beets

[roon]

I guess this could go in the recipe section as well, but it seems to me to fit better here...

Jim's signature inspired this thread. I was reading it and thought how I have never liked beets. Then I thought of the fact that the only kind I've ever had have been canned. I don't like any canned vegetable at all, save corn, and that really doesn't count since it's not really a vegetable.

Soooo...what's a good way to prepare beets? Not recipes, necessarily (although those are always good too) but just some basic prep ideas. Are they good raw?

[cape chef]

Oh the love of beets!!!
There is nothing on earth better then newly picked beets, simmered in a water, vinergar and sugar bath. peeled and nestled on a plate with warmed goat cheese flavored with tarragon a spring of mizuna and a herbal lemony sauvignon blanc and crispy toasted sour dough.

Purre beet soup (borsht) with hummis toasted pita triangles on top.

it's the flavor of sweet earth, healthy and cheap
cc

[chrose]

Roasted with salt and olive oil than peeled and julienned. Goes nicely with a little more olive oil and champagne vinegar. Try it with some peppered tuna carpaccio!

[shroomgirl]

All the above and peeled chopped and roasted 325* in olive oil S@P for 45 minutes covered in foil, I add parsnips, turnips, rutabeggas....essentially any roots then dress with basalmic.
Beets, chevre and tarragon are great combos...I hated beets until I discovered the fresh ones.

[CompassRose]

Roasted, julienned... and served on top of the greens, gently steam-cooked in the drops of their rinse water, with some sautéed chopped garlic and fresh pepper. A sprinkle of balsamic vinegar shaken over the whole.

Beet greens are my absolute favourite greens. They're melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

[Moxiefan]

I was out fine dining recently, and was reccommended the beet salad. It was pretty underwhelming. Just lettuce and a couple of slabs of home-pickled beets. Nice, but not really worth eight bucks, y'know? That is, until I uncovered a suprise pocket of orange zest... wow. Really did it for me. Made the whole thing worth while.


just an observation,
P

[Athenaeus]

I love beets I have already said that!!!


We make a salad made of raw beet and yogurt .Very low fat and yummy

[Jim]

Now we're talkin'!!! Go Beets!
How about Red Flannel hash - chunks of roasted beets minced into the traditional corned beef hash.
Golden (yellow) beet salad with slices of red onion drizzled with some extra-sweet vinaigrette of sorts.
Personal favorite: Toss some medium-ish sized beets with oil, rosemary and thyme and toss on the wood-stoked grill and cook indirectly. Takes some time, but when they come from the fire the skin pulls off and the smoke permeates the beet. I run the beet over my fake mandoline and plop a grilled trout on top. Garnish with grilled tomatoes and hunks of applewood bacon.
For a nice presentation I pariessien (mellon ball) yellow and red beets and poach along with pariessiened scarlet/purple potatoes in stock for a fun garnish next to guinea hen or quail.

Thanks for the nod to my 'signature'!

[Pete]

For all of you who posted pickled beets, don't forget, that afterwards you have a great pickling juice for hard-boiled eggs!!

[momoreg]

And after you parisienne your beets, you have an excellent medium for beet sorbet.

[cape chef]

Momoreg, Recipe please for the beet sorbet
Sweet or savoury?
I love this idea
cc

[momoreg]

I made it once, using cooked pureed beets, a squeeze of lemon, and some s&p. I don't think I thinned it with stock, but I believe I softened the mixture with a spash of vodka before running it through the machine. That was not so much for flavor as it was to keep the texture soft.

The final product was sublime. Sorry I don't have a more precise recipe.

I'd like to make a sweet version, maybe with a hint of orange zest.

[shroomgirl]

2 years ago one of the Farmer~ Chef dinners at Harvest was vegen....the pastry chef (Marion Aquino) made a chocolate cake using beet puree....she did not share the recipe and is now unable to; due to health impairments......Amazing cake!!!! the texture and flavor were wonderful.

[roon]

Wow! I never realized there was so much you could do with beets...thank you!

[Chef Nosko]

Hi Chefs:

I love beets.....All kinds of beets!!!

You have to be careful because of the bleeding.....
Lets just say that I would not blend them with any type of cream unless I was looking for a PINK nightmare. But I know everyone knows that..... It is just funny to watch a young cook discover that for the first time.

Best way for me.

I love beets roasted in small amount of olive oil....cooled slightly, peeled with a paring knife, then set aside. (red, & golden)

Note: If the beets are real large, I will add a small amount of water to the pan, half way through the cooking process and turn the beets as needed. To keep them moist, and so as not to burn them.

Wash, & saute beet greens, & Swiss chard with caramelized Bermuda onions, roast garlic (chestnut brown, almost like candy),
sea salt, fresh cracked pepper----add the beets (cut into wedges), and then either add a small amount of whole butter(for a vegetable side.
Or, an aged red wine vinaigrette with green peppercorns.
If you want more of a salad.

Roasted and sliced beets as a base to go with a crispy roast duck salad is wonderful.

I concur with one of the other chefs, who mentioned a ggod way to roast them is by wrapping with foil......I like to do this when
I want to cook over a grill outdoors. You will get some of the smoky flavor and retain the juices.

Just my 2 cents!!!

Chef Nosko
A Fresh Endeavor
Boston, MA