Spiced Beetroot Recipes

SPICED PICKLED BEETS

Steps:

• Scrub beets and trim tops to 1 in. Place in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until tender, 25-35 minutes. Remove from water; cool. Peel beets and cut into fourths., Place beets in a Dutch oven. Add sugar, water and vinegar. Place spices on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag. Add to beet mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Discard spice bag., Carefully pack beets into 4 hot 1-pint jars to within 1/2 in. of the top. Carefully ladle hot liquid over beets, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 35 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

SPICED SWEET & SOUR PICKLED BEETROOT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Trim the leaves and most of stalks off the beetroot, leaving a stump of stalk on each. Wrap the beetroots individually in pieces of foil and place on a baking tray. Roast for 1 hr 15 ins or until the point of a sharp knife can be easily inserted then leave to cool.
• Unwrap, peel and trim the stalks away from the beetroot. Leave the small ones whole and cut larger ones in half and pack them into a large sterilised kilner jar.
• Tip the sugar, white wine vinegar, 200ml cold water the spices and bay leaves into a sauce pan and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and bubble gently, stirring, for 2 mins until all the sugar has dissolved. Turn off the heat and add the balsamic if using.
• Carefully pour the hot vinegar, spices and bay over the beetroot (you might not need it all) and leave to cool uncovered. Once cool pour the olive oil over, seal the jar and keep in the fridge for up to a month.

SPICED PICKLED BEETS

Steps:

• Place the beets into a medium bowl and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine vinegar and 1/2 cup beet juice and bring to a boil. Add sugar, cloves, peppercorns, bay leaf, salt and onion, and return to a boil. Remove from heat, and pour mixture over the beets. Toss until coated, cover and chill. Serve the beets very cold.

CANNED SPICED PICKLED BEETS

Steps:

• In a large pot, mix the white vinegar, sugar, water, cinnamon, salt, and cloves together; bring the mixture to a boil, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the beets, and simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Sterilize the jars, lids, and rings in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, pack the sliced beets into the hot, sterilized jars, and pour in the beet liquid to fill the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a sterilized knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 30 minutes. Add more time if you are at high altitude.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

PICKLED BEETROOT

Steps:

• Wash and trim the beetroot, rub each with 1 tbsp vegetable oil, then wrap individually in foil. Roast on a tray at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 1 hr or until tender. Cool, peel, then cut into wedges.
• To make the pickling vinegar, put the whole spices in a medium saucepan. Toast over a low heat until they begin to smell aromatic. Add the dried chilli flakes last, as these can easily catch. Add the bay, pour in all of the vinegar and sugar, let it dissolve, and bring to a simmer.
• Pack the beets into sterilised jars (see tip below), add 1 tsp coarse crystal sea salt to each, then pour over the hot vinegar and seal. Ready to eat in 2 weeks, or longer, if you like.

SPICED BEETROOT

Steps:

• Place the unpeeled beetroots on a baking tray and bake in a moderate oven for 1 hour, or until tender when pierced with a skewer.
• Cool the beetroots until they are cool enough to handle, and wear gloves if you don't want to end up with beetroot-coloured hands! Peel and dice the beetroots. (see Note).
• Combine the diced beetroot with the remaining ingredients in a pan over a gentle heat, and toss for 4-5 minutes, or until heated through; and serve with a dollop of Greek yoghurt (optional).
• NOTE: If you'd like an easy recipe for making your own vegetable stock - my Vegetable Stock Recipe #135453 - start by saving the peel from the beetroots!

SPICED BEETROOT & ORANGE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a preserving pan or your largest saucepan, mix together all the ingredients well. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cook for 1 hr, stirring occasionally, until the chutney is thick and the beetroot tender.
• While the chutney is cooking, prepare your jars by running through a short hot wash in your dishwasher. Or wash thoroughly by hand, then put in a hot oven to sterilise for 10-15 mins. Once the chutney is ready, let it settle for 10 mins, then carefully spoon into the jars and seal while still hot. You can eat it straight away but it will be even better after a month. Will keep for up to 6 months in a cool dark place. Once opened, refrigerate and eat within 2 months.

SPICY BEETROOT RELISH

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients into a medium sized saucepan and, over a high heat, stir until the honey dissolves.
• Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook for about one and a half hours or until most of the liquid has evaporated and the grated beetroot is tender.
• Taste for seasoning while it is still warm and adjust if necessary.

BRAISED SPICED BEETS

Steps:

• Scrub beets and cut stems down to hardly there. Place in cooking pot, cover with water, and simmer until nearly tender (approximately 20 minutes). Remove from water, peel and quarter them.
• Heat butter in sturdy saucepan or skillet with lid. When melted, add beets and cook at medium for five minutes, tossing frequently so as to coat the beets with the butter.
• Add peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon.
• Add in sugar, stock, and salt to taste.
• Cook on low heat for approximately 15 more minutes, or until beets are tender, mixing occasionally.
• You can serve now, or reheat for later.