The Great Veggie Experiment: Beets!

So I finally got around to trying the beets.  I bought them at the farmer’s market, and that particular vendor had 3 different kinds of beets:  The regular red beets, target beets, and white beets.  Since I wasn’t really a fan of the possibility of stains, I chose the white beets.  She also said they were the sweetest and people ate them like apples (??)

Here is my little beet:

I went ahead and peeled it, just for cleanliness sake.   I decided to lick the beet to taste test:

It was fairly nondescript and slightly sweet.  Then I sliced it in half.  Look how pretty the concentric rings are:

I diced the beet up and ate a cube raw.  It was crunchy and kind of sweet, so I had high hopes that I would like it roasted.

I also roasted some chopped parsnips with this.  Tossed in a little coconut oil with salt and pepper and roasted until caramely looking:

The verdict?  Nope.  There was a taste after cooking that was not there raw.  I can’t describe it, but it was somewhat pungently sweet.  I really had hoped I would like these, but it was not to be.  I ended up picking out the parsnips and eating them LOL!

I might try some raw if they presented on a plate to me, but otherwise I’ll pass.

21 thoughts on “The Great Veggie Experiment: Beets!”

  4. cammy@TippyToeDiet

    Thanks for being our experimenter! I know I should try these, but I haven’t found that special motivation.

    Hmmm, I didn’t like parsnips or brussels sprouts, and you do, so I wonder if that means I’ll actually like the beets? It’s worth a try!
    .-= cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Breaking News!! =-.

  5. Shelley B

    I think a little bit of Lynn Bering’s soul just died with this post…;)

    Never tried white beets – last time I tried a red one it tasted like dirt – and this was at a fancy-schmancy country club dinner.
    .-= Shelley B´s last blog ..Joe Conway Memorial 5K Run =-.

  7. Andra

    I love beets! Golden beets are my favorite, but even the red and purple ones are so worth the mess. I wrap them in foil and toss them on the grill about a half hour before I’m going to cook whatever meat we’ll be having. Let them cool a bit, peel, slice and toss with homemade vinaigrette. I can’t wait until we pluck the first beets from the garden.
    .-= Andra´s last blog ..Strawberry Pop Tarts vs. Real Strawberries =-.

  10. kwithme

    I love beets. I roast them, toss them with a bit of greek dressing and then eat cold with feta cheese. I also like them warm and roasted as a side. I don’t think I would like them with parsnips though. I like parsnips better with onions and turnips.

  11. kilax

    I didn’t even know there are more than one kind of beets! I have been wanting to experiement with the red ones. Guess I should stay away from these!

  12. debby

    I’ve never heard of or seen white beets. But I am of the camp that thinks vegetables should stay their original (or most popular) color. No orange tomatoes for me!

    But I also can’t believe there are people who don’t like beets. My dad doesn’t like them. But I absolutely love them, and in fact, thanks for the reminder to roast some today–I will have them on my salad tonight!
    .-= debby´s last blog ..What’s it All About, Anyway? =-.

  15. Jo

    I feel the need to defend beets (or beetroot, as they’re called in my part of the world). The red ones are a wonderful thing when properly prepared. I think they’re one of those vegetables whose reputations suffer because of a history of being cooked using the wrong methods. A roasted beetroot with feta and lentils on a bed of lettuce and dressed with a balsamic vinagrette is a thing of beauty 🙂
    .-= Jo´s last blog ..Eleven, exercise and enchiladas =-.

  17. Pubsgal

    I hate canned beets, and I always thought I didn’t like them, but I recently tried roasting them and oh yum! Not quite as good to me as butternut squash, but still pretty tasty. I like making borscht with them. (But, like you, I’ve been put off by the mess of red beets, so I’ll have to give the white ones a try.)

    Have you tried jicima? Your description of white beets reminded me of it.

    Oh, and to answer the query of raw beets, our Whole Foods has shredded raw beets in the salad bar. I can only imagine how messy that would be to prepare.
    .-= Pubsgal´s last blog ..What are you doing here…. =-.

  18. Jo

    My mom used to eat red beets all the time. Must-have on a salad. She’s been gone 17 years and i haven’t had contact with one since. lol I may just have to try them. When I was a kid, my grandma lived near a sugar beet factory–where they made sugar. We would drive by huge piles of beets. Must be why mom loved them so much, they were a daily thing growing up for her. =)
    .-= Jo´s last blog ..Car Ride =-.

  20. Irene

    Red beet is absolutely delicious, only problem people don’t want to cook them “because it is a mess”. No, it’s not a mess, here’s how:
    Boil beet until just soft (young small beets are the best)
    Drain the water, peel by just pulling skins off, cut in half or quarters.
    Drizzle with olive oil (virgin or extra virgin), toss around to cover all
    Sprincle with course salt and serve.
    Beet is one of the best veggies to help with healthy liver, as is carrots.
    Grate raw beet, carrots, shread iceberg lettuce and wrap in rice paper with cold cooked chicken strips/shrimp. Mix Sweet chilli cauce and peanut butter as a sauce on side, and enjoy! Hope to get some responses to these recipes, both my favorites.

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