Blood Orange, Beet, and Fennel Salad

March 13, 2019March 13, 2019 Belinda

A twist on a Moroccan recipe.

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Serves 4 to 6

2 medium red beets, tops trimmed
2 medium golden beets, tops trimmed
3 blood oranges
1 medium navel orange (preferably Cara Cara)
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 small fennel bulb, very thinly sliced crosswise on a mandoline
1/4 red onion, very thinly sliced on a mandoline (about 1/3 cup)
Good-quality extra-virgin olive, pumpkin seed, or walnut oil (for drizzling)
Coarse sea salt, such as fleur de sel or Maldon sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro and/or chervil leaves

Preheat oven to 400°.
Wash beets, leaving some water on skins. Wrap individually in foil; place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until beets are tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Let cool.

Meanwhile, using a sharp knife, cut all peel and white pith from all oranges; discard. Working over a medium bowl, cut between membranes of 2 blood oranges to release segments into bowl; squeeze juice from membranes into bowl and discard membranes. Slice remaining blood orange and Cara Cara orange crosswise into thin rounds. Place sliced oranges in bowl with the segments. Add lemon juice and lime juice.

Peel cooled beets.
Slice 2 beets crosswise into thin rounds. Cut remaining 2 beets into wedges. Strain citrus juices; reserve. Layer beets and oranges on plates, dividing evenly. Arrange fennel and onion over beets. Spoon reserved citrus juices over, then drizzle salad generously with oil. Season to taste with coarse sea salt and pepper. Let salad stand for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Garnish salad with cilantro leaves.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Nuts · Salad · Vegetable sides · Whole30 compliant

Carrot and Beet Slaw with Pistachios and Raisins

March 13, 2019 Belinda

Another beauty of a recipe that use beets in a very different way.
(Recipe by Joshua McFadden & Sara Kramer, Photo by We Are The Rhoads)

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Serves 6
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
6 medium carrots (about 1 lb.), peeled, julienned
2 medium beets (any color; about 1 lb.), peeled, julienned
1/2 cup (packed) fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup (packed) fresh mint leaves
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup unsalted, shelled raw pistachios

Preheat oven to 350°.
Spread out pistachios on a small rimmed baking sheet; toast, stirring occasionally until golden brown, 6–8 minutes. Let cool; coarsely chop.

Combine garlic, raisins, and vinegar in a large bowl; let sit 1 hour.

Remove garlic from raisin mixture and discard. Add carrots, beets, pistachios, parsley, mint, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes; season with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Add oil; toss gently.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Gluten Free · Nuts · Vegetable-related

Roasted Beets With Yogurt, Pistachios and Coriander

March 13, 2019March 13, 2019 Belinda

I seem to be in a beet-frame of mind, especially as I am coming across so many great recipes for them. The recipe is c/o Aaron Hutcherson.

This sophisticated side is easy enough for a weeknight, but fancy enough for entertaining thanks to a few unexpected additions: Seasoned Greek yogurt forms the basis of an effortless sauce, while toasted coriander seeds and chopped pistachios add texture. Roasting sweet, earthy beets concentrates their flavor, and a splash of balsamic balances out their sweetness. This dish can be prepared in advance and served hot, cold or at room temperature, but its assembly should be done just before serving so the toasted coriander seeds and roasted pistachios retain their crunch.

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8 small beets (about 2 pounds total)
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ground coriander
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 tsp whole coriander seeds
1 tsp grated lemon rind
⅔ cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
¼ cup roughly chopped roasted pistachios

Heat the oven to 400 F

Peel the beets, halve them, then cut each half into 4 wedges. Toss the beets with 2 tablespoons oil and the ground coriander on a rimmed baking sheet. Season generously with salt and pepper and spread out in an even layer.
Roast, tossing once halfway through, until almost fully tender, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, toast the coriander seeds in a small skillet over medium, shaking the skillet, until golden and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
Set aside.
Season the yoghurt with salt and pepper, stir in the lemon rind and spread it on a platter.
Add the remaining olive oil and the balsamic to the roasted beets and toss to coat; season. Arrange the beets and their juices over the yoghurt.
Sprinkle with the chopped pistachios and toasted coriander seeds.
Serve warm or at room temperature.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegetable sides

Yoghurt beet dip

March 12, 2019September 7, 2022 Belinda

This fuchsia-colored dip is so visually beautiful and even better eaten smeared on bread or endive leaves. The tang from the vinegar and yoghurt balances perfectly with the earthy sweetness of the beets.

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Serves 6

1 medium beet, cooked and peeled
1 cup Greek yoghurt
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp Kosher salt, or to taste
1 tsp dried mint
1 tsp finely chopped fresh tarragon
Olive oil for drizzling

Into a medium bowl, grate the cooked beet on the large holes of a box grater.
Add the rest of the ingredients except the olive oil and mix well to combine.
Taste to make it delicious, keeping in mind that the flavors will deepen as the dip rests.
Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour for the flavors to develop.
Stir, drizzle with olive oil before serving.

Do ahead
You can prepare this up to 3 days in advance in an airtight container.
If the yoghurt “weeps” just stir in together again and drizzle with a little olive oil before serving.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Vegan · Whole30 compliant

Meet my beets.

March 4, 2019July 23, 2019 Belinda

This is such a lovely (and quick) recipe with a really super combination of flavors

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Recipe and photo c/o Lakshmi Sundar on the website “Food 52”

Serves: 4
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min

2-3 beets
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, cleaned
4 tbsp freshly grated coconut (or 2 tbsp coconut milk)
1 tsp mustard seeds
1-2 dried chili pods
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
1 tsp salt (or to taste)

Wash and peel the beets and cut into small cubes.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add the mustard seeds and dried chili pods to the hot oil.
When the mustard seeds start popping, add the beets, salt, and turmeric powder. Stir, cover and cook till the beets are cooked, yet crunchy (about 10-15 minutes).
Add the spinach, fresh coconut or coconut milk and toss a few times.
Serve

Do-ahead · Fish · Gluten Free

Salmon with beet, feta and lime salsa

June 7, 2018September 7, 2022 Belinda

As we go into summer, I’m always on the lookout for light, interesting food and this recipe is from the BBC and is a super combination of flavors. SO easy too!

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This recipe is for 2, but very easily augmented

2 fillets of skinned salmon fillet, about 5 oz each
1/2 lb cooked beets. (I roast mine in foil with balsamic vinegar and orange juice) after peeling and halving them, but you can certainly buy ready cooked ones.
3 oz Greek feta cheese (not crumbled)
2 limes
A little fresh thyme for garnish

Chop the cooked beets and feta into small cubes and mix with the juice and zest of 1 good sized lime. Add seasoning

Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a non-stick frying pan over a high heat.
When hot, add the salmon, skinned-side down and cook for 3 minutes.
Flip over, turn the heat down and cook for a further 4 – 5 minutes until it starts to flake with you cut through it.

Serve the beet salsa and the remaining lime cut into wedges. Sprinkle a few florets of fresh thyme over the salsa.

Dessert · Do-ahead

Beet panna cotta with Meyer lemon mousse

March 2, 2015September 7, 2022 Belinda

What a surprise to see this recipe! It is sensational and the sweetness of the beets is perfect in the panna cotta, especially when slowly simmered in the cream, producing the most wonderful deep purple color. Do try it!!

Servings: 6
Beet Panna Cotta

½ lb red beets, peeled, cut into ½” pieces
2 cups heavy cream
½ tsp kosher salt
1 tsp unflavored powdered gelatin
3 tbsp honey
½ tsp vanilla extract

Meyer Lemon Mousse

1 tbsp finely grated Meyer lemon zest
½ cup fresh Meyer lemon juice
½ cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces, divided
½ cup sugar, divided
4 large egg yolks
1 large egg
½ cup chilled heavy cream

You will need six 8 oz glasses or ramekins

Bring the beets, cream, and salt to a simmer over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce the heat and simmer very gently until the beets are tender, 25–30 minutes. Let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, combine the gelatin and 2 Tbsp cold water in a blender; let sit 5 minutes for the gelatin to soften.
Transfer the beets and their cooking liquid to blender; add the honey and vanilla and purée until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard the solids.
Divide the purée among the glass dishes and chill until set, 3½–4 hours.

Do Ahead: Panna cotta can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

Meyer lemon mousse

Bring the lemon zest and juice, ¼ cup butter, and ¼ cup sugar to a simmer over medium heat in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat.
Whisk the egg yolks, egg, and remaining ¼ cup sugar in a small bowl until pale and thick, about 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, slowly pour the hot lemon mixture into the egg mixture.
Transfer back to the saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the curd is thickened and the whisk leaves a trail, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the remaining ¼ cup butter, whisking until melted and the curd is smooth.
Transfer the curd to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly onto the surface. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours.
When ready to serve, whisk the cream in a small bowl to soft peaks and gently fold into the curd. Spoon the mousse over the panna cotta.

Do Ahead: The lemon curd can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

Appetizer Vegetarian

Beet carpaccio with blue cheese mousse.

February 3, 2014March 7, 2016 Belinda

So light and the mix of blue cheese and beets with a dash of walnut oil and white balsamic is superb!

Serves 4
2 oz good blue cheese, crumbled
1 oz cream cheese, softened
kosher salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup cooked and sliced asparagus, cut on a bias into 1/2 inch pieces
2 medium beets
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
1/3 cup heavy cream
3 tbsp walnut oil
3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar

Preheat the oven to 400 F

Combine the blue cheese and cream cheese together in a small bowl and set aside.

Wash the beets under cold water to remove any dirt, then wrap them in a large piece of alumium foil.
Set the pouch on a baking sheet and bake until easily pierced with a fork, about 45 to 55 mins.

Place the heavy cream in a chilled metal mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream into soft peaks. Use a spatula to fold a small bit of the whipped cream into the blue cheese mixture to lighten it. Then add the remaining whipped cream and gently fold until no streaks remain. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

In a small bowl, combine the chives and white balsamic vinegar.
Slowly drizzle in the walnut oil, whisking continuously, to create a vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Peel the skin off the cooked beets once they are cool enough to handle.
Slice the beets very thinly on a mandoline or as thin as possible with a sharp knife.
They must be paper thin. Use gloves or your hands will be bright red!

Arrange 4 to 5 slices of beet in a circle or in a row on a plate.
Use 2 spoons to form a quenelle or football shaped dollop of the blue cheese mousse.
Set this in the center of the beets.
Sprinkle the asparagus pieces around the plate, then drizzle with the walnut vinaigrette.
Season with a final sprinkle of salt