Simple Greek Beets
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. red beets
with leaves attached
- 2-3 cloves garlic
chopped
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 lemons
- to tastesalt & pepper
Directions
- 1
Remove the leaves from the beets and set aside, leaving about one inch of the stem.
- 2
Scrub the beets gently to remove any dirt, but be careful not to break the skin.
- 3
Fill a large pot with water placed over medium heat. Once the water is boiling, gently add in your beets.
- 4
Reduce heat and boil until beets are tender when pierced with a knife. Large beets take about 40 minutes, medium beets 30 minutes and small beets 20 minutes.
- 5
While the beets are cooking, prepare the beet greens. Rinse the beet greens in a sink filled with cold water, repeat two more times with fresh water.
- 6
Cut away any stems that are heavy, and coarsely chop the greens.
- 7
Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil, Add the beet greens, and cook uncovered until tender.
- 8
Add the beet greens, and cook uncovered until tender. Drain the greens in a colander, then place the greens in a bowl. Add ¼ cup of olive oil, juice of one lemon, salt and pepper to taste. Mix gently, and set aside.
- 9
Once the beets are cooked, remove the pot from the stove and place the pot under cool running water, until the beets are comfortable to the touch. Using your fingers or a paper towel, rub the skins off the beets.
- 10
Slice the beets in rounds. Combine the beets, chopped garlic, ¼ cup of the olive oil, and vinegar in a bowl and mix. If you like a more tangy flavor, feel free to add more vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- 11
Arrange beets on a serving platter, along with the beet greens. Add fresh lemon slices for those who like an extra drizzle of lemon juice. Serve beets warm, at room temperature or refrigerate for several hours for a refreshing taste. Enjoy!
Simple Greek Beets
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About this Recipe
Ready to turn even the most skeptical eaters into beet enthusiasts? This Simple Greek Beets recipe is a vibrant, flavor-packed dish designed to make everyone fall in love with these earthy root vegetables, including their nutritious greens.
What sets this recipe apart is its elegant simplicity and focus on fresh ingredients. By utilizing both the tender red beets and their greens, you get a full spectrum of flavor and texture in one dish. The marriage of rich extra virgin olive oil, bright fresh lemon, and tangy red wine vinegar creates a dressing that perfectly complements the natural sweetness of the beets and the slight bitterness of the greens, elevating them beyond expectation.
You'll discover a harmonious balance of flavors: the deep, earthy sweetness of the cooked red beets, beautifully brightened by the zesty tang of fresh lemon juice and the subtle sharpness of red wine vinegar. The pungent warmth of fresh chopped garlic weaves throughout, adding an aromatic depth that ties everything together. The dish offers a delightful contrast in textures, with the soft, tender beets alongside their slightly more robust, yet yielding, cooked greens. It's a remarkably flavorful experience that feels both wholesome and indulgent, perfect for adding a burst of color and nutrition to any meal.
While delicious as written, you have room to personalize this dish. Feel free to adjust the acidity by adding more or less lemon juice and red wine vinegar to suit your preference. For those who love a stronger flavor, increase the amount of fresh chopped garlic. If you’re out of red wine vinegar, a good quality apple cider vinegar could offer a similar tang, though the red wine variety lends a more traditional Greek touch.
These Simple Greek Beets make an excellent and versatile side dish, effortlessly complementing everything from grilled fish and roasted chicken to hearty vegetarian mains. Serve them warm or at room temperature as part of a vibrant Mediterranean-inspired spread or a light lunch.