Roasting beets brings out their natural sweetness and creates a tender, flavorful dish. This simple recipe highlights the earthy taste of beets with a touch of olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Perfect as a side dish or a salad topping, these roasted beets are both nutritious and delicious.
While most of the ingredients in this recipe are common pantry staples, you may need to pick up fresh beets if you don't already have them on hand. Look for medium-sized beets that are firm and free from blemishes. The olive oil and black pepper should be readily available in most kitchens.
Ingredients For Beet Recipe
Beets: Fresh, medium-sized beets are the star of this recipe, providing a sweet and earthy flavor when roasted.
Olive oil: Adds a rich, smooth texture and enhances the natural taste of the beets.
Salt: A basic seasoning that brings out the flavors of the beets.
Black pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a subtle heat and depth to the dish.
Technique Tip for This Dish
When peeling the beets after roasting, use a paper towel to gently rub off the skins. This method helps to avoid staining your hands and makes the process quicker and cleaner.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
beets - Substitute with carrots: Carrots offer a similar sweetness and earthy flavor when roasted, making them a good alternative to beets.
beets - Substitute with sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes provide a similar texture and natural sweetness, suitable for roasting.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point and a mild flavor, making it a great alternative for roasting vegetables.
olive oil - Substitute with grapeseed oil: Grapeseed oil is neutral in flavor and also has a high smoke point, ideal for roasting.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can be used in the same quantity and provides a similar salty flavor.
salt - Substitute with kosher salt: Kosher salt has a coarser texture but can be used in the same amount for seasoning.
freshly ground black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper offers a similar spiciness but with a slightly different flavor profile.
freshly ground black pepper - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds a bit more heat and a different kind of spiciness, use sparingly.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store / Freeze This Recipe
- Allow the beets to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make them soggy.
- Use an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag to store the beet slices in the refrigerator. This helps maintain their freshness and prevents them from absorbing other odors.
- Store the beets in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Beyond this period, they may start to lose their flavor and texture.
- For freezing, place the cooled beet slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This step ensures they freeze individually and not in a clump.
- Once the beet slices are frozen solid, transfer them to a resealable freezer bag or an airtight container. Label the container with the date to keep track of their storage time.
- Frozen beets can be stored for up to 3 months. After this period, they may start to lose their quality.
- When ready to use, thaw the beet slices in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps retain their texture and flavor.
- If you're in a hurry, you can also thaw the beet slices by placing the sealed bag in a bowl of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes until they are thawed.
- Reheat the beet slices by tossing them in a skillet with a bit of olive oil over medium heat until warmed through. This method helps revive their roasted flavor.
- Alternatively, you can enjoy the thawed beet slices cold in salads or as a side dish, adding a splash of lemon juice or a sprinkle of feta cheese for extra flavor.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Reheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the beet slices on a baking sheet, ensuring they are in a single layer. Cover with aluminum foil to retain moisture and heat for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
Stovetop Sauté: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a splash of olive oil. Add the beet slices and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are heated evenly. This method can add a slight crispiness to the edges.
Microwave: Place the beet slices in a microwave-safe dish. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or a damp paper towel to prevent drying out. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, checking and stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.
Steaming: Set up a steamer basket over a pot of simmering water. Place the beet slices in the basket, cover, and steam for about 5 minutes or until they are heated through. This method helps retain the moisture and texture of the beets.
Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the beet slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Heat for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating. This method can give the beets a slightly crispy exterior.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used to roast the beets at a consistent temperature of 400°F (200°C).
Aluminum foil: Wraps each beet to retain moisture and ensure even cooking.
Baking sheet: Holds the wrapped beets while they roast in the oven.
Fork: Used to check the tenderness of the beets by piercing them.
Knife: Peels off the beet skins and cuts them into slices or cubes.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for peeling and cutting the beets.
Mixing bowl: Tosses the beet slices with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
Measuring spoons: Measures the olive oil, salt, and black pepper accurately.
Refrigerator: Stores the prepared beets for up to 3 days if not served immediately.
How to Save Time on Making This Dish
Pre-cook in microwave: Speed up the process by microwaving the beets for 5-7 minutes before roasting.
Use pre-cooked beets: Buy pre-cooked beets from the store to skip the roasting step entirely.
Batch roasting: Roast a large batch of beets at once and store them in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Peeling hack: After roasting, use a paper towel to easily rub off the beet skins.
Pre-mix seasoning: Prepare the olive oil, salt, and pepper mixture in advance to quickly toss with the beets.
Beet Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 whole Beets medium-sized, scrubbed clean
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- 1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- 2. Wrap each beet in aluminum foil and place them on a baking sheet.
- 3. Roast the beets in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
- 4. Let the beets cool, then peel off the skins and cut them into slices or cubes.
- 5. Toss the beet slices with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
- 6. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutritional Value
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