What to do with beetroot?

WTFH

My beetroots have done quite well this year, I've got about 20 left, all of which are a bit bigger than a cricket ball.

Any (polite and edible) suggestions on what to do with them - I need to dig them up cause I want to plant garlic in that part of the garden.

Mazcabs

We have pickled ours just in jam jars with vinegar after cooking in the normal way. We have also attempted to freeze some by again just cooking and then putting in a freezer bag and getting as much air our as possible.

DigForVictory

Get out the cake tins & jam jars...

savoury suggestions:
Spiced beetroot & orange chutney
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/68614/spiced-beetroot-and-orange-chutney

Beetroot and ginger chutney
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/beetrootandgingerchu_90622

but please try these for your sweet-toothed friends & relations!

Chocolate and beetroot brownies
http://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/pdf/chocolate-and-beetroot-brownies/

Beetroot & Choclate cake
http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/beetrootchocolate-cake-1273

And let us know how you get on?!

WTFH

We did a beetroot & chocolate cake the other week. It wasn't a Nigella recipe, can't remember where we got it from. My wife found the recipe and asked me to have a go at making it.

It was very tasty and didn't last long.

Will probably pickle some of them. Hadn't thought of freezing, but right now we're filling the freezer with apples. Over the next week we'll be picking more apples and intend to spend next weekend crushing and pressing them to make some cider.

Little_Vics

beetroot is very yummy with feta and balsamic vingar, and a lot of black pepper. It's a staple salad in our house!

Leif

Don't they keep if stored in a cool place, supposedly in peat or dry sand? But I'd check that if I were you, I'm going by memory.

I use them in soups, and boil them or bake them in the oven as a side vegetable. The baked ones are very nice, they go sticky on the outside. I wouldn't be surprised if they are nice cooked, then sliced and served in a cheese sauce, browned on top.

forgotmyname

Chocolate / Beetroot brownies.. YUMMMM......

We made some thinking thats going to be strange and not to our taste but we had plenty of beetroot to try it and glad we did.

How do you store it though? Ours only lasted about 4 or 5 days.

splodger_seedswapper

Leif wrote: »

Don't they keep if stored in a cool place, supposedly in peat or dry sand? But I'd check that if I were you, I'm going by memory.

a container full of dry sand (kept in a cool place) will keep carrots, beetroots and parsnips perfect, fresh and crunchy (as if fresh picked) for months and months - tried and tested method

Leif

splodger_seedswapper wrote: »

a container full of dry sand (kept in a cool place) will keep carrots, beetroots and parsnips perfect, fresh and crunchy (as if fresh picked) for months and months - tried and tested method

Does this have to be sharp sand, silver sand, builders sand or play sand? It is not such a daft question if you've seen each kind.

splodger_seedswapper

Leif wrote: »

Does this have to be sharp sand, silver sand, builders sand or play sand? It is not such a daft question if you've seen each kind.

i tend to use builders sand or sharp sand (as i can get any amount of it for nought) play/ beach sand works ok - but as the grains tend to be finer - i've found roots need a more thorough clean before cooking - iykwim

forgot to add in last post - remove tops of roots to be stored (using the twist off method, instead of cutting) they may after several months try and re-shoot - i've not found this to detract from freshness.

AuntyCat

I have JUST looked at some bags of play sand for this very purpose, we have beetroot, Sweede, Carrots and Parsnips. I thought play sand as it would be cleaner and dryer, but it's our first year (the beetroot not usually this good!!) so I'm not really sure.

Argos have 15k bags in the 3 for 2 toys offer.