Beet Salad
February 22nd, 2015 -
Recipes -
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Even if I wasn’t Polish, I would still LOVE beets. There are so many reasons to love them. Here are just a few:
Beets are extremely nutritious.
Beets are high in many minerals and vitamins.
Beets cleanse the body and purify the blood.
Beets contain trytophan which relaxes the mind and creates a sense of well-being.
Beets are a high source if energy, low in calories and high in sugar.
Beet greens help boost your immune system.
Even though its the winter, I was in the mood for a healthy salad. I decided to make a simple version of those fancy “beet and goat cheese” salads you see on restaurant menus. I hope you enjoy!
#1 Red and gold beets – Wash the beets and leave the skins on. Trim the tops and bottoms but save the stems and greens. Slice or quarter the beets and add to a steamer pot and steam the beets for about 20 minutes or until a sharp knife slides easily into the beet. Cooking time will depend on how thick or thin you cut the beets.
#2 While the beets are steaming you can chop up the stems and greens. Heat coconut oil in a pan and sauté one sliced garlic clove and some grated ginger for about a minute, just long enough for the garlic and ginger to release their flavor. Add the stems first as they take a few minutes longer to cook through, then add the leaves and toss so everything is coated. The stems and leaves will have a brilliant color. Sauté just for 2 minutes longer. This is a great side dish or you can let it cooland use it as a base for a salad.
#3 After the beets have cooled, remove the skins by rubbing them with a paper towel or trim with a knife. Then, chop the beets into smaller pieces – however big you’d like them to be in the salad.
Oh no, now your fingers are a lovely shade of bright red! Just squirt a dab of toothpaste on your hands and rub. Color is all gone like magic. (not sure if it works with gel paste)
Pictured here is a salad with the gold and red beets, sliced pear and crumbled herb goat cheese. To assemble, I simply chopped those ingredients to my desired size. I used the greens as a base, then added the beets on top, followed by my pear and cheese. You can add any nuts, apples or other fruit/berries and drizzle with honey for added sweetness.
Beets can be oven roasted, pickled or made in to a soup (borscht) also. Hot or cold they are delicious!!
