- Lettuce
- Kale
- Broccoli or cabbage
- Zucchini
- Sugar snap peas
- Kohlrabi or Fennel
- Garlic
- Purplette bunching onions
- Potatoes
- Basil
- Carrots or beets
- Purslane or parsley
What a relief to have cooler weather! We managed
to get four beds of Brussels transplanted, the weekly lettuce and a last “safety”
bed of leeks. The onions and leeks previously planted got their second weeding.
The wheat is almost all harvested and those beds will be turned over into fall
crops. The tomatoes in the hoop house as well as the peppers are fruit laden
but not ripe yet. We are waiting for the cucumbers to set fruit and the summer
favorites to ripen. Meanwhile we celebrate the first cabbages and the main crop
broccoli.
The winter squash is blooming and we are hopeful
that this year will be bumper crop. We had so much trouble last year with the
number one enemy on our farm, the cucumber beetle that we never got to enjoy
many of these fall and winter staples. We have pumpkins going as well, hoping
to create a pumpkin patch for kids and adults alike. The flowers have gone
wild. I think I was inspired by reading Florette farm’s guide to growing amazing
flowers and I planted every flower I seeded. Often I seed more than I can plant
and hold back, but not this year! Hopefully there will be enough time to
arrange flowers and make wreaths and take care of the veg!
As the summer solstice came and went the onions
will sense the day length change and begin to bulb up. They should be ready to
harvest in a month or so, what fun!
Blueberries are ripening in Helvetia, there are
several farms nearby that offer you pick. Look up Sunrise blueberries https://www.facebook.com/SunriseBlueberry/ or the Callahan’s https://www.facebook.com/callaghanblueberries/ among many.
We are looking into the future and putting dates
on the calendar. Canning party 8/25 from 9-5. This is an all-day affair
from harvest to prep to cook to can. We are taking suggestions for recipes and
will plan to use the surplus on the farm to create 10-16 different items. Mary
Kay and I are busy looking at canning books ana thinking about what has been
successful in the past and what we can try in this year. Participants pay
$30-40, bring a short list of supplies and work in groups to complete “their”
recipe. Once all items are canned, we pay them out and divide up the
production. Each participating household gets between 16-20 jars for their
pantry.
The Harvest Festival will be early this year, October 6th.
More details to come, just mark your calendar for this signature event.
We hope members who are able will sign up to help with the
harvest. As you can see there are more and more items and more hands are needed.
Beans and tomatoes are on the way and they are labor intensive.
Fun event next weekend! Sunday June 30 from 2-4 we will have
lavender wand making in the barn. Janette Gills will be teaching us how to make
these fragrant wands that keep the scent
of lavender with you all season long. Drop in and join us.
So what is new in the share this week you ask?? We have
purslane also known as portulaca a powerhouse of a weed/foraged food. We have
purple bunching onions ( delicious because the bulb is good and so are the
greens, a two for one. We see the return of beets and carrots (still super
tough for us to grow, but we keep trying). We have a bit of fennel, it just got
infested with weeds and did not thrive this spring. “Purslane has been consumed
since ancient times, and because it grows easily in hot and not too dry
climates, it is represented in many cuisines of the world,
from Greece to Mexico, and from Turkey to India by way of South Africa. (Here’s
a handy list of its aliases in different languages.)
It is a bit of a nutritional
powerhouse, offering remarkable amounts of minerals (most notably calcium,
iron, magnesium, and potassium), omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins (A, B, C), and
antioxydants. It is thought to be an important component of the Cretan
high-life-expectancy diet, and Michael Pollan has called it one of the two most
nutritious plants on the planet in his In Defense of Food manifesto (the other
is lamb’s quarters if you want to hunt for
that too).”
Recipes for the week:
Black quinoa, English pea,
avocado, radish, and purslane salad
serves 4 to 6
1 cup black quinoa
2 cups water
Salt
8 ounces (225 g) shelled English peas
2 ounces (60 g) fennel, very thinly sliced
1 avocado, peeled, pit removed, and diced
4 French radishes, thinly sliced
1 cup purslane, washed
1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp grainy mustard
Black pepper
In a medium sauce pan, bring 2 cups of water
to a boil. Add the black quinoa and pinch of salt. Cover and simmer for 25
minutes until quinoa is tender (it will be slightly crunchier than ivory
quinoa). Cool completely.
In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil.
Add a pinch of salt and the peas. Cook for 5 minutes or until tender but still
have a bite. Drain them and submerge them in ice water to stop the cooking
process. Drain well.
In a large bowl, combine the black quinoa,
peas, fennel, avocado, radishes, and purslane. In a small bowl, whisk together
the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper. Pour the vinaigrette
over the salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
SIMPLE BEET SALAD WITH ONIONS
Grate scrubbed beets or cut into julienne; toss with
chopped green onions and vinaigrette you make or from a bottle in your fridge.
Add toasted nuts and/or a sharp cheese (blue, Parmesan, feta). Serve alone or
with lettuce.
ROASTED BEETS
Just cut them into chunks and roast them with olive oil, S
& P until they are tender.
Simple summer beet soup
Boil and peel beets. (Can use both kinds). Whirl in food
processor with orange or lemon juice, small amount of fresh mint leaves if you
have some, and black pepper. Chill. Serve with plain yogurt or sour cream.
A beet suggestion from
Anina Marcus, a CSA member from Carmel:
“I would like to say what I did with the beets. I parboiled them
till tender, sliced them thin and then made a vinaigrette of Meyer lemon,
balsamic vinegar, sea salt, pepper, 2 tablespoons honey or pomegranate molasses
and then sprinkled your thinly diced mint over all that. It was so lovely. If
you really want to get adventurous you can slice strawberries into that also.
You get the wonderful sweet of the strawberry against the different sweet of
the beet all put into balance by the Meyer lemon and balsamic to offset the
sugars slightly… It’s a palate pleaser… I just had to tell you because I
did that tonight to go with corn on the cob.”
Creamy Beet Soup with Pistachio Mousse
adapted from the Cook’s Garden by Ellen Ogden
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 bunch beets, peeled and cubed
1 small onion or leek, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1.5 cups white wine
2 cups apple cider or juice
dash of ground allspice
1 stick of cinnamon
1 bay leaf
1 pint sour cream or yogurt
S & P to taste
Pistachio Mousse
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup chopped pistachio nuts, slightly toasted
8 sprigs fresh chervil or 4 sprigs fresh tarragon
4 fresh mint leaves
pinch of salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the beets
and onions and cook, stirring often, until the onions soften, about 5 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add
the wine and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the wine is reduced by
half, about 5 minutes. Add the apple juice, spices, and return to the boil.
Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Cook until the beets are tender, about 45
minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Stir in the sour cream or
yogurt.
Transfer to a bowl and cool. Cover and refrigerate until
chilled, at least 2 hours.
Meanwhile make the pistachio mousse. Process all of the
ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Transfer to bowl,
cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serve the soup cold, seasoning with the salt and pepper and
garnishing each bowl with a spoonful of the mousse.
6 medium beets roasted
Olive oil
Salt
2 cloves garlic crushed
2 Tbl yogurt
2 Tbl Mayo (regular or vegan)
4 tsp curry powder
3 Tbl fresh lemon juice
10 tbl olive oil
4 Tbl chopped cutting celery or cilantro
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375. Wash, trim and wrap beets individually
in foil. Place in a shallow pan and roast until tender. A sharp kitchen paring
knife should pierce through the foil easily. Set aside to cool. Mix dressing by
combining all ingredients except oil. When all ingredients are smooth, whisk in
the oil and set aside. Many people don’t prepare fresh beets because of the
staining juices. Wearing latex or vinyl gloves will protect your hands and
preparing on a covered surface
Will protect your cutting board. I often roast beets
without wrapping and use them skin included. However, this is an alternative
method. Whatever method you use, it is well worth the effort!
Unwrap the beets, and rub away skin. Slice into wedges and
set into your dish. Spoon curry over the beets and serve at room temperature.
Honeyed Beet Quinoa Summer Salad, with variations
from Fresh from the Farm and Garden by The Friends of the UCSC Farm and
Garden
Julia’s note: I make many variations of this salad, with
whatever vegetables/alliums/dressing I have on hand. I love using quinoa, but
brown rice and couscous also work nicely. Likely other grains too. For this
much salad I usually use half the amount of cheese they recommend and half the
amount of nuts. Any mixture of the below herbs work well: just parsley, just
cilantro, just basil, or any combo… chives, tarragon for a different
flavor….. The possibilities are endless and having a salad like this on hand
makes healthy lunches/dinners much easier.
6 beets, roasted
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 cups orange juice
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup fruity olive oil
3 cups cooked quinoa, or another grain such as brown rice or couscous or??
1 cup crumbled feta cheese, or shredded parmesan, or??, optional
1 cup toasted walnuts or almonds, roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped basil OR cilantro
1/2 cup chopped parsley
6 minced green onions or 3 shallots or other mild allium
lettuce greens, ready for eating as salad
Dice roasted beets and marinate in orange and lemon juice
and honey at least one hour. (Julia’s note: I warm up my honey a bit before
mixing it in the juices/oil… but don’t make it too hot or it will ‘cook’ the
juice and fruity oil!) Combine with other ingredients except salad greens.
Chill at least one hour to allow flavors to blend. Serve on bed of salad
greens.
BEETS
From a book I got from the library: A Mother’s Book of Traditional Household
Skills by L.G. Abell, originally published in 1853
Wash them clean with a cloth, rubbing them well. Be careful
not to cut them, unless they are very large, and then you may cut them in two,
not splitting them. They require, when grown full size, three or four hours’
boiling. When tender all through, scrape off the outside, split or cut them in
thin round slices, and pour over melted butter, and sprinkle with pepper.
Boiled beets sliced, and put in spiced vinegar until pickled, are good. The
tops of beets are good in summer boiled as greens. Beets should be kept in the
cellar, covered with earth to keep them fresh. It is said they are nicer
roasted as potatoes for the table.
Orange Beets
2 large beets (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped almonds, toasted
Leaving root and 1 inch of stem on beets, trim tops, and
scrub with a brush. Place in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a
boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour or until tender. Drain and
rinse with cold water. Drain; cool. Trim off beet roots; rub off skins. Cut
beets into cubes to measure 3 1/2 cups.
1. Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add beets, rind,
and next 4 ingredients (rind through pepper). Bring to a boil; cook until
liquid is the consistency of a thin syrup (about 12 minutes), stirring
occasionally. Sprinkle with almonds.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)
CALORIES 89(29% from fat); FAT 2.9g (sat 1.3g,mono
1.1g,poly 0.3g); PROTEIN 2.4g; CHOLESTEROL 5mg; CALCIUM 27mg; SODIUM 157mg;
FIBER 1.2g; IRON 1mg; CARBOHYDRATE 14.8g
Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2001
Balsamic-Dressed Roasted Beets
A simple sweet-and-sour dressing complements earthy roasted beets. Its bright
flavors make this dish a fitting accompaniment for roasted meats.
6 medium beets (about 2 1/2 pounds)
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar1 tablespoon sugar
1 star anise
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400°.
Leave root and 1 inch of stem on beets; scrub with a brush. Wrap beets in foil.
Bake at 400° for 1 hour or until tender. Cool beets to room temperature. Peel
and cut each beet into 8 wedges.
Combine juice, vinegar, sugar, and star anise in a small saucepan; bring to a
boil. Cook until reduced to 1/3 cup (about 10 minutes). Discard star anise.
Combine beets, vinegar mixture, salt, and pepper; toss well.
Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)
CALORIES 79(3% from fat); FAT 0.3g (sat 0.0g,mono 0.1g,poly
0.1g); PROTEIN 2.4g; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 27mg; SODIUM 258mg; FIBER 4g;
IRON 1.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 17.9g
Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2005
Beet and Leek Salad with Peanut Dressing
The beets, leeks, and dressing can all be prepared and
stored separately in the refrigerator up to two days in advance; just let them
all come close to room temperature before serving. The dressing gets thicker as
it stands, so add more water to thin it if necessary. To avoid staining your
hands when rubbing the skins off the beets, wear gloves or rub the beets under
running water.
2 medium beets (about 3/4 pound)
Cooking spray
4 cups thinly sliced leek (about 1 pound)
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
2 cups alfalfa sprouts
Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Leave root and 1 inch of stem on beets; scrub with a brush. Place beets on a
small baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 1 hour or until
tender when pierced with a fork. Cool. Trim off beet roots and stem; rub off
skins. Cut each beet in half lengthwise; slice each beet half crosswise into
1/4-inch-thick slices.
Combine leek, oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt on a baking sheet coated with cooking
spray; toss well to coat. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes or until tender and just
beginning to brown; stir after 8 minutes.
Combine water, lime juice, peanut butter, ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon salt,
stirring well with a whisk until smooth.
Arrange 1/3 cup sprouts on each of 6 salad plates; divide the beets and leek
evenly among servings. Drizzle about 2 teaspoons dressing over each serving.
Yield: 6 servings
CALORIES 84(23% from fat); FAT 2.1g (sat 0.4g,mono 1g,poly
0.5g); PROTEIN 2.9g; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 49mg; SODIUM 266mg; FIBER 3.1g;
IRON 1.9mg; CARBOHYDRATE 15.1g
Cooking Light, MARCH 2005
Rochelle’s Beet Salad
we love it, it’s fast, easy and healthy.
I just threw it together, so it’s a simple one. Trim ends off beets, then steam
until soft rinse with cold water, so that the skin peels right off. Dice up,
mix with thinly sliced onions, (red, white or yellow), add crumbled crostini,
and plenty of balsamic vinegar, salt/pepper to taste with a dash of extra
virgin olive oil. Toss, EAT.
Dutch Beet Salad
from Recipes from a Kitchen Garden by Shepherd and Raboff
6 large beets, peeled
1 bunch scallions, chopped
½ cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbs. water
½ cup vegetable oil
pinch sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Grate the fresh beets on the finest grater you
have-preferably one used to grate lemon peel. If you are using a food
processor, use the blade with the smallest holes. Place the grated beets in a
bowl. Mix the remaining ingredients until blended and pour over the beets. Toss
and marinate in refrigerator for several hours before serving. For an
interesting variation substitute grated carrots and/or grated daikon radishes
for 1/3 of the beets. Serves 4 to 6.
Grilled Beets from a customer
Toss with balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive
oil, salt & pepper and GRILL over direct heat
for 15-20 and finish indirect heat approx. 40
min for approx. 1-1/2″ dia. beet (grill with
skin on of course and 1/2 of tops and roots).
These are superior to oven roasting – I can’t go back
to oven roasting now!
BEET AND BLUE CHEESE SPREAD
Cooking Light magazine
2 beets
2 apples, cut into 8 wedges
1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
1 tbsp. horseradish
Preheat oven to 400̊. Wrap beets in foil and bake for
1 hour or until tender. Cool and peel the beets.
Place beets, apples, cheese and horseradish in a food
processor, process until well blended. Serve with
crackers or pita chips.
BEET AND ARUGULA SALAD
1/2 lb.
1 small bunch
1 tbsp.
1/4 cup
|
beets without leaves (about 3 medium)
arugula
white-wine vinegar
olive oil
|
Peel beets and cut into 1/2-inch wedges. In a steamer set
over boiling water steam beets until tender, about 10 minutes, and transfer to
a bowl. Discard course stems from arugula. Wash arugula well and dry. In a bowl
whisk together vinegar and salt and pepper to taste and whisk in oil until
emulsified. Pour half of vinaigrette over beets and toss well. To vinaigrette
remaining in bowl add arugula and toss well. Arrange arugula and beets on 2 plates.
Serves 2.
Gourmet, March 1997
BOILED BEETS AND WILTED BEET GREENS W/ GARLIC & LEMON
This sauce utilizes both the beets and their leafy tops, so
freshness is paramount. Boiled and diced beets are added to a simple
sauce of tender beet greens wilted in garlic and olive oil. A splash of
lemon juice helps balance the sweetness in the beets, as does the gentle
bitterness of the greens themselves.
4 medium
1 tsp.
1/4 cup
4 cloves
1 1/2 tbsp.
1 lb.
|
beets with their leafy greens
salt, plus some to taste
olive oil
garlic
fresh lemon juice
pasta (best choice: fusilli or other short, curly shape)
|
1. Bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot
for cooking the pasta.
2. Slice the beet stems where the leaves begin and set the
leaves aside. Trim all but the last inch of the stems from the beets
themselves. Trim any dangling roots and wash the beets to remove any
dirt. The trimmed beets should weigh about 1 pound. (Julia’s note: if you
have a beet or 2 left over, they are good grated raw into a salad.)
3. Place the beets in a medium saucepan and cover with
water. Bring the water to a boil and add salt to taste. Simmer until the beets
are tender enough so that a metal skewer slides easily through them, about 25
minutes. Drain the beets and cool them slightly. Use paper towels
to hold the beets and rub gently to slip off their skins. Trim and discard the
remaining portion of the stem. Cut the peeled beets into 1/4 inch cubes
and set them aside.
4. While the beets are cooking, place the beet greens in a
large bowl and soak in several changes of cold water until no grit appears on
the bottom of the bowl. Shake the leaves to remove excess moisture but do
not dry them. Slice the damp leaves crosswise into 1/2 inch wide strips and set
them aside. There should be about 5 cups of shredded beet greens.
(Julia’s note about the ‘several changes of cold water’: I just wash the beets,
but then I’m not a fussy chef from New York City….)
5. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan with a cover. Add the
garlic and sauté over medium heat until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the
beet greens and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir several times to coat the leaves
with the oil. Cover and cook, stirring several more times, until the beet
greens have wilted, about 5 minutes.
6. Stir in the cubed beets and the lemon juice and cook
until heated through, about 1 minute. Taste for salt and adjust
seasonings if necessary.
7. While preparing the sauce, cook and drain the pasta.
Toss the hot pasta with the beet sauce. Mix well and transfer portions to warm
pasta bowls. Serve immediately.
Pasta e Verdura, Jack
Bishop
BEETS WITH WALNUTS
6
3/4 cup
2 cloves
1 tbsp.
1 tbsp.
1 1/2 tsp.
1 tsp.
5
|
beets (each 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter), scrubbed and
trimmed, leaving about 1 inch of the stems attached
water
garlic, unpeeled
olive oil
minced fresh coriander
red-wine vinegar, or to taste
minced white part of scallion
walnut halves, toasted and chopped (about 2 teaspoons)
|
In a 2-quart microwave-safe round glass casserole with a
lid, microwave the beets with the water and the garlic, covered, on high
power(100%), stirring every 2 minutes, for 6-9 minutes, or until they are
tender when pierced with a fork, transferring them to a cutting board as they
are cooked and reserving the garlic, and let them cool. Peel the beets, halve
them, and slice them 1/4 inch thick. Peel the reserved garlic, mash it to a
paste with the flat side of a heavy knife, and in a serving bowl stir it
together with the oil, the coriander, the vinegar, the scallion, and salt and pepper
to taste. Stir in the sliced beets and sprinkle the mixture with the walnuts.
Gourmet, February 1993
CARROT AND BEET SALAD WITH GINGER VINAIGRETTE
1/4 cup
2 tbsp.
1 clove
1/4 cup
1 tbsp.
1/2 tsp.
1/2 cup
4 cups
4 cups
|
minced shallot
minced peeled fresh ginger
garlic, minced
rice vinegar (available at Asian markets and some supermarkets)
soy sauce
Asian (toasted) sesame oil
Tabasco to taste
olive oil
finely shredded carrots
finely shredded peeled raw beets (about 3/4 pound)
spinach leaves, washed thoroughly, for garnish if desired
|
In a blender puree shallot, ginger, and garlic with rice
vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Tabasco. With motor running add olive oil
in a stream and blend until smooth.
In separate bowls toss carrots with half of the dressing
and beets with remaining half. Divide carrot salad and beet salad among 6
plates and garnish with spinach leaves. Serves 6. Gourmet, April 1994
GRAPEFRUIT, BEET, AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD
1/2 bunch
1
1 oz.
2
4 tsp.
1 tbsp.
|
watercress, coarse stems discarded
grapefruit, peel and pith cut away with a serrated knife and sections cut
free from membranes
chilled fine-quality blue cheese, cut into small thin slices
peeled cooked beets, grated coarse (about 1 cup)
extra-virgin olive oil
balsamic vinegar
coarse salt to taste
coarsely ground pepper to taste
|
Divide watercress between 2 salad plates and arrange
grapefruit sections and cheese decoratively on top. In a small bowl toss
together beets, 2 teaspoons oil, and vinegar and divide between salads. Drizzle
salads with remaining oil and season with salt and pepper. Serves 2.
Gourmet, February 1994
BEETS WITH STOUT AND SAUTEED BEET GREENS
9 lbs.
3 tbsp.
1 tbsp.
1/2 stick
|
beets including the greens (4 1/2 pounds without the
greens),
Guinness stout
red-wine vinegar
unsalted butter (1/4 cup)
the reserved beet greens or 1 pound of kale, coarse stems discarded and the
leaves washed well, spun dry, and chopped very coarse
|
Trim the beets, leaving 2 inches of the stem ends intact
and reserving 1 pound of the beet greens. In a kettle cover the beets with 2
inches cold water, bring to a boil, and simmer the beets, covered, for 20 to 35
minutes (depending on their size), or until they are tender. Drain the beets
and under the cold running water slip off and discard their skins and stems. In
a skillet bring to a boil the stout and the vinegar and whisk in 2 tablespoons
of the butter. Stir in the beets, quartered, add the salt and pepper to taste,
and keep the beets warm, covered. In a large skillet heat the remaining 2
tablespoons butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides, in it sauté
the reserved beet greens, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until they are tender,
and stir in the salt and pepper to taste. Arrange the greens around the edge of
a platter and mound the beets in the center.
Gourmet, March 1990
ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH BEET GREENS AND FETA
Good cooks never discard the nutritious beet greens. Here,
the greens are combined with roasted beets, capers and feta in a Greek-inspired
salad.
6 tbsp.
2 1/2 tbsp.
1 tbsp.
7 med.-lg.
1 cup
2 tbsp.
3/4 cup
|
extra-virgin olive oil
red wine vinegar
minced garlic
beets (about 3 inches in diameter) with greens
water
chopped drained capers
crumbled feta cheese (about 3 ounces)
|
Preheat oven to 375¡F. Whisk oil, vinegar and garlic in
small bowl to blend. Season dressing generously with salt and pepper.
Cut green tops off beets; reserve tops. Arrange beets in
single layer in 13x9x2-inch baking dish; add 1 cup water. Cover; bake until
beets are tender when pierced with knife, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Peel beets
while warm. Cut beets in half and slice thinly. Transfer to large bowl. Mix in
capers and 1/4 cup dressing. Season with salt and pepper.
Cut stems off beet greens; discard stems. Wash greens.
Transfer greens, with some water still clinging to leaves, to large pot. Stir
over high heat until just wilted but still bright green, about 4 minutes. Drain
greens; squeeze out excess moisture. Cool; chop coarsely.
Transfer greens to medium bowl. Toss with enough dressing to
coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange beets in center of platter.
Surround with greens; sprinkle with feta. Drizzle with any remaining dressing.
CHILLED BEET SOUP WITH CHIVES
1 1/2 tsp.
3 med.
1 bunch
1
1 1/2 tbsp.
1 tbsp.
2 cups
|
olive oil
carrots, peeled, chopped
beets, cut into fourths, tops reserved for another use
onion, finely chopped
balsamic vinegar
sugar
buttermilk
Chopped fresh chives
|
Heat oil in large non stick skillet over low heat. Add
carrots, beets and onion. Cover; cook until vegetables are just tender,
stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Add vinegar, cover and cook until
vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes longer.
Working in batches, add sugar and carrot mixture to blender
or food processor. Purée. Transfer to large bowl. Mix in buttermilk. Season
with salt and pepper. Chill until cold, about 3 hours. (Can be made 2 days
ahead. Cover; keep chilled.) Top with chives.
Julia’s note: I have an immersible blender; it’s a GREAT
soup tool: just blend the soup right in the pan. I highly recommend this
kitchen gadget.
Adapted from Bon Appétit, June 1996
STEAMED BEET GREENS
8 cups
4 tbsp.
3 tbsp.
6 tbsp.
|
washed, loosely packed trimmed beet greens (coarse stems
removed)
unsalted butter
fresh lemon juice
finely chopped shallots or onions
salt and pepper to taste
|
Rinse the beet greens well, and leave the water clinging to
the leaves. Melt the butter in a medium-size skillet. Add the greens and
lemon juice, cover, and cook over low heat for 5 mins. Then add the
shallots and salt and pepper. Stir well, cover, and cook until the greens
have wilted another 4-5 mins. Adjust the seasonings if necessary, and serve
immediately. Makes 2 portions.
The New Basics, Rosso
and Lukins
BEET VINAIGRETTE
1 cup
2-3 cloves
2 tbsp.
1 tsp.
1/4 cup
1 lg.
1 cup
|
vinegar
garlic
freshly ground pepper
salt
sugar
cooked beet, roughly chopped (3/4 to 1 cup)
oil
|
Put all ingredients except the oil in a blender or food
processor and puree. Then, with the motor running, slowly add the oil.
Kitchen Garden Magazine,
Sept. 1997
WHOLE-BEET PASTA SAUCE
1/2 cup
1 lb.
1
1
1 lb.
1/2 cup
1 tbsp.
2 large
4 oz.
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pine nuts
beet greens (or chard or spinach)
orange
lime
fettuccine or linguine
olive oil
chopped garlic
or 4 medium roasted beets, cut into 1/2-in. cubes
Salt and freshly ground pepper
feta or Gorgonzola cheese
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Toast the pine nuts in a 350 F oven for 10 minutes or until
light brown. Cool. Wash the greens thoroughly. If the leaves are young and
tender, they can be used whole. If they’re large, remove the stems and chop the
leaves coarse. Juice the orange and the lime into a measuring cup; you should
have about 1/2 cup of juice. Save the rinds. Cook the pasta in a large pot of
boiling salted water until al dente. If you’re using fresh pasta, which needs to
boil for only a minute or two, prepare the sauce before you cook the pasta. In
a very large sauté pan or Dutch oven, heat the oil and the garlic over a medium
flame just until the garlic starts to color. Add the beets and citrus juice,
and season with two large pinches of salt and some pepper. Boil until the
liquid is reduced by about half. Add the greens and toss. If the sauce needs
more zing, grate just a bit of orange and lime peel into it and stir. Drain the
pasta, add it to the sauce along with most of the pine nuts, and stir. Serve on
warm plates with the extra pine nuts and half the cheese crumbled on top. Pass
the rest of the cheese at the table.
Kitchen Garden Magazine, Sept. 1997
ROASTED BEETS
Scrub beets under cold water, rub them with vegetable oil
and sprinkle them with a little kosher salt. Roast them on a baking sheet at
350 F. Small to medium beets take 30-60 minutes. You may want to cut large
beets in half to shorten the baking time. When the beets can be pierced easily
with a fork, they’re done. Once the beets are cool, the skins slip off easily.
I have no trouble finding ways to use leftover, cooked
beets. In my beet vinaigrette, pureed cooked beets take the place of some of
the oil, so this dressing has more nutrients and less fat than traditional
vinaigrettes. The vibrant color really dresses up garden salads, pasta salads,
and fish. One of my favorite salads is a mixture of greens topped with cubes of
roasted beets, slices of tart green apple, and pats of goat cheese, all
drizzled with sweet-tangy beet vinaigrette.
Kitchen Garden Magazine,
Sept. 1997
GRATED CARROT OR BEET SALD WITH CUMIN
Grate or hand-cut carrots or beets, blanch them briefly in
boiling salted water, then drain and towel-dry. Dress while warm with
Lime-Cumin Vinaigrette, plus 1 teaspoon orange flower water if you like.
Lime-Cumin Vinaigrette
1 clove
2-3 tbsp.
2 tbsp.
1/2
1/2 tsp.
1/2 tsp.
1/4 tsp.
1/3 cup
2 tbsp.
|
garlic
Salt
Grated or minced zest of 2 limes
fresh lime or lemon juice to taste
chopped scallion or finely diced shallot
jalapeno chile, seeded and minced
cumin seeds
coriander seeds
dry mustard
olive oil
chopped cilantro
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Pound the garlic with 1/8 teaspoon salt in a mortar until
smooth (or put it through a press), then combine it in a bowl with the lime
zest, juice, scallion, and chile. Toast the cumin and coriander seeds in a
small dry skillet until fragrant, then immediately remove them to a plate to
cool. Grind to a powder in a spice mill, and then add them to the juice
mixture. Whisk in the mustard and oil. Taste and adjust the balance if needed.
Let the dressing stand for at least 15 minutes; add the cilantro just before
using.
Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, Deborah Madison
GRATED SAUTEED BEETS
4 medium
4 tbsp.
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beets
butter
Fresh lemon juice
Salt & freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh dill or parsley
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Wash, peel, and coarsely grate beets. In a covered
frying pan, melt butter, add beets, and stir to coat with butter, then sprinkle
with lemon juice to taste. Cover and cook over medium to low heat for approximately
10 minutes, checking occasionally to see that the beets don’t burn. (You
could add a few spoonfuls of stock or water to prevent sticking.) Cook
just until tender, and then season with salt, pepper, and additional lemon
juice if needed. Sprinkle with dill or parsley. Serves 4.
Note: Grate other vegetables, such as cabbage,
carrots, and parsnips, cook separately, and arrange in mounds on a vegetable
platter.
Victory Garden Cookbook,
Marian Morash
Beetroot Salad with Anchovy Dressing, from: Jane Grigson’s Vegetable Book
Julia’s note: ‘beetroot’ is what beets are called in
England, I think. I was intrigued by this recipe because of the unusual salad
dressing. I’m a big fan of vegetable salads, our dinner table often has a
traditional lettuce salad and also a beet or potato or turnip or fennel or
celery etc. salad. I love make ahead dinner items, and vegetable-rich ones are
an extra bonus.
1 pound boiled, peeled beetroot
1/2 pound boiled firm or waxy potatoes
2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
chopped parsley
Dressing:
2 medium onions, chopped
4 Tablespoons oil
1 tin anchovies in oil
1 teaspoon wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon (or a bit more?) Dijon mustard pepper
Slice beets and put into a shallow bowl. Peel and slice the
potatoes into half-circles and arrange them in a ring round the edge, slipping
the straight edge down between the beets and the edge of the bowl. Mash the
eggs to crumbs with a fork, mix them with a heaped tablespoon of parsley and
set aside.
For the dressing, cook the onions in a tablespoon of oil in
a small covered pan, so that they become soft without browning. Cool and pound
with the anchovies, their oil and the remaining ingredients (use a blender if
possible). Adjust the seasonings (this usually means add S & P to taste).
Spread dressing evenly over the beets. Scatter the egg on top with extra
parsley if necessary. Serve chilled.
Chicken Salad
with Fennel, Almonds, and lemon Mayo
Ingredients
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|
¼
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cup mayonnaise
|
|
|
~
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Juice of 1 small lemon
|
|
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2
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cups cooked chicken (grilled, roasted, or
poached), cut or torn into bite-size pieces
|
|
|
½
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cup fennel bulb and fronds (not stalks),
diced
|
|
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1
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medium shallot, diced
|
|
|
¾
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cup almonds, toasted and sliced
|
|
|
~
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Salt and pepper to taste
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|
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~
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Mixed salad greens, washed and dried
|
Steps
- Put the mayonnaise
in a medium bowl, then whisk in the lemon juice to taste (I like it
lemony, so I err on the side of more rather than less lemon juice). Stir
in the chicken, fennel, shallot, and almonds, then season to taste with
salt and fresh ground pepper
- Toast 1 slice per
sandwich of artisanal-style whole-wheat bread. Top toasted bread slices
with chicken salad and mixed greens.
