I wasn’t usually a fan of beets until I realized how to cook them properly. My first trip with this root vegetable was from a can, a highly underwhelming experience. When I ultimately had my first taste of fresh and true organized beets, I realized that this root vegetable is delicious!
This earthy, and yet sweet ingredient is unique in that nearly the entire beet, from the roots, stems, and leaves are edible. The root bulb is most often consumed, while the purple beet and golden beets are best to locate at the market. The nutritional benefits are extraordinary, mainly from B vitamins, minerals and fiber determined in the bulb. They are additionally loaded with nitrates which assist to decrease blood strain and boost endurance performance for athletes. Don’t neglect to devour the beet greens! The darkest leafy greens are high in calcium, vitamins, and iron.
How to Cook Beets
Now that you understand that beets are now not only tasty but pack a healthful punch too, let’s examine how to cook them with this step-by-step guide.
1) Boil
Boiling tenderizes the beets by way of submerging the vegetable in warm water and cook until tender. You may note that for purple beets the color leaks into the cooking liquid. Some techniques advise maintaining at least two inches of the stem intact, and including vinegar to the water to forestall this from occurring.
I tried doing both, and although I did now not see it entirely stopping color seepage, it used to be minimized. Cooking the beets with the peel on is the most fantastic way to decrease the loss of pigment. This approach takes about 30 minutes, depending on the size.
2) Steam
Steaming involves heating the water in a closed vessel until it becomes super heated vapor. The high temperature 100 °C (212 °F) and pressure in the pot permit the beets to prepare dinner with ease using minimal water. I like this technique because the vitamins continue to be in the vegetable, and no longer get lost in the water.
Do no longer permit the water to contact the steamer basket because you want the steam to be able to flow into underneath and round the beets as it cooks. The beets should be cooked until tender, and the pores and skin easily releases from the peel, about 30 minutes relying on the size.
3) Whole Roasting
The whole roast technique includes coating the beet’s skin with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then wrapping them in foil pouches. This technique approves you to infuse extra flavors on the surface and creates extra shiny taste characteristics. This technique takes about 40 to 60 minutes at a high temperature of 204 °C (400 °F) and requires extra peeking and checking of the beets to test for doneness.
4) Cut and Roast
If you’re looking for a faster roasting method that adds the most flavor, peeling and slicing the beets into half of to 3/4-inch wedges is the way to go. The excessive temperatures in the oven at 204 °C (400 °F) encourages Millard browning, developing deeper flavors for each slice. If you’re cooking purple and yellow beets, as proven above, I like to part off the greens with aluminum foil as a divider on the baking sheet. Because the beets are peeled, the pink beets will lose some of its juice as it cooks; the foil partition will forestall the other greens from staining. This method takes about 25 to 30 minutes.
Cook Tip: Peeling Beets
The motive the skin is left on the complete beets is that it makes it less difficult for peeling. Once the beets are cooked by using steam, boil, or roast, and cool sufficient to handle, the peel can be eliminated the use of a paper towel to wipe the skin off.
By cradling the beet in a paper towel, the pores and skin can be gently rubbed off, lowering the stains on arms and towels. If you do get the inevitable stain on a slicing board, scrub salt on the floor earlier than washing to help lift the pigment.
Don’t Waste Beet Greens!
The nutritious beet greens are often discarded when they should be saved and eaten. They have a slight bitterness, similar to kale or collard greens. The hearty greens are perfect for sauteing with a little of oil and seasonings, making for a wholesome facet dish!
Now that you know handy approaches to put together and prepare dinner beets, it’s time to add them to a meal! Don’t neglect that beets eaten uncooked are crisp and sweet, and can additionally be pressed for its juice. No matter how you like them, they can be loved in so many versatile ways!
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