Cooking Fresh Beets

Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Cooking beets is really super easy and we have several suggestions for preparing and serving them.

Beets are great in salads, soups, and so much more and are a sweet root vegetable.

I like to use beets to top my salad with a variety of other delicious vegetables, fruits, and nuts that complement them.

Check out all our suggestions and lists of herbs, spices, and recipes to make the perfect roasted, boiled, steamed, or even air-fried beets.

Keep it simple but change your toppings and seasonings to keep that spice of life.

We all know how boring salads can be without changing them up occasionally

I have lots of suggestions for you!



These are beets in a healthy salad with tomatoes, snap peas, chickpeas, arugula, romaine, cucumbers, with olive oil and 18 year aged balsamic vinegar





Easy Ways To Cook Beets


There are several ways to cook beets, we have instructions for boiled, steamed, air fried, oven roasted.

Using fresh herbs, the right spices and how to clean them are all here in this post.

Just scroll through the steps and pick a cooking method, the right spices for your taste buds and tips we have below.


these are beets not cleaned with the beets greens still attached


Other Vegetables that taste great with Beets

  • Beets taste great with other root vegetables like carrots, onions, or radishes
  • Some greens that are perfect with beets are arugula, cabbage, celery, scallions, cucumber, fennel, endive, spinach, and avocado.

these are washed cleaned and oiled beets on top of foil with salt and pepper


How to Clean Roasted Beets

  1. cut off the beet greens about 1 inch above the root
  2. if you don't cook them right away don't wash them first they will decompose quickly
  3. before you cook them scrub beets in cold water with a vegetable brush wash and clean removing all loose dirt and use a knife to cut off the stem
  4. the skin actually comes off easily when the beets are cooked so need to peel them first
  5. store in zip-lock bags or sealed containers after cooking


freshly grown beets in a baskets with cutting shears, gloves and gardening tools


Beet Greens



The tops of beet greens actually have more iron than spinach.


Beets are rich in vitamins A, C, and calcium and can ward off osteoporosis.


I have osteoporosis and one of the reasons why I am a big fan of golden beets (shown below) and leafy tops!



fresh beets from the garden with beets greens


The Sweetest Vegetable On Earth



Beets have natural sugar, they are the sweetest vegetable on earth.


Therefore, still eat them in moderation, although a vegetable, eat them as a treat.


freshly grown beets in a baskets with cutting shears, gloves and gardening tools


Cooking Methods:

  1. steaming: steaming beets is the healthiest cooking method using a steamer they will retain most of their vitamins the boiling will remove and stay vibrant in color
  2. roasting: preheat the oven to 400 degrees Place the beets on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Season them and spray them with cooking oil. Roast for about 35-45 minutes
  3. microwave: place them in a microwave-safe dish add around 1/2 cup water and place a paper towel or cloth towel on top to cover cook on high for around 5 minutes or until a fork goes through easily
  4. air-fry: preheat to 375 degrees and oil spray the basket. Air fry for 20 minutes, turn or shake them in the basket halfway through. Pierce with a fork to see if it goes in easily
  5. boiling: boil in salt water for around 45 minutes add a little lemon juice to the water


these are yellow beets about to be roasted on foil in the oven


Try Some of My Other Favorite Recipes



Best Side Dishes and Appetizers
Cranberries Brussels Sprouts
Holiday Side Dishes


these are yellow beets about to be roasted on foil in the oven


Seasoning to Put on Roasted Beets

  1. allspice
  2. cumin
  3. cinnamon
  4. pepper
  5. paprika
  6. caraway seeds
  7. fresh or dried herbs such as thyme, tarragon, dill, parsley, mint, basil, or coriander




Sweet Beets and Perfect Side Dish or on Salads

  • salad is terrific with beets with the additions of beet greens and these fruits complement salads also apple, blueberry,
  • shredded carrots,  diced cucumber, mandarin oranges, blood oranges, raisins
  • fennel, garlic, mint, lemon, lettuce, onion,  parsnip, radicchio, zucchini shredded,
  • nuts and herbs, almonds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower, roasted chestnut,  pistachios, walnuts, 
  • beets can be used in smoothies, added to slaw, soups, and beet cake recipes


Cooking Fresh Beets

Cooking Fresh Beets

Yield: 6
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 10 M
Sweet and tender beets are a delicious side dish, for salads and much more!

Ingredients

  • Roasted Beets (see instructions for other cooking methods and add seasoning after cooking or other suggestions under notes)
  • 6 whole beets red or golden
  • salt, and pepper to taste
  • olive oil
  • granulated garlic powder
  • foil or parchment paper
  • Easy Beet Soup:
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 red onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • salt, and pepper to taste
  • 3 medium beets, peeled and halved
  • 1 potato cubed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 thyme sprigs
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup of sour cream and more for serving

Instructions

  1. Prepare and clean beets under note instructions.
  2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  3. Leave them whole.
  4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil (I like foil for heat retention)
  5. Drizzle evenly and lightly with olive oil, granulated garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  6. Fold up the parchment or foil to seal.
  7. Roast in the oven for around 1 hour or until a fork goes through them easily.
  8. Easy Beet Soup Instructions:
  9. Using a cast iron soup pot, melt the butter and saute the onion until translucent in butter.
  10. Add the broth with beets, herbs spices, and potatoes do not add vinegar in this step.
  11. Simmer for 30 minutes or until tender.
  12. Remove the bay leaf. and throw it away.
  13. Place the soup in a food processor or use an immersion blender until smooth.
  14. Return to the pot add the vinegar and fold in around 1/2 cup of sour cream.
  15. Simmer for around 2 more minutes.
  16. Serve with more sour cream on top if desired.

Notes

How to Clean Roasted Beets

  1. cut off the beet greens about 1 inch above the root
  2. if you don't cook them right away don't wash them first they will decompose quickly
  3. before you cook them scrub beets in cold water with a vegetable brush wash and clean removing all loose dirt and use a knife to cut off the stem
  4. the skin actually comes off easily when the beets are cooked so need to peel them first
  5. store in zip-lock bags or sealed containers after cooking


Cooking Methods:

  1. steaming: steaming beets is the healthiest cooking method using a steamer they will retain most of their vitamins the boiling will remove and stay vibrant in color
  2. roasting: preheat the oven to 400 degrees Place the beets on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Season them and spray them with cooking oil. Roast for about 35-45 minutes
  3. microwave: place them in a microwave-safe dish add around 1/2 cup water and place a paper towel or cloth towel on top to cover cook on high for around 5 minutes or until a fork goes through easily
  4. air-fry: preheat to 375 degrees and oil spray the basket. Air fry for 20 minutes, turn or shake them in the basket halfway through. Pierce with a fork to see if it goes in easily
  5. boiling: boil in salt water for around 45 minutes add a little lemon juice to the water


Seasoning to Put on Roasted Beets

  1. allspice
  2. cumin
  3. cinnamon
  4. pepper
  5. paprika
  6. caraway seeds
  7. fresh or dried herbs such as thyme, tarragon, dill, parsley, mint, basil, or coriander



Things to add to a Beet Salad:

Things to add to a Beet Salad:

Roasted Beet recipe see below eat 3 to 4 slices on your salad

Hearts of Palm drained and rinsed

Any kind of tomato fresh chopped in small pieces no limit

Cucumbers as many as you can eat

Chopped red cabbage as much as you can eat

Sliced olives 1 teaspoon

Shredded carrots 1 tablespoon per salad

Snap peas 1/2 cup

Chickpeas 1/4 cup

Romaine, Spinach, Beet Greens, Arugula, or any kind of mixed greens or lettuce no limit

Artichoke Hearts canned drained no limit

Fresh corn on the cob 1 ear cooked and shucked

Chopped celery with no limit

Cheese in moderation preferably mozzarella or feta 2 tablespoons

Any kind of pepper with no limit

Optional: grilled shrimp, salmon, tuna, or any seafood you prefer

Raw chopped broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, butternut cooked squash no limit

Balsamic Vinegar 2 tablespoons

Olive oil 2 tablespoons 

any herbs and spices you like


Nutrition Facts

Calories

58.08

Fat (grams)

2.47

Sat. Fat (grams)

0.34

Carbs (grams)

8.31

Fiber (grams)

2.34

Net carbs

5.96

Sugar (grams)

5.55

Protein (grams)

1.42

Sodium (milligrams)

65.26

Cholesterol (grams)

0.01
how to cook beets, easy beet soup, air fried beets, oven roasted beets, boiled beets, beet recipes, steamed beets
roasted vegetables, boiled vegetables, air-fried vegetables, steamed vegetables
Italian, American, French


Pin For Later


These are beets in a healthy salad with tomatoes, snap peas, chickpeas, arugula, romaine, cucumbers, with olive oil and 18 year aged balsamic vinegar


Here are more Low Carb Recipes:



Low carb cauliflower mashed potatoes


3 ingredient Keto Peanut Butter Cookies



Low Carb Stuffed Peppers or Zucchini


No Baked Low Carb Cheese Pie



This is an Affiliate link and I do make a small commission See Disclosure Policy



45 comments

  1. In my opinion beets are so underrated but they are so good for us health wise and are very tasty. Love the different applications that you present definitely inspired =)

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  2. Looks great - beets are so good for you. Do you have any suggestions on what to do with the beet greens?

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  3. This looks amazing! A great Summer salad!

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  4. What a delicious salad! My son is 2 years old and he loves beets. And he adores when I put them in the salad like this. Great ingredients!

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  5. A healthy and delicious meal! Freshly roasted beets definitely taste better than the storebought one.

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  6. I love beets! This salad looks delicious and healthy! Such a great addition on the dinner table and even for brunch!

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  7. What a delicious combination of ingredients in this salad! Great suggestions and so healthy! I love roasted beets in salads.

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  8. I absolutely love roasted beets. What a great tutorial and recipe!

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  9. You are so lucky to be able to grow your own veggies! Homegrown fruits and veggies taste the best!

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  10. I love beets and this is a great tutorial. Now I just need to get my husband to love them!! It's the one food he wants nothing to do with and I will never understand!

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  11. Roasted beets are honestly one of my most favorite things to put in a salad!

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  12. I love beets, and I also love to roast my own! Such a wonderful post, Claudia, and so informative. Congratulations on the 30lb. weight loss!

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  13. I love roated beets -- so sweet, juicy and delicious. That salad looks inviting and sounds just perfect with all the colorful veggies.

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  14. I love salads and I eat a good salad everyday but some how I have never warmed up to the good old beets. I must try some good recipes and this one look perfect. Congrats on the weight loss.

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  15. Honestly...roasted beets are the only way we eat them. So delicious as sweet. This salad sounds amazing.

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  16. We do love our beets, especially in salads. For years beets had a bad rap that they weren't nutritious -- boy were they ever wrong!! Keeping to a healthy eating plan is the way to keep the weight down. That and exercise too. Yes, I love pasta and meat but we try to keep the portions down. Getting back to the beets -- we drink beet juice.

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  17. Well done on your diet success! I bought a lovely bunch of beetroot today so might try roasting them instead of popping in my slow cooker which I usually do:-)

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  18. I LOVE roasted beets in my salad! Looks so good, Claudia :D Congrats on your progress too...diets are never easy but once you keep on track you begin to feel the difference too. Hugs ^_^

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  19. What a great achievement and loved your healthy eating and weight lose journey. We all love beets and I use them regularly to make Indian dry curries. Roasting them sounds like a great idea and I will give it a try.

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  20. I like roasted beets in the salad rather than raw one. I am glad that you are able to keep up with diets, it is not always easy because of sweet carving. I too want to follow weight loss diet but I am not honest I cheat in between.

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  21. You are my hero for being able to grow your own veggies. Perfect dish and I am always looking for more ways to add beets into my diet.

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  22. What a healthy and satisfying salad. I'm all into salads lately and can't wait to try this one. Sounds really great!

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  23. I love roasting beets, gives them such a lovely flavor which is as you say great in salads.

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  24. Roasting beets really brings out the flavour doesn't it. One of my favourite salads.

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  25. I always drop a little weight in summer and with eating more salads - but never that much. Congrats on that accomplishment. I love beets in salads too.

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  26. I tried growing beets once and they failed to thrive and were the tiniest little beets I ever did see! I need all of your gardening tips!

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  27. The salad looks so yummm and I love the flavors of roasted beets. Gotta try soon.

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  28. Love that you roasted these and added them to the salad! So much flavor and so healthy!

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  29. I have never had a beet. Going to have to try these in a salad so I can discover what I have been missing!!

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  30. I love beets and agree they are so good in a salad.

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  31. Never had a beet before! Need to try soon :)

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  32. Love the addition of roasted beets on this salad. Your other salads look delicious too!

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  33. Roasting beets (and just about any other vegetables) takes them to such another level. This is a great salad!

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  34. This dish reminded me of my grandma. She loved beets, sheused to pickle eggs with beets and onions and seasonings.

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  35. I love eating delicious beets and finding new ways to incorporate them in recipes. This roasted beets salad looks so delicious!

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  36. What a beautiful combination of flavors. Roasting the beets really brings out the best flavors.

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  37. Beet is one veggies that I have still not warmed up to. I keep telling myself I must do more with these. Roasting sounds wonderful and must really bring out the natural flavors even more. Saving this to try soon.

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  38. What a healthy and satisfying salad. I'm all into salads lately and this salad is fit for me

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  39. Beets are so good for you that I've taken to drinking beet juice. For a while it was said that they held no nutritional value -- wrong. Now, I would love to get my additional beet fix in a great salad such as yours. Roasting beets concentrates the flavor. I'm craving a beet salad.

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  40. Can you believe I just tried beets last week for the first time?? This post is wonderful .. very helpful pointing out the health benefits of such an amazing veggie..

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  41. I'm one of the few in my family who enjoys beets. This roasted recipe will allow me to cook just a few at a time without wasting.

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  42. This was a fantastic read, and congrats on turning your health around toward the right direction. It must be tough to stay disciplined when delicious Italian carb filled recipes are always on offer. But the roasted beets look amazing too. In fact I am super inspired to use them more often now (:

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  43. Beets are extremely popular in Russia and I was eating them growing a lot. Love to see different ways people like to use them for , new creations !

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  44. A post after my own heart. I love roasted beets. great recipe.

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  45. Perfect timing as I've had beets parked in my fridge for a week! Will roast today :)

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Remember to use the search option for a recipe you're looking for and thanks for all your kind words and support. We love our readers all the best Claudia