Beet is a unique root vegetable, it is simply irreplaceable in the human diet. Lovers of dishes made from this vegetable are not afraid of heart and vascular diseases, vitamin deficiency, even oncology. The main thing is to cook the beets correctly so that they do not lose their most valuable properties. Let's tell you how!
Beetroot wisdom
Surprisingly, boiled beets are even healthier for the human body than raw beets. In addition, a fresh root vegetable can be added only to a salad, but an incredible number of dishes are prepared from boiled ones, ranging from the famous red borscht to salads and snacks.
Before boiling, it is recommended to wash the beets thoroughly. A clean vegetable brush is suitable for this. Walk thoroughly around the entire circumference of the root crop so that the dirt is washed out perfectly. It is forbidden to use any detergents or cleaning agents. Beets have too thin and porous skin, chemicals will instantly penetrate into the fruit.
Try not to violate the integrity of the vegetable peel, otherwise it will lose juice during the cooking process, the pulp will acquire a grayish tint and become unpleasant to the taste. For the same reason, do not cut the roots.
Beets should be peeled from the skin only after they are completely cooked and cooled. Cooking a vegetable unpeeled will preserve its healing and taste qualities.
Add a couple of teaspoons of lemon juice, half a tablespoon of white vinegar, or one teaspoon of sugar to a pot of water where the beets will be boiled. Experienced chefs do this to make the finished beets even more delicious and bright burgundy in the cut.
You should not add salt to the water in which the beets are boiled. From this, the root vegetable will become tough and will cook twice as long.
Some varieties of beets "sin" with a harsh and not very pleasant aroma. If you come across just such root vegetables, do not worry, this smell can be easily neutralized if a crust of brown bread is immersed in water along with the beets.
If the beets have stood a little in your closet and become lethargic, this is also fixable. Put the washed fruit in a saucepan, pour boiling water over it, and then fill it with water at room temperature. Let it stand for a couple of hours, then set it to boil without changing the water in the pan. The finished vegetable will be juicy and firm.
It is very easy to check the readiness of beets. Pierce it with a fork, if the prongs of the cutlery entered the pulp without crunching and resistance, then you can turn off the heat.
The water in which the beets were boiled acquires a lot of useful properties. From this broth, you can prepare a medicinal drink that improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, lowers blood pressure, and fights edema. To improve the taste, add a pinch of ground cinnamon, half a teaspoon of grated ginger root and a little honey to the hot broth. Stir and enjoy the delicious taste.
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Cooking beets right!
With the fact that it is better to boil the beets in advance and only then peel, chop and add to various dishes, we figured it out. Now let's find out how to properly prepare a root vegetable for each particular dish!
1. How to cook for beetroot and red borscht
Many housewives, when preparing the first courses, put raw grated beets directly into the broth. But this is not entirely correct! Firstly, almost all the useful properties of the root crop are lost this way. Secondly, it becomes brownish in color, which is not very appetizing. And thirdly, pre-cooked beets according to all the rules will make the dish bright raspberry and very tasty.
Put a pot of water on the stove, dissolve a spoonful of sugar in it, add a little vinegar, lower the beets and cook after boiling for two to three hours. In this case, the lid should be slightly open.During the cooking process, watch the beets from time to time, you may need to top up the water several times. When the vegetable is ready, pour cold water over it. This will cool it down faster and make it easier to clean.
2. How and how much to cook beets for salads
If you decide to please your family with a delicious and healthy vegetarian vinaigrette, then you will probably be interested to know that for this and other salads, beets should be prepared in a special way. Pour the washed root vegetable with boiling water, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, bay leaf, peppercorns, a couple of lemon slices and a spoonful of sugar to the pan. Boil over medium heat for about an hour. Then quickly transfer the beets to ice water.
3. For stews, vegetable cutlets and caviar
For some dishes that involve further stewing, beets are boiled until half cooked. Wash the root vegetables, it is advisable to choose small, slightly flattened shapes (of which the beetroot caviar turns out to be tastier and more aromatic), put them in a saucepan. Put on the stove, pour boiling water with lemon juice and a cinnamon stick. Boil for 20 - 25 minutes. Then immediately fill with very cold water and leave for half an hour.
4. How to cook beets in the microwave
Vegetables cooked in the microwave are very tasty. For salads "Pomegranate bracelet" or "Herring under a fur coat" beetroot cooked in a microwave oven is an ideal option. Pour half a glass of water into a glass saucepan. Place prepared vegetables, cover and cook on maximum power for 10 to 12 minutes. Wait 30 minutes without opening the microwave door. During this time, the beets will become fully cooked, while their color and taste will be preserved.
And one more way: as usual, wash the roots, put them in a baking sleeve, tie the ponytails with a thread, make several punctures with a toothpick over the entire surface of the sleeve and send them to the microwave. If the vegetables are young and medium-sized, then they will be fully cooked in half an hour. Set the power to medium so that vitamins are preserved in the fruits. Likewise, you can bake beets in the oven. In this case, set the power to 200 degrees and cook for about 45 minutes.
5. How and how much to cook beets in a slow cooker
Place small beets of the same size in the multicooker bowl. Pour cold water so that it completely covers the roots. Set the "Soup" mode and set the time to 25 minutes. Next, check the readiness of the beets, if you come across old and tough vegetables, then let them boil for another 15 - 20 minutes. Transfer the finished fruits to a deep bowl, cover with cold water and let them cool completely.
6. How much to cook beets in a double boiler
If you are the proud owner of this miracle of kitchen technology, then use it to steam beets. Perhaps this will be the easiest way to prepare root vegetables. At the same time, they will preserve vitamins and microelements, will turn out to be tasty and tender. Beets cooked in a double boiler are suitable for adding to the first and second courses, salads and snacks.
Put the well-washed vegetables on the grid of the steamer, for more rational use of space and to save energy, place potatoes and carrots next to the beets. So, at one time you will prepare all the ingredients, for example, for a vinaigrette or herring under a "fur coat". Cooking time for beets in a double boiler is between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the size of the beets.
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Ways to store boiled beets
Beets that have already been peeled and boiled should be put into action immediately. For example, you cooked a couple of root vegetables for borscht, but you only needed one. The second grated, season with unrefined vegetable oil, add finely chopped onion and pickled cucumber. Drizzle with lemon juice and salt to taste. It will make a great salad.
If cooking snacks is not part of your plans, then you can freeze boiled beets. Grate the peeled vegetable or cut it into small cubes, put it in a plastic bag, tie it tightly and send it to the freezer. Store no more than three months.
Unpeeled boiled beets can be stored in a bag or in a tightly closed plastic container for two to three days. During this time, it is imperative to use it for food.
