39 beetroot recipes that taste as good as they look (2024)

In a world of ugly-delicious root vegetables, beetroots are the rainbow-coloured stunners of the table.

Jul 07, 2023 7:00am

Grated raw, roasted whole or blitzed in a borsch, with beetroot season comes a world of possibilities. From a roast beetroot recipe that makes for an excellent side dish to dessert beetroot recipes such as beetroot chocolate mud cakes, the vibrant root vegetable is versatile in our eyes.

Here we have beetroot recipes for all occasions, be it beetroot salads, beetroot-cured ocean trout, vegetarian beetroot kebabs or beetroot and chocolate brownies.

These are our best beetroot recipes.

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Lemon-scented labneh with fig and beetroot

Photo: Chris Court

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Lamb, beetroot and walnut with herb dressing

Photo: James Moffatt

3 / 0

Hasselback beetroot with cabbage and dukkah

Photo: Jessica Brook

4 / 0

Roasted beetroot carpaccio

Photo: Con Poulos

5 / 0

Photo: James Moffatt

6 / 0

Lamb kofta with beetroot salad

Photo: Ben Dearnley

7 / 0

Kelda Haines's goat's cheese, beetroot and blackberry salad

Photo: Ben Dearnley

8 / 0

Analiese Gregory's roasted beetroot with bottarga and crème fraîche

Photo: Adam Gibson

9 / 0

Lentil and speck soup with beetroot slaw

Photo: William Meppem

10 / 0

Danielle Alvarez's beetroot and carrot mezzalune with leek, hazelnut and poppy seeds

Photo: William Meppem

11 / 0

Supermaxi's battered beetroot and cauliflower

Photo: Sharyn Cairns

12 / 0

Beetroot-cured ocean trout with buttermilk and soft herbs

Photo: William Meppem

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Steak with sweet and sour beetroot and horseradish crème fraiche

Photo: Chris Chen

15 / 0

Burgers with pickled beetroot

Photo: Ben Dearnley

16 / 0

Baked beetroot with cream and thyme sauce

Photo: Ben Dearnley

17 / 0

Beetroot, radicchio, Gorgonzola and toasted walnut salad

Photo: William Meppem

18 / 0

Anna Maria Eoclidi's tortelli caramelle

Photo: Ben Dearnley

19 / 0

Peter Kuruvita's beetroot curry

Photo: Alan Benson

20 / 0

Shawarma-spiced roast lamb leg with beetroot sauce

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Smoked mackerel smorrebrod with beetroot salad

Photo: William Meppem

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Cannellini bean and beetroot salad

Photo: William Meppem

23 / 0

Andrew McConnell's red endive and beetroot salad with juniper and horseradish cream

Photo: Mark Roper

24 / 0

Stir-fried beetroot leaves with coconut and spices

Photo: Alicia Taylor

25 / 0

Burnt beetroot carpaccio

Photo: Ben Dearnley

26 / 0

Beetroot kebabs with labne and dukkah

Photo: Mark Roper

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Warm cauliflower, chickpea and beetroot salad

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Roast beetroot and blood orange salad

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Roasted beets and onions with yoghurt, quinoa and walnuts

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Beetroot salad with sweet and sour dressing

Photo: Chris Court

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Borsch

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Frank Camorra's calamari cooked in olive oil with spiced beetroot salad

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Three Blue Ducks' beetroot and chocolate with burnt orange

Photo: William Meppem

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Beetroot soup with smoked trout and dill

Photo: William Meppem

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Beetroot, feta and lentil salad

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Smashed beetroot, quinoa, egg and avocado salad

Photo: William Meppem

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Sumac lamb cutlets with beetroot hummus

Photo: William Meppem

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Spiced beetroot seed cake with rapadura frosting

Photo: William Meppem

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Beetroot brownies with ginger crème fraîche

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Carpaccio of kangaroo with beetroot and native fruits

Photo: Chris Court

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Roast beetroot with shankleesh, onion, almonds and dill

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Beetroot, chickpea and za'atar salad

Photo: Ben Dearnley

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Beetroot salad with barley and hazelnut

Photo: Alicia Taylor

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39 beetroot recipes that taste as good as they look (2024)

FAQs

What is the most delicious way to eat beets? ›

You can use cooked beets in salads, to make hummus or to blend into smoothies. They can be diced for slaw, quartered for a grain bowl or mashed to make a dip or spread. Their thick and chewy texture is even great in a galette or quesadilla.

How do you make beetroot taste good? ›

If you're boiling them, add plenty of salt (as if you were boiling pasta) and about a quarter-cup of red wine vinegar to the water. If you're roasting, you can adjust the flavors afterwards. Try marinating them with citrus zest, garlic, scallion, vinegar, and again, plenty of salt.

How do you make beets more flavorful? ›

Roasting brings out their natural sweetness, which is enhanced by a drizzle honey and balsamic vinegar. Roasting beets also give them the best texture (not mushy like boiled beets). Roasted beets taste like vegetable candy, and are so delicious my kids love them too!

Why do I feel better after eating beets? ›

Beets are high in nitrates which research suggests improve cardiovascular health in several ways. Some studies show beetroot juice supplementation may lower blood pressure and increase blood flow. It increases oxygen uptake, lengthening the time it takes to become fatigued, which allows people to stay active longer.

What is the healthiest way to eat red beets? ›

Eating beets raw or juicing and roasting them may be more beneficial than boiling them. Beetroots, commonly known as beets, are a vibrant and versatile type of vegetable. They're known for their earthy flavor and aroma. Many people call them a superfood because of their rich nutritional profile.

Why do you put vinegar on beetroot? ›

Beets are naturally sweet and earthy, making them a versatile vegetable to incorporate into your meals. By adding vinegar to the boiling process, you can elevate the flavors of beets and give them a delightful tangy kick.

Should beetroot be eaten raw or boiled? ›

Their health benefits include improved heart health and enhanced exercise capacity, both of which are attributed to their inorganic nitrate content. Beets are sweet and especially delicious when mixed in salads. Easy to prepare, they can be eaten raw, boiled, or baked.

How do you make beets taste like meat? ›

Cure your vegetables as you would a piece of meat for a couple of days. This can be achieved by rubbing the vegetable or mushroom with salt at a concentration of 1.75% of the vegetable's weight, wrapping it tightly in plastic or vacuum sealing it, and letting it sit in the fridge for 2-3 days.

How do you make beets more palatable? ›

My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole.

Do you add sugar in beetroot? ›

Adding sugar to a beet can affect the flavor and texture of the beet in a few different ways: Flavor: Sugar can enhance the natural sweetness of a beet and balance out its earthy flavor. Texture: Sugar can affect the texture of a beet by making it softer and more tender.

Do you peel beets before cooking? ›

You don't have to peel your beets, but I do recommend trimming them: just the tops and (if they have them) long tips at the bottom. You can save the beet greens for sautéing as a side dish, adding to pasta, etc.

Why vinegar is added in water for boiling beetroot? ›

Directions. Place the beets in a large saucepan and add water to cover and the lemon juice or vinegar. This will help to keep the beets from bleeding. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Are beets better steamed or roasted? ›

Beets take about the same time to steam as they do to roast, and it's a good option if you don't want to heat up your kitchen with the oven. But I find that roasted beets have a richer flavor.

Is it better to eat beets raw or cooked? ›

Raw beets contain more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than cooked beets (yes, you can eat beets raw!). Like many vegetables, the longer you cook beets—especially in water—the more the colorful phytonutrients leach out of the food and into the water.

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