Many grocery stores sell packaged, ready-to-serve roasted beets in the produce aisle. These are a wonderful convenience product, but they're overpriced considering how easy and inexpensive it is to roast beets at home. Roasted beets are incredibly healthy, mildly sweet, and they add a beautiful color and appealing texture to so many meals. Add them to salads, pickle them, or serve them as a side dish tossed with some olive oil, vinegar or citrus juice, fresh herbs such as basil or mint, and some crumbled goat or feta cheese.
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Things You'll Need
Beets (purple, golden, any variety will work)
Extra virgin olive oil
A sharp knife
Vegetable scrubber and/or vegetable peeler
Aluminum foil
Baking sheet
Step 1: Separate the Bulb from the Stem and Greens
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice off the beet stems and greens, reserving them for another use.
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Tip
Did you know that the entire beet is edible? Beet greens are very similar to Swiss chard. They're wonderful sautéed with some olive oil, salt and pepper.
Step 2: Scrub or Peel the Beets
Beets are a root vegetable, meaning they're grown in the ground. They're often quite dirty, and need to be cleaned thoroughly. Use a vegetable scrubber to remove any grit. If you don't have a vegetable scrubber, you can peel the beets.
Step 3: Prepare for Roasting
Lightly brush the beets with olive oil and wrap each one with aluminum foil. Place in a baking sheet and roast for 45 to 60 minutes (the time will vary depending on the size of the beets). The beets are ready when a fork or toothpick easily slides through the center.
Step 4: Peel the Beets
Allow the beets cool briefly until they can be handled. Unwrap the foil. The easiest way to remove the peels without making a mess is to place one in a paper towel and gently rub it back and forth without applying much pressure. The peel should come right off. If a vegetable peeler was used in step 2, this step can be skipped.
Step 5: Slice and Serve
Quarter or slice the beets. The can be served immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
