 15 more minutes. Stir, add water, bring to a boil and serve. The tanginess of the lemon juice in this recipe pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the beets.
 

Beets and Sausage Mash

1 pound beets or 1 bunch beets (greens removed), chopped
4 TBSP cooking oil
1 pound natural spiced sausage
salt and pepper

Boil beets until tender.  Drain and mash.  Heat oil in skillet and cook sausage until cooked through.  Add beets, stir to thoroughly mix, season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.  Makes 4-6 main dish servings.