Hate ’em or Love ’em- Beets?
In food conversations, some dishes get normally unanimous approval and applause. Ice cream, cookies, chocolate, pork belly, brisket and rib eye steak normally spike up excitement in food talk. Sweets and quality meats always seem to be at the top of the list. But there are those select ingredients that can quickly divide the room in half and cause a few brows to frown. Beets are a good example.
We’re big fans of growing beets and eating beets from top to bottom. From fresh beet salad greens to roasted beet roots, these colorful tubers keep us busy and satisfied. Unfortunately, there’s another half of the population that can’t bear the taste or texture of beets. “Tastes like dirt!”
A friend of ours stays away from any root that makes him “pee red”. Freaked out the first time he ate beets as an adult. Thought he had internal hemorrhaging. The “unusual” color isn’t an argument we’ll contest with. Although, there are white beets to resolve this issue.
Another friend shrieks from the word “beets” because it brings back horrible memories of her grandmother forcing them to eat beets out of the can.
And then there’s a more daring group of pals that adore beets, in any shape or form. These are the peeps we talk and feed liberally when it comes to beets.
So our population of food friends seems to be pretty much split in half. There are the haters and the lovers and rarely does anyone ever sit on the fence when it comes to beets. You either will eat it, or pass it to Mikey.
What’s your take on beets? Are you a hater or lover?
Beet Lovers,
Diane and Todd
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I love red beets!! My favorite thing to do with them is to shred them in a food processor. The saute them with a little EVOO, toast some poppy seeds, grate a little pecorino parmesagan, cook some whole wheat angel hair pasta. Then throw everything into one bowl and gobble down. 🙂
I quite enjoy beets. And love the pickled beet eggs. Last year, as a personal challenge I made a beet hot sauce. I roasted the beets, onions, garlic, red peppers, hot peppers in the oven before proceeding. The color was phenomenal and even people who dislike beets liked this one.
I can’t understand how one would NOT love a beet. How?
I would love if you would share your favorite beet green recipes! I tried to sautee them once and it did not turn out so well.
LOVER.
haven’t tried a warm recipe that i loved but we’re pretty obsessed with them chilled in a little orange vinaigrette. trying them in the garden this year- we’ll see how they stand up to our red clay. but we won’t give up- if the ground is too hard we’ll grab some deck planters for sure- thanks for the tip!
LOVE BEETS – also love that I can get different colored ones at my farmers markets finally! Last year when I successfully got my teenage students to eat and enjoy them was the highlight of my career. How cool is a hot pink vegetable? I dont know why its not more popular with kids just for that reason alone!
Guess what, I am on the fench. I love beets that are pickled and will eat them almost every day but give me a plain roasted or boiled beet and I cringe, but I can take them or leave them raw. I have had them at a friend’s house that were roasted (I think they were) with african spices and that was very good.
I wish I knew if I hate or love them but truth be told, I’ve never had a beet before. I didn’t grow up with it and not having eaten them before, I just never tried ordering them whenever they are on a menu simply because I have no frame of reference for this vegetable… It’s hard to order something when you have no idea how it tastes, especially since you don’t know if you hate it or not. I’m not even sure I would be able to do it justice cooking it myself since I have no idea how a beet should properly taste…
LOVE beets! I am the only one in my family to love them and that is just fine by me because I don’t have to share.
I love them raw in salads – but my favorite way to eat them is using chioggias sliced raw and on buttered bread. Maybe a little sea salt. One of my fave snacks. Weird, huh?
I love beets! Though I’ve only been able to try the red variety, I’m sure I’d love any of them. The earthy taste and the color makes them taste even better. Gorgeous photos!
Gosh those are stunning pictures!
I used to hate beets, but I must admit, they grew on me. I love juicing them too.
Love ’em – didn’t used to though. Like Keith (above – or is that below?) my wife is Polish and they cook them in some great ways.
I’ve recently become a lover of beets. I never really cared for them, maybe it was the way they bled all over the place. But then one day I had an amazing roasted beet and goat cheese salad from the Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney and after that, I couldn’t get enough beets.
Love,but hated how my grandmother served them – in aspic.
Many many people grew up with the canned versions of beets, myself included. When I first roasted fresh beets, my reaction was surprisedly happy.
I love beets, but forget to add them to my diet. Roasted or whatever, bring ’em on. <3