How to Cook Beets

Learn how to cook beets , and how to use them in easy delicious recipes.  Beets are sweet, healthy, full of nutrients and super versatile. Use them in salads, burgers, dips, tacos and much more! Check out more beet recipes.

How to Cook Beets

1.  The easiest way to cook beets: wrapped & roasted

• Cut off the beet greens - Beet greens are edible! Set them aside, wash them well and enjoy them in salads, or simply sauteed with olive oil, garlic, and salt.
• Wash the beets and wrapped them in aluminum foil
• Place them on a baking sheet and roast them at 400F for an hour, or until tender (cooking time will vary depending on the size of the beets)
• Let the beets cool. Remove the aluminum foil and gently rub the skin off the beets with your fingers (it should come off easily).  If you don't use gloves, you will end up with pink stained hands, but the color will easily wash off.
• Use this method of roasting beets to make our cauliflower beet dip, roasted beet hummus, beet salad, roasted beet and sweet potato tacos, beet carpaccio with chia seed dressing, and quinoa, chickpea & beet burger

                                 

2.  The sweetest beets: peeled, cut and roasted

• Cut off the beet greens
• Wash the beets and peel them (a vegetable peeler is the best tool to peel beets. If you don't use gloves, you will end up with pink stained hands, but the color will easily wash off).
• Cut them into large chunks (they will shrink as they roast). Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt.
• Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400F until tender, about 45 minutes or longer
• Place the beets in a bowl and enjoy as a snack or side dish

3. Our least favorite method... (because the flavor and some of the color gets diluted in the water): boiled beets

• Cut off the beet greens
• Wash the beets. Place them in a pot with salted boiling water, and boil them until fork tender (cooking time will depend on the size of the beets). We find that boiling them takes a long time, and they're not as sweet as when they're roasted.
• Removes the beets from the water and them cool
• Gently rub the skin off the beets with your fingers

4. Can you cook beets on an Instapot?

We don't own an Instapot, but if you own one and have used it, please let us know! We would love to hear all about it.

Can you eat beets raw?

Yes, absolutely. Beets can be eaten raw, but it is best to shred or cut them into small thin pieces, otherwise the flavor can be a little overwhelming.

• Cut off the beet greens
• Wash the beets and peel them
• Shred or grate the beets using a food processor or a box grater. You can also use a spirilizer or slice them into thin, small pieces using a mandoline or a sharp knife.
• Make a salad with raw, shredded beets, fresh-cut apples, pickled onions, caramelized pumpkin seeds, and a mustard salad dressing 
• Try also our spiralized veggie noodle salad with peanut dressing

White, red, pink and orange beets

Beets come in a variety of colors, including the stunning Chioggia or candy cane variety. If you want to add beets to lettuce, cucumber or avocado salad, we don't recommend using red beets since they will make your whole salad red.  Use yellow, orange or pink beets instead.  In our cookbook Tahini and Turmeric, we include a recipe using different-colored beets. We called it ombre roasted beet salad with cumin dressing.  Check it out on the image below and order our cookbook for more exciting and irresistible recipes!

Health Benefits of Beets

Beets are considered a superfood.  They are low in calories and high in nutrients.  100 grams of cooked beets have only 44 calories, no fat, and are highg in fiber, vitamins C & B6, folate, and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, manganese ad iron.

The nitrates and red pigment in beets have great health benefits like:

• Supporting healthy blood pressure levels
• Improving athletic performance
• Increasing blood flow to the brain

Some of out favorite beet recipes

• Cauliflower beet dip
• Roasted beet hummus
• Roasted beet salad with creamy horseradish and candied walnuts
• Roasted beets and sweet potato tacos
• Quinoa, chickpea and beet burger
• Beet carpaccio with chia seed dressing
• Beet smoothie bowl
• Veggie noodle salad with peanut dressing

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