The Beautiful Beet
Beets are a Lifestyle Diet Superfood! High in folate, manganese and potassium (to name a few) they are SO good for you! Eaten raw or cooked, there are so many ways to eat a beet. Beets are available year round but best times to buy them are June through October, when they are most tender. You can find them in red, purple or golden yellow. Don’t just stop at the beet, the greens are such a great source of vitamins and minerals too. Filled with beta-carotene, vitamin C, iron and calcium, be sure to not discard the leaves. Use them in green drink or steam them to supplement any dish.
How to Prepare and Eat Beets
Beets can simply be peeled and grated to be eaten raw. Place them in a salad or eat them solo. Beets can also be roasted or boiled. To roast them, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut the greens off and set aside to sauté or boiled later or to be used in a green drink.
Scrub the beets and place in a baking dish. Add 1/4 inch of water to the dish. Cover tightly. Place in the oven and roast small beets for about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on their size. They’re done when they’re easily punctured with the tip of a knife. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the covered baking dish. Cut away the ends and remove the skins. To boil, simply place in a bowl of water and boil until tender.
Roasted beets are wonderful on their own or simply dressed with a vinaigrette, and they will keep for five days in a covered bowl in the refrigerator. Best not to peel them until you plan to eat them.
Nutritional Information