Beets are great in salads, soups, and so much more and are a sweet root vegetable.
I like to use beets to top my salad with a variety of other delicious vegetables, fruits, and nuts that complement them.
Check out all our suggestions and lists of herbs, spices, and recipes to make the perfect roasted, boiled, steamed, or even air-fried beets.
Keep it simple but change your toppings and seasonings to keep that spice of life.
We all know how boring salads can be without changing them up occasionally
I have lots of suggestions for you!
Easy Ways To Cook Beets
There are several ways to cook beets, we have instructions for boiled, steamed, air fried, oven roasted.
Using fresh herbs, the right spices and how to clean them are all here in this post.
Just scroll through the steps and pick a cooking method, the right spices for your taste buds and tips we have below.
Other Vegetables that taste great with Beets
- Beets taste great with other root vegetables like carrots, onions, or radishes
- Some greens that are perfect with beets are arugula, cabbage, celery, scallions, cucumber, fennel, endive, spinach, and avocado.
How to Clean Roasted Beets
- cut off the beet greens about 1 inch above the root
- if you don't cook them right away don't wash them first they will decompose quickly
- before you cook them scrub beets in cold water with a vegetable brush wash and clean removing all loose dirt and use a knife to cut off the stem
- the skin actually comes off easily when the beets are cooked so need to peel them first
- store in zip-lock bags or sealed containers after cooking
Beet Greens
The tops of beet greens actually have more iron than spinach.
Beets are rich in vitamins A, C, and calcium and can ward off osteoporosis.
I have osteoporosis and one of the reasons why I am a big fan of golden beets (shown below) and leafy tops!
The Sweetest Vegetable On Earth
Beets have natural sugar, they are the sweetest vegetable on earth.
Therefore, still eat them in moderation, although a vegetable, eat them as a treat.
Cooking Methods:
- steaming: steaming beets is the healthiest cooking method using a steamer they will retain most of their vitamins the boiling will remove and stay vibrant in color
- roasting: preheat the oven to 400 degrees Place the beets on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Season them and spray them with cooking oil. Roast for about 35-45 minutes
- microwave: place them in a microwave-safe dish add around 1/2 cup water and place a paper towel or cloth towel on top to cover cook on high for around 5 minutes or until a fork goes through easily
- air-fry: preheat to 375 degrees and oil spray the basket. Air fry for 20 minutes, turn or shake them in the basket halfway through. Pierce with a fork to see if it goes in easily
- boiling: boil in salt water for around 45 minutes add a little lemon juice to the water
Try Some of My Other Favorite Recipes
Best Side Dishes and Appetizers
Cranberries Brussels Sprouts
Holiday Side Dishes
Seasoning to Put on Roasted Beets
- allspice
- cumin
- cinnamon
- pepper
- paprika
- caraway seeds
- fresh or dried herbs such as thyme, tarragon, dill, parsley, mint, basil, or coriander
Sweet Beets and Perfect Side Dish or on Salads
- salad is terrific with beets with the additions of beet greens and these fruits complement salads also apple, blueberry,
- shredded carrots, diced cucumber, mandarin oranges, blood oranges, raisins
- fennel, garlic, mint, lemon, lettuce, onion, parsnip, radicchio, zucchini shredded,
- nuts and herbs, almonds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower, roasted chestnut, pistachios, walnuts,
- beets can be used in smoothies, added to slaw, soups, and beet cake recipes
Cooking Fresh Beets
Ingredients
- Roasted Beets (see instructions for other cooking methods and add seasoning after cooking or other suggestions under notes)
- 6 whole beets red or golden
- salt, and pepper to taste
- olive oil
- granulated garlic powder
- foil or parchment paper
- Easy Beet Soup:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- salt, and pepper to taste
- 3 medium beets, peeled and halved
- 1 potato cubed
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 thyme sprigs
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup of sour cream and more for serving
Instructions
- Prepare and clean beets under note instructions.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Leave them whole.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil (I like foil for heat retention)
- Drizzle evenly and lightly with olive oil, granulated garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Fold up the parchment or foil to seal.
- Roast in the oven for around 1 hour or until a fork goes through them easily.
- Easy Beet Soup Instructions:
- Using a cast iron soup pot, melt the butter and saute the onion until translucent in butter.
- Add the broth with beets, herbs spices, and potatoes do not add vinegar in this step.
- Simmer for 30 minutes or until tender.
- Remove the bay leaf. and throw it away.
- Place the soup in a food processor or use an immersion blender until smooth.
- Return to the pot add the vinegar and fold in around 1/2 cup of sour cream.
- Simmer for around 2 more minutes.
- Serve with more sour cream on top if desired.
Notes
How to Clean Roasted Beets
- cut off the beet greens about 1 inch above the root
- if you don't cook them right away don't wash them first they will decompose quickly
- before you cook them scrub beets in cold water with a vegetable brush wash and clean removing all loose dirt and use a knife to cut off the stem
- the skin actually comes off easily when the beets are cooked so need to peel them first
- store in zip-lock bags or sealed containers after cooking
Cooking Methods:
- steaming: steaming beets is the healthiest cooking method using a steamer they will retain most of their vitamins the boiling will remove and stay vibrant in color
- roasting: preheat the oven to 400 degrees Place the beets on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Season them and spray them with cooking oil. Roast for about 35-45 minutes
- microwave: place them in a microwave-safe dish add around 1/2 cup water and place a paper towel or cloth towel on top to cover cook on high for around 5 minutes or until a fork goes through easily
- air-fry: preheat to 375 degrees and oil spray the basket. Air fry for 20 minutes, turn or shake them in the basket halfway through. Pierce with a fork to see if it goes in easily
- boiling: boil in salt water for around 45 minutes add a little lemon juice to the water
Seasoning to Put on Roasted Beets
- allspice
- cumin
- cinnamon
- pepper
- paprika
- caraway seeds
- fresh or dried herbs such as thyme, tarragon, dill, parsley, mint, basil, or coriander
Things to add to a Beet Salad:
Things to add to a Beet Salad:
Roasted Beet recipe see below eat 3 to 4 slices on your salad
Hearts of Palm drained and rinsed
Any kind of tomato fresh chopped in small pieces no limit
Cucumbers as many as you can eat
Chopped red cabbage as much as you can eat
Sliced olives 1 teaspoon
Shredded carrots 1 tablespoon per salad
Snap peas 1/2 cup
Chickpeas 1/4 cup
Romaine, Spinach, Beet Greens, Arugula, or any kind of mixed greens or lettuce no limit
Artichoke Hearts canned drained no limit
Fresh corn on the cob 1 ear cooked and shucked
Chopped celery with no limit
Cheese in moderation preferably mozzarella or feta 2 tablespoons
Any kind of pepper with no limit
Optional: grilled shrimp, salmon, tuna, or any seafood you prefer
Raw chopped broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, butternut cooked squash no limit
Balsamic Vinegar 2 tablespoons
Olive oil 2 tablespoons
any herbs and spices you like
Nutrition Facts
Calories
58.08Fat (grams)
2.47Sat. Fat (grams)
0.34Carbs (grams)
8.31Fiber (grams)
2.34Net carbs
5.96Sugar (grams)
5.55Protein (grams)
1.42Sodium (milligrams)
65.26Cholesterol (grams)
0.01Pin For Later
Here are more Low Carb Recipes:
Low carb cauliflower mashed potatoes
3 ingredient Keto Peanut Butter Cookies
Low Carb Stuffed Peppers or Zucchini
No Baked Low Carb Cheese Pie