50 Fantastic Beet Recipes
Beets are one of my favorite cold-weather foods. Loaded with antioxidants and other healthful vitamins and minerals, this root vegetable is a produce powerhouse. While many home cooks struggle to serve them on a regular basis due to the lack of creative inspiration, I have noticed a surge of beet recipes making the menus of many top chefs around North America. With that in mind, I went digging for gourmet-quality beet recipes that provide a superior launching point for exploring the unique flavor of this vegetable.
Some of these ideas are simple, while others require a bit more preparation. They are all, however, unique and full of flavor. (See also: 25 Winning Ways to Enjoy Winter Squash)
1.Carpaccio
Who says carpaccio has to involve sliced meat? By thinly slicing either red or golden beets and adding artisan greens with a shaving or two of sharp cheese, you can enjoy something like this beet carpaccio recipe from the New York Times.
2. Jewel-Toned Dinner Side
This one is similar to the two-tone roasted potatoes I mentioned in an earlier article on simple side dishes. Basically, instead of pairing wedged potatoes with the yams, you substitute chunked beets instead. The result is a gorgeous, jewel-toned dinner side that looks amazing on a plate topped with sesame seeds and freshly-ground pepper.
3. Roasted Beet Salad
Roasted beets are a really popular salad ingredient, as a trip to nearly any higher-end restaurant will demonstrate. This green salad recipe with roasted beets and goat cheese from Skinny Taste shows you how to make one at home.
4. Gourmet Ravioli
Who doesn’t love an alternative ravioli filling? And if pumpkin and squash suffice, why wouldn’t other starchy vegetables work just as well? This beet ravioli with poppy seed butter recipe from Bon Appetit Magazine provides inspiration for those ready to branch out.
5. Pickled Beets
If a full-on vegetable canning project is a bit more than you want to take on, consider these simplified refrigerator beet pickles from the What’s Cooking America website. They’re a full-flavored way to keep some beets prepared for last-minute company and don’t take a ton of time to put together.
6. Lovely Latkes
Because of their texture, beets can be used in place of starchy vegetables in a number of recipes besides ravioli. These beet latkes featured in the Los Angeles Times for example, make for a colorful alternative to the traditional potato variety.
7. Salad Add-In
I’m all for expanding my repertoire of salad add-ins, and beets make one of the better ones. My husband and I got the idea from one of our frequent lunch visits to our local Sweet Tomatoes, since the chain offers both julienned beets and butternut squash in the raw section of the salad bar. Granted, I don’t often feel the need to julienne anything if there isn’t a special occasion involved, so I tend to just grate a raw beet on top of my mixed greens when the mood strikes. The flavor remains the same and the work is greatly reduced.
8. Sandwich Enhancement
Since I’m always on the prowl for sandwich ideas, my attention was grabbed recently while exploring the menu at a new-to-me restaurant. A slice of roasted beet was used instead of a beefsteak tomato on top of a colorful meatless burger. A bit unusual for certain, but tasty nonetheless.
9. Beet Juice
Drinking beet juice can be extremely beneficial to your health according to Web MD. This DIY video shows you how to attempt it yourself with a juicer. Once you have a good-sized batch of the stuff, you can store it by using ice cube trays to create the small, frozen portions suitable for adding to lemonades, cocktails, sauces, and more.
10. Beet Soup
If you’re trying to get your purple on in style, consider this pureed roasted garlic and beet soup from the folks at Whole Living magazine. It looks dramatic on the dinner table and can be served with a variety of soup garnishes such as sour cream, chopped scallions, or even toasted sesame seeds.
11. Beet Smoothie
To score the health benefits of enjoying raw beets in a smoothie without the earthy flavor that’s present prior to cooking, the key is to pair this produce item with other foods that will mask the flavor. This beet, berry, apple, and banana smoothie recipe from Healthful Pursuit does the trick, as does this beet smoothie from Organice Your Life, with its beet, pineapple, and cucumber juice combination. Both will make excellent additions to your repertoire of beet recipes.
12. Budget Borscht
If you prefer to keep your beet soup traditional, then this borscht from Serious Eats is just what the doctor ordered. The flavors of old-world Europe shine through, and it will pair well with a rustic crusty bread for a simple dinner with family.
13. Beet Risotto
If you're beginning a plant-based diet, it can be helpful to include a number of risotto recipes in your meal plans. They're an elegant solution to entertaining on a budget. Some chefs and home cooks like to branch out from traditional Italian rice to try other grains, like with this beet and barley risotto from Katherine Martinelli.
14. Savory Slaw
Cabbage and carrots aren’t the only ingredients that can be used to craft a superior slaw. Beets have a great deal to bring to the table as well. This beet slaw by Rachel Ray, featured on the Food Network, is one such example.
15. Perk Up Your Pasta
This recipe for tagliatelle with shredded beets, sour cream, and parsley from Epicurious is an interesting example of fusion cuisine to say the least. I’d like to see it served with a salad of artisan greens and a starter of bruschetta.
16. Ruby-Colored Cocktails
One of the most powerful strategies for serving stylish, cheap drinks is mix them yourself at a gathering you host at home. This article from the Wall Street Journal features several recipes for beet-based drinks that will get your guests’ attention and stimulate discussion.
17.Crostini
When properly pureed and seasoned, this vegetable can be used for a variety of appetizer offerings, as this roasted beet crostini from Web MD demonstrates. What a colorful happy hour creation for those hosting a healthy pre-theater event, for example.
18. Coconut Curry
Creative curries always catch my attention, so this beet and coconut curry from One Tribe Gourmet was no exception. It also includes carrots, which are another one of my favorite bargain produce items. Loaded with nutrition and color, this is sure to please the international food fans in your house.
19. Colorful Carbonara
If you enjoy making homemade pastas for special occasions, then this beet pasta carbonara with peas and bacon provides a colorful canvas from which to add additional sides, drinks, and desserts for your guests. I especially love that this recipe offers an unexpected splash of color to a dish that most people expect to be a bit more monochrome.
20. Braised Beets
Braised just sounds better, doesn’t it? Better yet, braised beets with wine sounds positively divine. It’s also a way to add even more flavor to this colorful root veggie when you serve it with simple roast pork and mashed potatoes.
21. Baby Food
Making your own baby food is a great way to maximize infant nutrition for less. This beet and blueberry recipe from Mash Your Heart Out provides a colorful alternative to bland white baby cereal. It also combines two powerful antioxidants in one. How cool is that?
22. Bake Better Bread
Who doesn’t love a colorful, rustic loaf when sitting down to a traditional homespun meal? This beet bread recipe from Taste of Adventure looks amazing, and it appears to be able to stand its own as a base for an artisan cheese tray if necessary.
23. Perfect Bread Pudding
Most people think of pumpkin and gingerbread when it comes to autumn-themed bread puddings, but this beet version from What’s Cooking America keeps things new and exciting.
24. Gorgonzola and Beet Casserole
It’s no secret that I’m a life-long casserole fan. As hearty as they are, there’s certainly no need to make them hum drum. This gorgonzola and beet casserole from Makobi Scribe is definitely unusual and flavored to impress.
25. Beet Cake
A number of vegetables can be used to add moisture when baking, and beets are definitely on the list. This beet cake from the people at Taste of Home looks both tasty and impressive.
26. Gluten-Free Goodies
With gluten-free baked goods gaining in popularity, I knew I had to find at least one treat to include in this resource article. My choice was this beet brownie recipe from Organic Authority.
27. Great Granita
Granitas are a great way to freshen things up during a meal, and this beet granita from the Denver Post makes a striking addition to a meal made up of seasonal autumn ingredients.
28. Preserves
If you like the idea of a spreadable beet recipe but don’t want to worry about consuming the whole batch right away, this spoonable cherry and beet preserve from Saveur is just what the doctor ordered. It's great for toast made from peasant bread and also for flaky croissants.
29. Stuffed Crepes
Crepes are similar to risotto in that they are an elegant-yet-inexpensive way to showcase a variety of ingredients. With a side of asparagus and some white wine spritzers, this beet and goat cheese crepe from Pham Fatale makes a great date-night meal.
30. Beet Lemonade
When the weather starts to warm up, nothing is better than enjoying gourmet lemonade in the shade. That’s why this beet lemonade recipe from Big Oven jumped out at me. It provides a natural way to enjoy pinker lemonade when temperatures rise and provides the extra antioxidant benefits as well.
31. Healthy Chips
At our house, we’re constantly on the lookout for fun vegan treats, especially ones that provide a better nutritional value than standard potato chips. That’s why this recipe for baked beet chips from A Cozy Kitchen is now on my must-try list of new things. I think they’ll be especially great with lighter-colored dips like hummus or a smoky eggplant dip.
32. Ruby-Red Hummus
One of the amazing things about hummus is that it can easily incorporate a variety of ingredients along with the mashed chickpeas or beans to add color, nutrition, and flavor. This roasted beet hummus is a shining example of that, and it would make a fantastic low-fat item to incorporate into your Valentine menu plans.
33. Build a Better Burger
Vegetarian diners are constantly on the prowl for alternative veggie burgers. This quarter-pounder beet burger from the Post Punk Kitchen certainly qualifies. Try one with horseradish sour cream and a handful of baby spinach leaves.
34. Perfect Pesto
If making beet pasta from scratch seems a bit much, consider this beet and walnut pesto from Rose Married the next time you make spaghetti for dinner. It’s a colorful way to sauce things up that doesn’t come with an exceptionally large grocery price tag.
35. Make a Mousse
I have to admit, this beet mousse dessert from Artsy Foodie caught me by surprise. I guess if beets work in cakes and brownies then other desserts are fair game as well, but I just hadn’t considered it. This would be an unusual one to try if you were having some adventurous foodies over for a meal during the weekend.
36. Frugalize a French Recipe
Any chance to add to my list of mushroom recipes is okie dokie with me. So when I saw this beet bourguignon entrée featured on Green Kitchen Stories, I was completely stoked. Serve it with your favorite French wine and some toasted baguette slices.
37. Fun Foil Packets
If preparing foil packets for low-mess dinners and barbecues is one of your favored food prep strategies, then these beet, garlic, and root veggie packets are sure to please. They're great for nights you are grilling steaks, Portobello mushroom caps, or pork medallions.
38. Make Them Mashable
Prefer a bit of color in your mashed potatoes? These beet mashed spuds from Coconut and Lime certainly provide that, as well as an unexpected twist on the traditional side dish.
39. Savory Spreads
Zataar is one of my all-time favorite spice blends, so I was excited to see it used with beets in this savory vegetable spread from A Sweet Spoonful. Great with olive medleys, torn pita bread, tabouleh, and other dishes from the Middle East.
40. Grilled Sandwich
We do love our toasty, hot vegan sandwiches in this house, and this grilled beet sandwich from Green Lite Bites is certainly on the right track. Simply swapping out their cheese choice would easily veganize it, although vegetarians will be more than happy with it as is. The color combination is gorgeous, and the flavor pairing is totally yummy.
41. Sorbet
The beet and berry pairing works for more than smoothies and baby food, as this beet and blackberry sorbet from The Bitten Word demonstrates. What a creative way to cool off on a summer day.
42. Simple Syrup
For a colorful cocktail additive at any time of year, but particularly for Valentine cocktails, Halloween drinks, or even Fourth of July beverages, beet simple syrup is a great thing to have on hand in your fridge.
43. Soy-Free Vegan Sausage
Looking for a fresh addition to your list of meat substitutions? These sausage-flavored beet balls from the Fat Free Vegan are an interesting take on the traditional tofu variety and use this root veggie in an unexpected way.
44. Stuffed Dumplings
Who doesn’t love a dumpling? If you’re looking to liven yours up, try these steamed beet dumplings with black beans from Out of the Ordinary Food. They would also work well with beef stew or as a colorful finger food.
45. Beet and Lentil Salad
There’s nothing like a long list of lentil recipes when you’re looking for something hearty and satisfying. This lentil and beet dish from Food.com uses the French variety, but you could easily substitute brown lentils if that’s what you happen to have on hand.
46. Vegan Pepperoni
Using the smaller beets would make sizing easier for this vegan pepperoni recipe from Penniless Parenting. It’s a unique way to create a meat alternative and has the color built in to the produce.
47. Beet Sauce
This creative ketchup combo provides a sassy sauce alternative for burgers, fries, and other backyard favorites. Try some with your next batch of homemade sliders and see how your guests react.
49. Scalloped Beets
Combining beets with other root vegetables such as spuds and sweet potatoes creates a great scalloped casserole to serve at potlucks, Sunday dinners, and fall family reunions.
50. Beet Vinaigrette
Personally, I think having a variety of salad dressing recipes is the secret to eating more salad. Sure, you don’t want to overboard on the serving size, but for some of us having a succulent sauce can mean the difference between consuming your required veggies or not getting to them at all. This roasted beet vinaigrette is worth including in your collection.
Is there a beet idea I didn’t get to? A family recipe you feel is too good not to share? By all means, feel free to let me know about it in the comment section below.
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