When First Lady Michelle Obama began planning her White House garden during the spring of 2009, the president made one thing perfectly clear: there would be no beets growing on his lawn. The president was hardly alone in his loathing for these earthy root vegetables. Many otherwise enlightened eaters have never managed to get over early experiences of lifeless canned beets. In addition to being full of nutrients, however, beets also have a wealth of culinary uses. Steaming beets is an easy way to prepare them, leaving them with plenty of flavor and vitality.
Step 1
Wash the beets well.
Step 2
Trim the skins from the beets using a paring knife. If you work slowly and carefully you will waste less food, but if you trim with less precision this step will take less time.
Step 3
Cut the peeled beets into 1-inch chunks.
Step 4
Arrange a steamer basket in a saucepan with about 1 inch of water in the bottom.
Step 5
Transfer the beets to the steamer.
Step 6
Bring the water to a boil. Then lower the heat, cover the pan and cook the beets for about 20 minutes, until they're fork tender. If you like your beets very tender, cook them longer.
Tips and Warnings
- This method works with any kind of beets, including gold beets and Chiogga beets, the ones with pink concentric circles. Dress steamed beets with olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, and salt and pepper.
Things You'll Need
- Cutting Board
- Paring knife
- Saucepan
- Steamer basket
Member Comments