Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: noshed on June 15, 2006, 22:40

Title: beetroot
Post by: noshed on June 15, 2006, 22:40
What's your favourite beetroot recipe? I've grown lots of it - about the size of small pears - and I'm not sure what to do next. I've wrenched off the foliage (somewhat flea-beetle ravaged) do you just boil it and peel it after? I tried roasting it and it was nice but a lot of fuss, although maybe a bit more feasible now than a couple of weeks ago when it was a bit smaller and caused a certain amount of cruel hilarity from my flatmate. (He's shut up now the strawberries are ripe.)
Title: beetroot
Post by: GrannieAnnie on June 16, 2006, 23:41
OH just likes his beetroot boiled and peeled, then when I get a glut, I pickle them for him, whole if small, sliced if larger
Title: beetroot
Post by: noshed on June 21, 2006, 14:13
You're right. Keep it simple. They are delicious and, apparently, "super food" so very sought after at work.
Title: beetroot
Post by: mellowmick on June 21, 2006, 16:09
I'm quite keen to try Katt's beetroot and chocolate cake (see further down the topic list in this section) :!:
Title: beetroot
Post by: twysted1 on June 21, 2006, 21:54
someone should try that but i don't have the bottle.
Title: beetroot
Post by: mellowmick on June 22, 2006, 10:47
I would be up for it, but none of my beetroot is above an inch yet (first planting produced sweet hee-haw, even though it's meant to be an idiot-proof crop) :(
Title: beetroot
Post by: Jake on June 22, 2006, 22:42
I love beetroot and my allotment crop completely failed. I thought it was too late to sow but now I'm going to do it.

I've got about 6 plants in the garden though and they'll make a good borsch. (sp?)

Its best with Chicken stock but any stock will do. Its also better not to pre cook the beets but to peel them raw and put up with the mess. Slice into thin chip sizes. Fry onion and a bit of carrot in a pan, add celery and beetroot (lots of it) pour over chicken stock. Salt and pepper and you'll have an amazing warming stew. It should cook for a long time and that makes it thicker. I've even put grated potatoe in there before and that worked well.
Title: Cooking beetroot
Post by: Oliver on June 22, 2006, 23:09
Beetroot takes ages to cook the 'conventional' way. So she cooks it in the microwave.
For 4 beetroots about egg sized: Wash off the dirt. Trim off the leaves and the root. Put in a microwaveable bowl add about 3 tablespoons of water and cover. Set the microwave to full power for about 8 mins. (Adjust the time if the beets are bigger or smaller, or if you cook more or less in one go)
Take out carefully and remove cover drain, then fill bowl with COLD water. Repeat as the hot beets will warm the water up. Let them stand for a few minutes, then scrape off the skin gently, no need to peel with a cutting motion as the cold water on hot veg makes the skin come of very easily. (If you cook them perfectly you should be able to push the skin off with your fingers).
Slice and eat, or dice them, put in a pretty dish add a dollop of yoghurt. Stir gently and serve with a garnish of Parsley. Yum
Title: beetroot
Post by: shaz on June 23, 2006, 09:19
me and the kids love it diced with onions and olive oil with fish cakes or any type of fish yummmy :D
Title: beetroot
Post by: pixieface on July 09, 2006, 11:53
I usually use meduin sized beetroot, cook them in water for 20 minutes after they come to the boil. Leave them in the saucepan to cool down.

The skins just peel off, slice them up and put them in a kilner jar and then half fill the jar with white vinegar and then fill to cover the beetroot with water, this will keep for ages in the fridge. It will also keep quite well in a dark cupboard, the vinegar acts as a preservative so you can have beetroot at Christmas.
Title: Peeling beetroot
Post by: Oliver on July 11, 2006, 12:31
Quote from: "pixieface"
slice them up and put them in a kilner jar.

Thanks for that. Will have a go.
Title: beetroot
Post by: Heather_S on July 11, 2006, 13:31
I'm making Katt's beetroot & chocolate cake as we speak. She forgot to say what sort of pan but judging by the amounts, it must make at least a 9x13inch pan's worth... unfortunately it's quite hard to mush up beetroot even if you chop it fine, so I only made half the recipe (1 cup beetroot, etc) and it seems to be baking fine in my kugelhopf pan... I chose that pan because the chocolate & peanut butter frosted cakes I grew up with were always baked in a bundt pan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundt_pan). Also 45minutes is about the normal time it takes for cakes cooked in a bundt pan or kugelhopf pan. So far, I can report the batter is very red... like a Red Velvet Cake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_velvet_cake) but without the unhealthy 1 bottle of red food colouring found in most recipes.

I'll post photos etc when it's all done, with a full report of taste  :wink:
Title: beetroot
Post by: Beanzie on July 20, 2006, 00:44
Not sure of the recipe, but on holiday in Greece they have a dish of hot fresh beetroot served with a garlic creamy sauce. Excellent!!
Title: beetroot
Post by: GrannieAnnie on July 20, 2006, 15:40
It's only a month ago that I used the last of last year's beetroot which I pickled.  But OH will be disappointed, I only bought one packet this year!
Title: beetroot
Post by: karen on August 04, 2006, 23:19
There is a Nigella lawson salda recipe which uses up alot of beetroot and tastes great

Slice a large onion into rings and put in bowl of balsmic vinegar to soak.

Peel, boil and slice beetroot (8 - 10 medium size ones) and layer beetroot and onions on a plate.

Grate some orange zest over the top and sprinkle with some mint leaves (chopped or whole whatever you prefer)

Drizzle with some olive oil, and remaining vingar from soaking onions.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

This looks really colourful and is a great dish to take to BBQ's.  

It also taste really nice and well.
Title: beetroot
Post by: GrannieAnnie on August 04, 2006, 23:22
Do you want to get me shot Karen?  lol  OH would kill me if I drizzled anything over his beetroot!!! lol.
Title: beetroot
Post by: shirazcat on August 05, 2006, 11:30
Hi all,  :D
               Try this for a different way to use beetroot. Cook & peel as normal 5 or 6 small/ medium beets, when cool enough dice roughly into small pieces.
 Take half a packet of raspberry jelly, (6 cubes), dissolve in hot water, boil 1/4 pint distilled vinegar & 1/4 pint water, pour this on to jelly. Put diced beets into clean jars, & pour on the vinegar/jelly mix. Cool & then fridge to set the jelly. This will keep in a cupboard for ages & is brilliant served with pork pies, cold meats or other savoury cold bits.
                                                                         Adrian.
Title: beetroot
Post by: James on August 14, 2006, 09:50
Quote from: "pixieface"
I usually use meduin sized beetroot, cook them in water for 20 minutes after they come to the boil. Leave them in the saucepan to cool down.

The skins just peel off, slice them up and put them in a kilner jar and then half fill the jar with white vinegar and then fill to cover the beetroot with water, this will keep for ages in the fridge. It will also keep quite well in a dark cupboard, the vinegar acts as a preservative so you can have beetroot at Christmas.


The whole point of preserving (pickling in this case) is so that you DON'T have to refrigerate.  Try this recipe - and pay attention to the instructions on sterilising those Kilner jars.

http://www.recipes4us.co.uk/Preserves/Sweet%20Pickled%20Beetroot%20%20%20Veg%20%20%20CD%20%20%20%20ACC.htm
Title: beetroot
Post by: GrannieAnnie on August 15, 2006, 22:43
I don't water down my vinegar, and OH's beetroot ( I don't like the stuff myself!) keeps for a year almost, but only because he ate it all a month before I planted my new lot of seeds this year!!!! lol
Title: Beetroot jelly!
Post by: Oliver on August 15, 2006, 23:19
Quote from: "shirazcat"
raspberry jelly and beetroot

This sound really interesting. they love beetroot - unvinegared. Will have a go!
Title: beetroot
Post by: mum of 3 on August 16, 2006, 13:52
have to say we prefer it just boiled and peeled,my 3 yr old daughter is hooked on the stuff and ive just harvested my last lot :(
Title: beetroot
Post by: earthgirl on August 17, 2006, 00:05
Trim them, then wrap in aluminium foil and bake at 180C for an hour (for small ones) or longer for large ones. Skins will slip right off when they're done. Sweeter taste than boiling, IMHO.
Title: Beet and Beef
Post by: hayles62 on August 19, 2006, 13:35
I chucked a load in one of my basic Beef Curries yesterday and it was lovely but don't eat it in your best white shirt :shock:
Title: beetroot
Post by: Balaton Ben on June 27, 2007, 09:48
question. Can one eat raw beetroot? au gratin? sliced? any ideas?
Title: beetroot
Post by: jacnal on June 27, 2007, 10:46
Quote from: "Balaton Ben"
question. Can one eat raw beetroot? au gratin? sliced? any ideas?


Yes you can. Great grated in a salad. You can also juice it with carrots, apple and some ginger for an excellent fatigue fighting juice. It's all I've done successfully. Next time I have some I'll try one of the recipes above.
Title: beetroot
Post by: Balaton Ben on June 27, 2007, 19:53
many tnx Jacnal, the missus is doing some now as I type................
Title: beetroot
Post by: jennyb on June 27, 2007, 20:59
had my first 2 baby beet grated raw on my salad tonight - very nice!


is there still time to sow more?  not sure where but i'd like to if i can find space!!
Title: beetroot
Post by: splodger on June 29, 2007, 16:49
Quote
Trim them, then wrap in aluminium foil and bake at 180C for an hour (for small ones) or longer for large ones. Skins will slip right off when they're done. Sweeter taste than boiling, IMHO.


i do something similar - but i add garlic, fresh oregano and thyme (any herb will do) squeeze of lemon, dash of balsamic and drizzle of olive oil - they are scrummy.

i also made beetroot chutney last year - that was fab too.


or why not try beetroot with fresh horseradish
Title: beetroot
Post by: KIM200 on July 03, 2007, 15:21
Quote from: "mellowmick"
I'm quite keen to try Katt's beetroot and chocolate cake (see further down the topic list in this section)


Just thinking about making that now but i have no corn oil could i use olive or sunflower oil instead do you think.?
kim
Title: beetroot
Post by: WG. on July 03, 2007, 15:23
Quote from: "KIM200"
Quote from: "mellowmick"
I'm quite keen to try Katt's beetroot and chocolate cake (see further down the topic list in this section)


Just thinking about making that now but i have no corn oil could i use olive or sunflower oil instead do you think.?
kim

Sunflower. I think olive oil would be too strongly flavoured
Title: beetroot
Post by: KIM200 on July 03, 2007, 15:29
brilliant ! THANKS
cant wait to try it. the beets are cooking as i type.
kim
Title: beetroot
Post by: jennyb on July 03, 2007, 15:32
i had another 2 of mine as baby beet lastnight,  decided to cook them.

put them in a little water in the microwave and covered them with cling - 5 and a half mins on full power and they were great!  ate them whilst still warm with my salad!
Title: beets
Post by: chrissie B on July 29, 2007, 10:51
:D i have to say i didnt like beetroot at all having only tried pickled , my hubby loves it but here in greece the beets are sweet so i did him some of our own , then i saw a recipe for roasted just like spuds you can do them when you do the roast just a bit of olive oil , fantastic so im converted , also love beetroot chutney great colour and keeps well .
chrissie b.
Title: beetroot
Post by: jennyb on July 29, 2007, 17:16
try this:

peel raw beetroot and grate,  mix with horseradish (i used ready made from a jar).

line a baking tray with foil (good job i did and the juice leeks out!)  and using a ring/mould, layer the beetroot mix then thin slices of goats cheese, then more beetroot,  then goats cheese etc,  finishing with some goats cheese on top.

leaving the ring in place,  put in a hot oven (i think it was about 180) for about 15/20 mins til warm all the way through.

i served mine of a bed of salad leaves, cucumber and a few cherry toms.  drizzle with baslamic vinegar

and enjoy!
Title: beetroot
Post by: Lily on August 07, 2007, 20:47
In France we eat beetroots in a salad with lamb's lettuce! It really goes well with it!
Title: beetroot
Post by: muntjac on August 07, 2007, 20:59
boil, peel, slice thin with cucumber then bottle with apple cider vinegar  . add onions if ya wann makes a great mixed pickle