In Season: Earthy & Versatile Beets

Beets add a bright pop of color to any plate but did you know that they offer a wide range of nutritional benefits and can be prepared in so many different ways?

This bulbous root vegetable is a popular addition to any meal due to its mild sweet flavor and rich nutritional profile. When looking at produce, color is generally a good indicator of how dense its nutrient profile is. With something like beets, whose color is exceptionally rich, you can bet its nutrition profile is unbeetable (sorry not sorry). 

NUTRITIONAL FACTS:

• Beets are low in calories and packed with micronutrients including folate, manganese, copper, magnesium, vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and iron. 
• Studies have supported beets as a therapeutic agent to help with diabetes, hypertension, and blood pressure control. Additionally, beets have been suggested in studies to help enhance athletic performance by increasing efficiency of energy production and improving oxygen utilization. 

HOW TO PREPARE:

Beets can be enjoyed and prepared in many different ways. My personal favorite is roasted beets in a green salad; the color combination is stunning! Try this Fennel, Citrus & Roasted Beet Salad and you’ll see what I mean. Here’s a few easy ways to cook beets in your home kitchen:

• Boiling: If you’re boiling beets, keep the skin on to prevent the color from seeping out into the water. Keep water at a simmer and test for doneness by piercing with the tip of a knife. Once soft, the peel should easily slip off. Cut into wedges and store in the refrigerator to add to grain bowls or toss in this hearty Curried Chickpea Salad.
• Steaming: This is a great way to ensure that the most amount of nutrients stay within the beet. Add about an inch of water to a wide saucepan and place the beets on top in a steamer basket or in a foil pouch.  Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook until tender.  So easy!
• Roasting: You can either roast beets whole or cut into a large dice and roast. Just make sure they are all the same size so they're done at the same time (no burnt beets here!) In this Roasted Beet & Walnut Salad the beets are roasted with a bit of water added to the pan; a hybrid method that makes it easy to slip the skins off when they’re done!

Looking for more recipes to add to your winter meal plan?  Head on over to our recipe section and start browsing!