Beetroot is a very nutritious vegetable that will boost your body immunity with its Vitamins and minerals. Except juicing beetroot you may not know other simple beetroot recipes that you can prepare.
I love cooking and exploring with different recipes that I find online and from friends. I always make sure that the foods I cook are both healthy and tasty. Although sometimes I let my sweet tooth get the better of me and make sweet and calories packed desserts, I try not to do it so often. It’s not bad to spoil yourself once in a while. Anyway, I came across some beetroot recipes that looked tasty but I was very skeptical about trying any of them. So I went online to learn more about beetroots and I was amazed at how nutritious and healthy this small vegetable is.
Tips on how to buy beetroot
When you go to buy beetroot pick small and firm beets with a dark ruby blush. The beetroot should have an unblemished surface, intact taproot, and bright hue leaves. Stay away from beets with hairy taproots which is an indication of an old and tough beet. To check for freshness, pick beets that have their leaf stems. You can also eat the leaves. Click here to learn easy beet recipes.
How to store beetroot
Cut off the top and roots to keep it fresh for longer or put it in the fridge for 7-10 days at most. When boiling to keep the colour and nutrients intact, boil the beets with the skin. Once cooled with cold water, rub off the skin with your fingers.
Simple beetroot recipes
Image: pixabay.com
Beetroot and horseradish dip
Ingredients
- 2 medium cooked and peeled beetroot
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1-2 tbsp. olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh horseradish, roughly chopped, washed, and peeled
- 2 tbsp. sour cream
- 1 tbsp. salt
- Black pepper to taste
Method
Pure the beetroots, garlic, and horseradish in a blender or food processor with the sour cream and add just enough oil to make the paste smooth.
Add the black pepper and salt to taste.
Put it in the fridge to chill.
Serve it with crackers or chips.
Beetroot parathas
Ingredients
- 300g grated beetroot
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp. garam masala powder
- 1 tsp. dried mango powder
- Water
- Oil
Salt
Method
In a bowl put flour, salt, a teaspoon of oil, and water. Mix and knead it to form roti dough.
In a pan heat the oil and saute the grated beetroot for 5 minutes then add the mango powderand garam masala powder.
Cut the dough into medium-sized balls and make flat roti.
Make small-size balls of the beetroot filling and place it in the middle of the roti. Fold the sides of the roti, pleat the edges together then flatten it.
Roll the stuffed balls of dough into circular parathas.
Place each on a heated pan, add some oil on the edges and cook both sides well.
Serve warm with gravy or raita.
This is a good and healthy snack to give to your kids.
Beetroot pancake
Image: Adobe stock
Ingredients
- ¾ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup beetroot puree
- 1 tbsp. brown sugar
- 3 tbsp. melted or unsalted butter
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- an egg
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla essence
Method
In a bowl, sieve the wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together.
In a separate bowl, put the beetroot puree, Greek yogurt, milk, butter, vanilla, and eggs and mix them well.
Then add the flour sieved mixture into the beetroot puree mixture and stir till well mixed.
Grease a frying pan with oil then pour 2 tbsp. of pancake mixture.
Cook for 3 minutes on both sides.
Serve with raspberry sauce or honey.
You can now try one of these delicious beet recipes
Beetroot is a nutritious vegetable that you can turn to delicious food for you and your whole family, even your kids will love especially the beetroot pancakes and the parathas. The beetroot horseradish dip is a sweet snack you can serve your guests. There are other simple beetroot recipes you can get that will make eating beetroot a bit more fun and still remain healthy without having to eat it raw. Get your whole family on the beetroot bandwagon and stay healthy.
FAQ
What spices can you use with beets?
To enhance the taste of beets and give it a zing you can use some cinnamon or black pepper, ginger, parsley, horseradish, chives, or dill. To make pickled beets taste better go for pickling spices like organic herbs and spices.
Are beet stems safe to eat?
Once you wash the beets and cut off the greens, don’t throw them away, the greens and stem are edible. They’re a great substitute for spinach that you can steam, add in your soups, or sauté.
Does cooking beetroot destroy the nutrients?
Cooking beets reduces the betalians and vitamin C in the beets because they’re sensitive to heat. If you cook them in high heat the high temperatures decreases their content.
What meat goes well with beets?
Beets have a sweet and dense texture which can go well with oilier fish like salmon and meat like pork, ham, duck, or beef brisket. You can get the sweetness of beets by baking or oven roasting the beets to caramelize their sugars.
Do you have to peel the beets before you cook them?
It’s easier if you cook the beets with their skin intact and also an effective way of reducing the loss of the beet pigment. It’s also easier to remove the skin after cooking the beets.
