Beets get a horrible rap for being gross or hard to cook, and I am convinced it is because people aren’t cooking them right and they haven’t tried a good beet! When cooked correctly, beets are sweet and delicious! Not hard or earthy like many badly cooked beets are.

One of my favorite ways to cook beets is by grilling them! Grilled beets caramelize the sugar in beets, give them a delicious char, and great texture. The key is to steam them first for optimal texture, and then finish them quickly on the grill for optimal flavor.

Why we should all eat more beets:

Beets are rich in essential nutrients that contribute to overall well-being. They are an excellent source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and promotes a healthy gut. Additionally, beets are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, potassium, and manganese. They are great for women’s hormones in the first half of the cycle!

One standout nutrient in beets is betalains, responsible for their deep red color. Betalains possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that support heart health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and combat oxidative stress. Although golden beets don’t have this red color, they are still very nutrient dense.

Keys to cooking beets:

  1. Wash thoroughly before cooking, even if you are going to peel them. The reason why a lot of beets taste earthy is because we aren’t properly scrubbing them off before cooking and some dirt remains.
  2. Always steam or boil beets first. Beets are a HARD root vegetable, and need to be steamed before grilled or roasted.
  3. Steam or boil until fork tender.
  4. Peel the outer layer after steaming or boiling, it is easier to peel once cooked! And far less messy.
  5. Cut into desired shapes to finish the cooking like grilling or roasting.

Make sure to share your beet creations with me on Instagram @kellyscleankitchen!

@kellyscleankitchen

The best way to cook beets is by grilling them! #beets #grilling #grilledbeets #cooking

♬ Wes Anderson-esque Cute Acoustic – Kenji Ueda
  • SERVINGS:  6
  • PREP TIME: 10 Mins
  • ACTIVE TIME: 50 Mins
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 Hr

This is great in a salad or as a side dish!

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium to large beets, golden or red
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • any seasonings of choice (optional)
  • maldon salt to finish (optional)

Preparation:

STEP 1.

Wash the beets, scrubbing any dirt off of them.

STEP 2.

Steam the beets whole for 45 minutes to an hour, until they are fork tender and soft. Immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.

STEP 3.

Once cooled, remove from the ice. Slice the root and stem side off. Peel the outer layer with a pairing knife or peeler.

Slice in half, and then in half again so you have large quarter pieces. From here I use a bench scraper to smash the pieces down so they are cracked and rough around the edges, this makes more interesting texture once grilled. Add to a bowl and coat with olive oil, salt and any other seasoning of choice.

STEP 4.

Turn the grill or grill pan to medium high and coat with a high smoke point oil. Grill the beets for 2-3 minutes per side until you get nice grill marks. Remove from the grill, top with maldon salt and enjoy!

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