Beets are nutritious veggies filled with fiber and antioxidants but low in fat and amazing nutrients like Vitamin B, manganese, and iron. Eating raw beets is very healthy but you can also know how to make healthy beetroot soup and still enjoy all the benefits.
For the longest time, I can remember I have always wanted to try cooking beets but I’m afraid of cooking them the wrong way. I only know how to make salads and smoothies.
So many times I have bought beetroots only to spoil in the fridge. After hearing me whine for so long about it, my best friend has volunteered to help me shop for what I need at the grocery and also help me prepare my first beetroot meal. I have a few beetroot soup recipes I downloaded and I’m hoping they are as delicious as the pictures.
Beetroot health benefits
Beetroots carry many health benefits and are also know in helping you to detoxify your body. When shopping for fresh beetroots with quality, look for those with their greens intact. Also, the beetroot should have a vibrant red-purple colour, smooth, and firm but not dull, wrinkled, or squishy. To find out more about how to make healthy beetroot soup, you can watch this.
Beetroot has a lot of fiber that helps if you have constipation or any digestive problems.
- If you want to detoxify your body and get rid of all the toxins, beetroot is the best way to go. The betalain compound helps to purify your blood and your liver leaving your body toxic free.
- As a rich source of betaine, beetroots helps to protect your cells and enzymes from environmental stress and also fight inflammation in your body cells.
- Studies have shown that drinking beetroot increases oxygen to your brain slowing down dementia in older people.
- Beetroots contain antioxidants that help lower your glucose levels, increase your insulin sensitivity, and help prevent oxidative stress in diabetic people.
How to make healthy beetroot soup
Beetroot soup recipe
Image: pexels.com
Ingredients
- 2 beets grated
- 3-4 chopped garlic cloves
- 1 chopped onion
- 3-4 tomatoes quartered
- 3 tbsps. olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ liter stock
Method
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius. In a baking pan add the quartered tomatoes, sprinkle some chopped garlic, and 1 tbsp. olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes.
While you wait for the tomatoes, you can continue with the other preparation. Grate the beetroot this will give the soup great texture and chop the onions. Although at the end you will blend the soup, it’s still advisable to grate the beetroot.
Heat oil in a pot still hot. Add the onions and cook them for 4-5 minutes till they are soft.
By now the tomatoes are done. Take them out of the oven and set them on a rack or plate to cool. Once cooled you can easily remove the skin on the tomatoes and mash them using the back end of a spoon to make a puree.
To the onions in the pan add the grated beetroot, stock, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix the ingredients well, cover, and let it cook for 10-15 minutes. Occasionally stir the mixture.
Then add the tomato puree to the mixture, mix well, and cook for another few minutes.
Remove the soup from the heat. You can use a hand blender or use a food processor to blend the soup. Blend the soup to a thick consistency.
Pour the soup in a soup bowl and garnish it with green spring onions, cream, and croutons. Serve immediately.
If you want to stay healthy and watch your calories intake, learning healthy ways to make beetroot soup. It’s full of vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants that will provide nutrients to your body.
I’m sure you can now make a delicious beet soup
Eating beetroot comes with many health benefits if you’re trying to go the healthy way. If you’re not so keen on the beetroot taste, there are other ways you can prepare the beetroot that will give it more taste and flavour. Just make sure you don’t expose the beets to high flame or heat because you will lose most of the nutrients. You can either blend it to make juice, or boil it to make soups, sauces, and gravies for your food, or bake it. You can get beetroot recipes on the internet and have fun eating delicious food while staying healthy.
FAQ
Is beetroot soup healthy?
Beets are highly nutritious with a plethora of health benefits. Adding beets to your daily diet reduces your risk of chronic diseases like cancer, improves your life, and other beauty benefits.
What goes well with beet soup borscht?
You can include fish or be served as a vegetarian soup hot or cold. You can garnish it with boiled eggs, potatoes, or sour cream.
Can you overcook beets?
To check if the beets are cooked, push a fork or knife through the beets. They should be a bit firm because overcooked and watery beets fall apart on the grill.
Do raw beets taste good?
Beets have an earthy taste that can throw you off if you aren’t familiar with the taste. Beets grow under the soil and the geosmin, an organic compound that produces microbes in the soil gives beets that dirt-like flavour.
Is borscht beet soup served hot or cold?
Borscht soup consists of beet juice blended with sour cream, sour milk, yogurt, and butter milk. During the summer when it’s hot outside, you can serve borscht soup cold but it’s normally served hot.
