How To Cook Beets
There is much more to the beet than the canned, pickled varieties that our parents used to plop on our plates, and if you are wondering how to cook beets that you can actually enjoy, you have stopped into the right place. Remember, when you have harvested or purchased fresh beets you should keep the tender, leafy greens on the top of the root. These are called bitter greens, and they need to be cleaned up well by rinsing them in cold water for a while. When sautéed or flash boiled, they are highly nutritious and quite tasty, especially when infused with a touch of lemon juice and olive oil. So now, let’s learn how to cook beets that your family won’t be afraid to try.
First, we will discuss how to cook beets in the oven with the roasting method. As with all methods of preparing and cooking beets, you must clean them thoroughly before going further. Using very cold water, wash each beet individually, rubbing gently at the outer edge of the tasty root until all deep dirt stains are gone. Before you run the risk of damaging the tender greens, however, you may want to snip them off and set them aside, cleaning them separately with less vigor. Once your beet roots are clean, place them on a textured cutting board and prepare to chop them, depending on their size.
It is also important when learning how to cook beets that you trim the entire top off of the root, as this area can be a bit bitter and can throw off the taste of your entire dish. For roasting, you will leave the beets whole and leave the skins on them. Place them in a cake pan or a shallow roasting pan with about a half inch of water at the bottom. Cover this tightly with tin foil and place in a 425 degree oven for 40 minutes. Once they have cooled enough for you to handle them without burning yourself, you can peel the skin away, this will be quite easy when the beets are tender, and cube them for your recipe.
This is the best and most universal lesson on how to cook beets, as once they are prepared this way they can be added to your dishes, mixed vegetable medleys, and salads quite easily. Plain roasted beets are absolutely delicious when garnished with orange juice, orange zest, and ginger. This flavor combination is sure to leave a good taste in your mouth. Remember when learning how to cook beets and how to serve them that their rich color will bleed easily, often staining the lighter colors foods that they touch. To avoid this, be sure always to add the beets last. Enjoy!