Growing up I had weird tastes for a kid. Of course there were a few normal kid-repellers that I didn’t like (such as Brussels sprouts and sauerkraut), but there were also a few that I did enjoy, namely, beets. (Beets are a funny thing…I’ve found that most babies love them, most kids hate them, and most adults will eat them. What a vicious cycle!)
I remember my dad and my sister complaining whenever my mom made beets…and my mom and I would be ecstatic because that meant more for us. To make the beets, my mom would boil them and serve them very simply with butter, salt, and pepper. Instead of boiling them, I like to use the oven so I don’t have to watch them on the stovetop; also, right before serving I add fresh lemon juice and green herbs because I think they really brighten up the beets’ earthiness. And my mom always cut them in cubes, so when I’m eating them as their own side dish (instead of in a salad), that’s how I do it (mom always knows best, right? ;) ).
Simply Prepared Beets
(Yield: 2 servings)
3 medium-sized beets, washed and trimmed of stems and root
2 tsp butter
Fresh lemon wedges
Minced fresh green herbs, such as chives, parsley, or dill
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 400F. Place beets in a deep casserole dish and add a splash of water to coat the bottom of the pan by about 1/4-inch; sprinkle a little salt and pepper on top. Cover pan with a tight fitting lid or with foil; roast until beets are tender, about 1 hour. (Beets are done when you insert a sharp paring knife into the center and it slips right out.) Let the beets sit until they’re cool enough to handle.
Peel the beets (the peel will come right off if you rub it a little), and slice or cut them into any shape you like. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat; add beets and a sprinkle of salt and pepper and cook until warm throughout. (Or you can caramelize the beets by adding a little canola or olive oil to the butter (or just using oil instead of the butter), cooking over medium-high heat, and letting them cook a bit longer to caramelize.)
Serve garnished with minced fresh green herbs, alongside fresh lemon wedges to squeeze on top.
Getting ready to cook…beets aren’t the prettiest veggie, but they sure are some of the sweetest…
I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen says
January 26, 2011 at 5:06 pmI’m not much of a beet eater (I must still be in that “kid phase”), but this actually makes me want to try! Love the simple fresh flavors :)
Rosa says
January 26, 2011 at 5:58 pmOne of my favorite root veggies! Simple, but delicious.
cheers,
Rosa
Erica says
January 26, 2011 at 6:32 pmBeets are a love it or hate it food! I love them, Josh hates them ;) I usually order them out at restaurants. I love them on top of a salad (simply) or as chips! Yours look beautiful- the color is stunning
Mary says
January 26, 2011 at 6:45 pmI love beets. They always remind of garnets and I have no objection to jewels on my plate :-). I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
lequan says
January 26, 2011 at 6:50 pmSeriously, upon seeing your beets picture I ran downstairs and grabbed some sweet pickled beets to chomp on. Needless to say, I love beets. They are kind of ugly before cooking, but have such beautiful colour after cooking. I’ve never tried beets your way before, it sounds wonderful! I’ll have to try it some day. Thank you for sharing, Faith.
Sharon says
January 26, 2011 at 7:19 pmYour beets look wonderful! Great photos and I’m lovin’ the colours! I would say I’d love to try them but I don’t actually like beets lol. The only time I’ve ever tried them was when my mom juiced RAW beets and made us drink the juice. Which really wasn’t good and has completely put me off them ever since. I will have to actually step out and try them sometime!
Magic of Spice says
January 26, 2011 at 7:20 pmI have always enjoyed beets, and I love these…beautiful :)
BeadedTail says
January 26, 2011 at 7:46 pmI love beets but my husband doesn’t but he might actually try these! My grandma used to make pickled beets and jar them so they always remind me of her.
Lisa says
January 26, 2011 at 7:52 pmYour beets are seriously beautiful :)
I hated beets when I was young, but I really really love them now. I prepared them similarly to you. Then I let them cool to room temp and chunk them up on top of a salad with goat cheese!
Yum!
swathi says
January 26, 2011 at 8:09 pmsimple beets looks delicious, my hubby and little one even eat raw beets. I like to eat cooked beet with some touch of coconut.
Blond Duck says
January 26, 2011 at 8:18 pmI’ve never had beets. I’ll have to try these!
A Canadian Foodie says
January 26, 2011 at 8:22 pmYUM.
I LOVE beets. With lemon is so good… and with balsamic and caraway is good – my favourite is goat cheese. YUM!
:)
Valerie
Cyndi @ Weightless Life says
January 26, 2011 at 8:29 pmI’m not a huge fan of beets, but your photos are beautiful, and are making me change my mind.
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says
January 26, 2011 at 8:44 pmMy mom fixed beets in a similar way, but she also sprinkled just a bit of sugar on the buttered beets. I love them fixed like this and also pickled. Hubby HATES them though, so I have to cook them when he’s not in the house. They’re so pretty!
Biren @ Roti n Rice says
January 26, 2011 at 8:50 pmI’ve only started cooking beets recently. I do like them but the guys will not touch them. I guess I’ll have to roast just two or three for myself. Adding fresh herbs is a great idea! The lemon wedges give a nice contrast of colors.
Carol says
January 26, 2011 at 8:51 pmThey look so good. We love beets! Any which way!
Dana says
January 26, 2011 at 8:53 pmI only started liking beets in the past few years, but I don’t just like them… I LOVE them! moms do know best… that sounds like a great way to make them!
Priscilla - She's Cookin' says
January 26, 2011 at 10:15 pmRoasted beets are a fave! Simply delicious :)
Nisa Homey says
January 26, 2011 at 11:13 pmThis sounds a great way to make beets…checkout my beetroot masala dosa…traditional south Indian breakfast http://nisahomey.blogspot.com/2010/12/masala-dosathe-indian-coffee-house.html
Veronica says
January 27, 2011 at 12:59 amOh, I love beets! I’ve only ever eaten them from a can, though. For shame, right??? I must be making my own. Yours sound great and I love that you cut them the same way your mom did. Yes, mom knows best!
Angie's Recipes says
January 27, 2011 at 1:17 amNever had a beetroot when I was a kid…actually I eat them because they are nutritious and healthy. :-))
Katerina says
January 27, 2011 at 3:28 amMy picky son loves beets. he finds it very funny how his tongue turns red. I didn’t like them as a kid but I just love them as an adult. I make them with a sauce of yogurt and garlic and can’t stop eating them. Yours look beautiful as well.
Priya says
January 27, 2011 at 5:27 amLove this preserved beets in salad..
Barbara says
January 27, 2011 at 6:45 amOh yeah! I make beets like this all the time, Faith. So sweet. Simple, simple to let those flavors shine through!
Julie M. says
January 27, 2011 at 7:15 amI haven’t had beets in forever. Just like you said, I remember not liking them as a child. I think it’s stuck with me and I haven’t ventured back since. You make them look so beautiful and tasty; it’s got me thinking I really need to explore the world of beets again!
Rich says
January 27, 2011 at 7:54 amSimply prepared beets? Simply delicious! … Okay, I know, that wasn’t clever. But still, those do look outstanding!
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
January 27, 2011 at 8:03 amBeets are interesting vegetables. I love the color and texture, but the flavor never appealed to me. I haven’t eaten them in years and should try them again at some point. Our tastes can change over time. I, too, hated Brussel sprouts as a child; now, they’re my favorite vegetable.
Crustabakes says
January 27, 2011 at 8:47 amI love the dark purple colour of the beets! Those are some really nice pictures u got there! i bet the beets taste delicious!
kalli says
January 27, 2011 at 9:01 amso funny because i HATED beets as a child and now i love them :) this recipe looks fabulous. i would make it but my husband can’t stomach beets. true to say what another commentor said-you either love them or hate them. have a great day Faith!
Joanne says
January 27, 2011 at 9:17 amI’ve actually found very few ways that I really like beets but I’m betting this would be one of them. It is faith-approved after all!
Emily Z says
January 27, 2011 at 9:49 amI didn’t like Brussels sprouts either as a kid. As an adult I refuse to eat them. I don’t have a strong opinion on beets, I can eat them, but they’re not something I eat often. Usually when my mom cooks them at a holiday gathering or something. Yours look delicious, and make me want to try them again! :)
Lu @ Done Dieting says
January 27, 2011 at 10:04 amThose beets look amazing. I’m a huge fan of them. I can’t wait to try this recipe at home.
Steve @ HPD says
January 27, 2011 at 10:25 amI loved beets but until recently had never made them myself. So the other day I was at Whole Foods and thought I’d pick up some. Saw this one golden beet that must have weighed eight pounds. I thought, simple, wrap the one beet in foil and roast it, dice it up, serve. Didn’t realize that an eight pound beet would take about 3 hours to cook! Cheers!
Beth says
January 27, 2011 at 10:26 amI’ll have to give beets another try. I have a preconception that I don’t like them, but I also used to think I didn’t like sweet potatoes. And now I love them!
Evelyne@CheapEthnicEatz says
January 27, 2011 at 11:04 amRoasting the beets is definitely the way to go versus boiling. I love your simple presentation and how you stick to mom’s way ;-) Now I feel like having a bortsch.
5 Star Foodie says
January 27, 2011 at 12:02 pmI’ve always loved beets since childhood, but my family doesn’t so much, so I don’t get to eat them so often, but i do make them for myself sometimes :)
Maria @ Scandifoodie says
January 27, 2011 at 12:40 pmBeets are good no matter what! Love their earthy flavour!
Lucy says
January 27, 2011 at 12:59 pmI haven’t tried beets that much, but after trying them for the first time recently I was proud to say I like them! The colour is so beautiful and this looks delicious :)
Mia says
January 27, 2011 at 2:11 pmI was away from home for a short time and in the hostel fell in love with beets , something i used to not even look at!
Love them now and they used to simply make it to , with finely sliced onion , salt and a dash of vinegar and lime!
Oh how i loveeed it with their beef stew:-)
I loveee what u do here and also what u had in ur growing years, ur moms way!
Krista says
January 27, 2011 at 2:18 pmBeets have always been a fave of mine. But I’m the only one who likes them in my house…..
Louanne says
January 27, 2011 at 3:09 pmI had weird tastes, too. I always loved beets (canned, even!) we ate them cold, with a vinaigrette. Now, like you, I roast them. My sister never ate them, still doesn’t – she says they taste like dirt!
Raina says
January 27, 2011 at 5:25 pmCan you believe I have never had a beet? For some reason, it was just not something anyone in my family made. The way you prepare them sounds delicious and I would love to try them. Funny how people have different tastes and then sometimes our tastes do change as we get older. Sounds like your mom does know best:)
Anna Johnston says
January 27, 2011 at 7:44 pmBeets are such stunning little charmers on a plate, love the addition of lemon & herbs to add to the whole beet experience too :)
Megan says
January 27, 2011 at 7:45 pmI love beets! But I also loved brussel sprouts as a kid.
Hmmm, was I the odd child?
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy says
January 27, 2011 at 8:00 pmI love to eat beets as salads and in curries too.I like the choice of herbs that u have used.And for me..lemon makes everything yum!
Aipi says
January 27, 2011 at 8:47 pmReal treat to eyes, fabulous and beautifully done..
US Masala
Reeni says
January 27, 2011 at 9:26 pmI have always loved beets Faith! This preparation sounds simple and delicious! I hardly ever eat them warm – usually do an oil and vinegar dressing and chill them. But I need to try them like this.
Carolyn Jung says
January 28, 2011 at 8:49 pmRoasting beets is the best method to caramelize their natural sugars. They become candy-like. Whenever I hear people whine about hating beets, it’s usually because they’ve only had the canned variety. Once they try the real-deal, roasted, they are converts. ;)
Sara says
January 29, 2011 at 3:59 pmLove Beets! So simple but taste Delicious!
emiglia says
January 31, 2011 at 6:41 pmGorgeous pictures! I was one of those weird kids too… loved beets, brussels sprouts, broccoli…
Linda Wagner - Nutrition to Invigorate Mind, Body & Spirit says
February 8, 2011 at 11:36 pmoooooh beets!!
I simply adore beets! I usually bake mine in the oven then slice and top with goat cheese. Simple and delish!!