Tell Me About it Tueday: beets

Despite being blessed with an easily pleased palate, there’s no denying that beets taste like dirt. I do not like beets, their noted sublime sweetness absolutely stupefies me–what I taste is minerally, earthy, and undesirable. But, I no longer want to be the girl that doesn’t like beets (the only food I opt to abstain from my diet). It seems the higher power(s) have granted my request, because low-and-behold I saw the magenta vegetable at among a sea of leafy greens at the farmers’ market Saturday. Was it fate? I’d like to think so. Well there I was with a bunch of beets and no clue how to cook them. I wanted to make something that hopefully masked their potent flavor and may even fool my tastebuds into actually enjoying the beets. I remembered my former professor’s love of Borsht, a beet stew. I found a recipe for Borsht at Eating Well, and decided to give it a try. It’s purple broth richened by beef stock and thickened with starchy potatoes is currently bubbling away on my stove.

While the soup thickens, I realize I am left with beautiful green leaves attached to delicate pink stems that haven’t been used. After a quick Google search, I learned beet greens are not only edible, but they are highly nutritious. So, as a graduated nutrition major, let me convey to you the facts about beets, the nutrition facts that is.

Beet Leaves and Stems- 1 cup

• Calories: 8
• Protein: 0.84 g
• Carbohydrates: 1.65 g
• Fiber: 1.4 g
• Sugars: 0.19 g
• Total Fat: 0.05 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.008 g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 0.010 g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.017 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Micronutrients: large amounts of Vitamin K and Vitamin A,  as well as large amount of the antioxidants beta carotene and lutein

Beets

• Calories: 58
• Protein: 2.19 g
• Carbohydrates: 13.00 g
• Fiber: 3.8 g
• Sugars: 9.19 g
• Total Fat: 0.23 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.037 g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 0.045 g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.083 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Micronutrients:  Calcium, Vitamin C, folate, and benatin (a phytochemical that’s praised for its immune function)

Beets are healthy, but I can’t help but wonder what gives them the dirt flavor, especially when they have the highest sugar content of any vegetable? From researching, I’ve determined it’s a simple preference, maybe genetically determined. Beets either taste sweet or earthy, it just depends on the consumer.

Here are some recipes I found for beets and beet greens

Beet Greens Daal
Beet Greens
Beet Green Casserole with Mozzarella Topping
Orange and Beet Salad
Borscht

Also, if you eat beets are your pee is beet-red, don’t freak out, don’t call 9-1-1, and don’t be embarassed, it’s  just beeturia–the betacyanin (what gives beets it’s luscious color) paired with iron-deficiency somehow results in red pee-pee.