Ingredient Information

Beets

These are the veggies that you probably hated as a kid (I did). Most of us had them out of a can or as pickled beets, however fresh beets are fantastic and nothing like those that have been canned.

Look for fresh beets with the beet greens still attached. The greens should be fresh and crisp, like fresh spinach. The greens are delicious sautéed quickly in just a pat of butter and a touch of maple syrup (see my Collard Greens recipe). They should be cooked as soon as possible because they will wilt rapidly.

You are not stuck with red beets—there are also white, yellow, golden and striped beets. Golden beets are milder than red but are still very sweet. The bonus is that they don’t bleed like red beets. Striped beets have rings of red and white stripes. They are also known as Chiogga (kee oh ja) beets.

If I am going to use beets in a salad, I will scrub them gently and then wrap them in foil for roasting. After they are done, let them cool and the peel will slip off easily.

4 ounces beets = 49 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0g mono fat, 2g protein, 11g carbohydrates, 88mg sodium, 0mg cholesterol, 0 mcg Vitamin K.

4 ounces beet greens = 25 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0g mono fat, 2g protein, 5g carbohydrates, 253mg sodium, 0mg cholesterol, 448 mcg Vitamin K

Recipes Using Beets

Roasted Beets

Borscht

Crab and Roasted Beet Salad