5 ways to enjoy Homegrown Beets
It’s the end of harvest time, and as you pull the last of your softball-sized Gurney’s Choice Harrier Beets from the ground, or maybe your slender Forono beets, you might be a little beet-ed out. And if you didn’t plant beets, don’t worry- find a friendly neighbor, or head to the farmers market, and try these different ways to enjoy beets- then stock up on seeds for next spring from Gurney’s.
1:Beet Juice
Beets are naturally sweet, and super easy to enjoy first thing in the morning as juice. Beets are full of vitamin C and potassium but most importantly, they give you 75% of your daily folic acid. Try juicing one peeled beet root, 2 carrots, and 2-3 stalks of celery. You can add a peeled apple as well if you prefer a sweeter juice to start your day.
2: Roasted Beets
This is super easy, and my favorite way to enjoy beets. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Scrub your beets. Line a loaf pan with tin foil. Cut the tops from three beets, place them in the pan, cut side down. Cover the pan with tin foil and bake for thirty to forty minutes. Remove from oven and let the beets cool, or eat them warm. The skins usually slip right off. I love to dice the roasted beats up and have them in salad with a little romaine, spinach, lemon juice, and feta cheese.
3: Vegetable Soup with a Secret Ingredient
This amazing soup is from one of our Gurney’s expert gardeners. In a large stockpot, layer tomatoes, eggplant, cabbage, corn, and sweet peppers. On top of that layer green beans, beets (yes- beets- our secret ingredient), and finally, sliced carrots. Add just enough water to cover and simmer for 8 hours, adding a few cubes of chicken bouillon at the end. This low-calorie, nutrient dense soup can provide up to four meals in a week or be frozen for enjoyment through the long, cold winter. Leftover potatoes or butternut squash in your end-of-season garden? Cube those up and add them to the soup- the butternut squash adds richness and a little sweetness.
What is your favorite way to enjoy beets? What’s leftover in your fall garden- and how are you using up the last of your homegrown goodness? Feel free to share your recipes, and let us know if you try some of ours.
