Beetroot for beginners

In this beetroot for beginners guide I'm answering all the questions you can have about beetroots. What is a beetroot? How does it grow in the garden? What does it taste like? How to eat and cook beetroots (including the stalks and leaves)?

What is a beetroot?

As you can see on the pictures it is a hard round red ball that grows under the ground with red stalks and green leaves growing out of the ground.

In France, you can either buy raw beetroots or already cooked ones. Most of the time, you will find them in stores without the stalks and leaves, even though they are edible.

How to eat a beetroot?

You can actually eat it either raw or cooked.

If you want to eat the red ball part raw, you can check my Beetroot carpaccio (AIP, paleo, vegan) recipe.

If you have a juicer, you can also make this delicious and healthy Beetroot and carrot juice.

Using a raw beetroot, you can also make a yummy crunchy snack that will cook in the oven : Beetroot chips (AIP, paleo, vegan)

What does it taste like?

The red ball part, which is most commonly eaten, has a sweet and earthy taste. Whereas the stalks and leaves have a pretty neutral taste like many leafy greens.

When eaten raw, beetroots have more of an earthy taste than when they are eaten cooked. They also taste sweeter when cooked.

How to cook beetroot?

How to cook the red ball part?

Give the beetroot a rince under cold water to remove the dirt. Boil or steam the beetroot (without peeling it : the skin will easily peel off once the beetroots are cooked) on medium heat for 35 mins or until it can be easily pierced through with a knife.

How to cook beet greens?

Wash them carefully to make sure you remove all the dirt, then chop them and add them to your favorite sautéed recipe. For example, you can use beetroot leaves and stalks instead of spinach in this Sweet potato breakfast hash (AIP, paleo).

How do you eat cooked beetroot?

First, you need to peel it, then you can check out this delicious vegetarian recipe : Beetroot and Feta salad (gluten free, vegetarian)

Or these delicious Heart Shaped Chocolate Cakes (AIP, paleo)

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