22 Beet Recipes That You Can't Beat (2024)

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22 Beet Recipes That You Can't Beat (1)Hazel WheatonUpdated: Nov. 16, 2023

    These beet recipes put this wonderful root vegetable to work! Beets add a sweet, earthy flavor to salads, soups, sides and more.

    1/21

    Pickled Beets

    The pickled beets my mother made came from our garden and were canned for the winter months. Even as a child I loved beets because they brought so much color to our table. —Sara Lindler, Irmo, South Carolina

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    2/21

    Beet Salad with Lemon Dressing

    I was looking for a recipe for pickled beets and saw one with lemon instead of vinegar. I immediately thought of making a tabbouleh-inspired salad with beets instead of tomatoes. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

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    3/21

    Taste of Home

    This grilled beet pizza scores big with me for two reasons. It encourages my husband and son to eat greens, and it showcases fresh produce. —Sarah Gray, Erie, Colorado

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    4/21

    Nectarine and Beet Salad

    Beets, nectarines and feta cheese make for scrumptious additions to mixed greens. While the combination of ingredients may seem unlikely, I guarantee it will become a favorite salad on your home menu. —Nicole Werner, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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    5/21

    Air-Fryer Beets with Orange Gremolata and Goat Cheese

    My grandma always grew beets and then pickled or canned them, but I prefer to prepare them differently. These roasted beets with fresh herbs and tangy goat cheese are wonderful in the winter or they can be enjoyed all year. —Courtney Archibeque, Greeley, Colorado

    6/21

    22 Beet Recipes That You Can't Beat (6)

    Honey Beet Bread

    If you have any leftovers from dinner, you’ll find this savory beet bread makes great sandwiches, too. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

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    7/21

    Taste of Home

    Minted Beet Salad

    We have neighbors who share vegetables from their garden, and every year my husband and I look forward to their beets. My interest in Mediterranean food inspired this beet salad recipe—the vinegar and oil dressing with fresh mint will tone down the sweetness of the beets, and the kalamata olives add a salty touch. —Barbara Estabrook, Appleton, Wisconsin

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    8/21

    Taste of Home

    Berry-Beet Salad

    Here’s a delightfully different salad that balances the earthy flavor of beets with the natural sweetness of berries. If you prefer, substitute crumbled feta for the goat cheese. —Amy Lyons, Mounds View, Minnesota

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    9/21

    10/21

    Taste of Home

    Harvard Beets

    This pretty side dish’s bright, citrusy flavors are an ideal companion for down-to-earth entrees—and for people who usually shy away from beets. —Jean Ann Perkins, Newburyport, Maryland

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    11/21

    Beet and Sweet Potato Fries

    Oven-baked beets and sweet potatoes put a colorful and flavorful twist on traditional French fries and add interest to a meal as a side dish. —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan

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    12/21

    Russian Borscht Soup

    With beets, carrots, cabbage and tomatoes, this Russian borscht soup recipe is great for gardeners like myself. Not only is it delicious, but its bright crimson color is eye-catching on the table. —Ginny Bettis, Montello, Wisconsin

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    13/21

    Roasted Beet Wedges

    This beet recipe makes ordinary beets taste tender and delicious with just a few sweet and good-for-you ingredients. —Wendy Stenman, Germantown, Wisconsin

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    14/21

    Taste of Home

    Glistening citrus and beets star in this colorful, tangy salad. It’s a refreshing mix of bright flavors—just add chicken and it’s a complete meal. —Peter Eldridge, Clermont, Florida

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    15/21

    Taste of Home

    Pickled Eggs with Beets and Hot Cherry Peppers

    Because my grandmother didn’t measure anything when she cooked, I had to guess when I decided to duplicate her recipe for pickled eggs with beets. The color becomes more intense the longer they marinate. —Judie Thurstenson, Colcord, OK

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    16/21

    Red Flannel Stew

    When I was a child, every Saturday night was red flannel night. Grandpa and I wore our red flannel long underwear to supper and Grandma, the cook, dressed in a long calico dress and sunbonnet. We’d eat this beet stew spooned over fluffy southern-style biscuits. Grandma learned to make the stew from earlier generations of our family. —Kathy Padgett, Diamond City, Arkansas

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    17/21

    Taste of Home

    Harvest Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette

    Mixed greens and plenty of beets make this salad so satisfying, and it’s gorgeous to serve for special occasions. —Jaye Beeler, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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    18/21

    Taste of Home

    Fall Garden Medley

    I like to make this beet recipe in the fall and winter for special occasions because it’s very colorful, tasty and healthy. It’s a hearty side that complements many different meat dishes. —Krystine Kercher, Lincoln, Nebraska

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    19/21

    20/21

    Taste of Home

    Winter Beet Salad

    To save a little time on this sweet and savory beet salad, we recommend using packaged salad greens in this original recipe. The simple dressing is easy to assemble. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    21/21

    Pickled Eggs with Beets

    Ever since I can remember, my mother served this pickled egg recipe at Easter. It was a tradition that my family expected. I made them for my granddaughter the last time she visited and they were all gone before she left. —Mary Banker, Fort Worth, Texas

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    Originally Published: June 21, 2018

    22 Beet Recipes That You Can't Beat (20)

    Hazel Wheaton

    Hazel is a writer and editor who has worked in the publishing industry for over 25 years in the fields of travel, jewelry arts and food. As the editor of the Taste of Home Christmas Annual (among other titles), she's in the holiday spirit all year round. An enthusiastic baker, she's known for her cookies, cakes and other baked goods. And she still wishes she could cook like her mother.

    22 Beet Recipes That You Can't Beat (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the tastiest way to eat beets? ›

    Roasted with goat cheese.

    – The classic, all-time favorite preparation. Roast beets until they are tender and juicy, then eat them with some spicy greens and piquant goat cheese. Add some hazelnuts and you're in heaven.

    What can you add to beets to make them taste better? ›

    The roasted beets are wonderful on their own, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, or dressed up more with citrus juice, herbs, or balsamic vinegar. Serve them with any weeknight dinner, or add them to a holiday meal. These oven roasted beets keep well for days in the fridge, so they're great for making ahead.

    How long do beets last in the fridge? ›

    Store beets in a plastic bag in the refrigerator at or below 41 °F for 7 to 10 days. Beets may be frozen for up to ten months. For best quality and nutritive value, preserve only what your family can consume in 12 months.

    How do you make beets taste like meat? ›

    Cure your vegetables as you would a piece of meat for a couple of days. This can be achieved by rubbing the vegetable or mushroom with salt at a concentration of 1.75% of the vegetable's weight, wrapping it tightly in plastic or vacuum sealing it, and letting it sit in the fridge for 2-3 days.

    Do you have to peel beets before eating? ›

    Sometimes beets are peeled before cooking. They may also be scrubbed and cooked until tender with their skins on; the skins slip off fairly easily after cooling. (Some people are happy to leave the skins on; they are fine to eat.)

    Why add vinegar to beets? ›

    Beets are a weekly ritual around here. Usually we boil them and toss them in a sweet sour vinaigrette and keep them in the refrigerator to eat all week. The vinegar in the dressing "pickles" the beets, helping them last longer in the fridge.

    Is the water I boiled beets good for anything? ›

    Tip: When you're finished, you can either drain the deep-red cooking liquid or save it and use it as the base for a flavorful soup or vegetable broth. Water infused with beet juice can even be used as an all-natural dye.

    Is it better to boil or bake beets? ›

    My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole.

    What is the healthiest way to cook beets? ›

    Steaming in the oven rather than baking helps preserve more of the healthy vitamins and minerals in beets. This method also helps beets better retain their beautiful, vibrant color.

    Why don't I like the taste of beet? ›

    Their “earthy” flavor comes from a compound called geosmin, which is also the same compound that we associate with the smell of “fresh rain” and “forest soil”. Some people are much more sensitive to this compound than others, that is why some people say they taste like dirt, and others love them.

    Can I freeze beets raw? ›

    Raw beets are prone to sogginess when frozen and thawed, so it's best to cook the beets first if you plan on freezing them. To freeze beets, we suggest boiling them for around 25 minutes, or until they are easily pierced with a knife, then transferring them to an ice-water bath to cool.

    Do cooked beets freeze well? ›

    Cooked whole beets, as opposed to cooked diced beets, are especially suitable for freezing. They thaw well and can be cut up into your desired shape and size after thawing. Here's how to freeze cooked whole beets: Trim the roots, stems, and leaves and clean them.

    Can I freeze beets? ›

    Slice the beets (about 1/4-inch thickness), cut in quarters, or dice. Leave small (1-inch) beets whole, if desired. Pack the beets into freezer containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, label with the name and date, and freeze for up to 8 months.

    How do you make beets more palatable? ›

    My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole. Incidentally, to get beet stains off your hands, wet them, rub them with coarse salt, then wash with soap.

    Can you make beets taste good? ›

    Roasted beets with orange juice (squeeze it over the roasted beets just before serving) will taste delicious. Or try Parmesan, feta, or blue cheese. A drizzle of walnut oil makes for a nutty addition.

    Are beets better steamed or roasted? ›

    While roasting yields flavorful results, steaming beets makes their skin easier to peel off and makes them tender and more pleasant to eat.

    Is it better to eat beets raw or cooked? ›

    Raw or Cooked? Cooked. Low in calories and high in nutrients, cooked beets reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Benefits: Naturally occurring compounds in beets improve blood flow, help keep arteries healthy and reduce LDL cholesterol (the 'bad' kind).

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