A lot of people discard the beet greens when using fresh beets. However, they are totally edible and delicious. They taste like beets! So, if you want to give them a try and are not sure how to cook them, below is a video demonstration on how to easily and quickly cook up some delicious beet greens and stems. The written recipe is below the video. Give it a try sometime…it’s worth it! I hope this helps!

Enjoy,
Judi

Sautéed Beet Greens and Stems with Garlic
Makes 2 to 3 Servings

1 Bunch of Beet Greens
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Water, vegetable broth, or extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste, or other seasonings of choice
1 Tbsp Lemon juice or vinegar, optional (see “Tip” below)

Remove the stems from the beets, leaving about 2 inches still attached to the beets. Discard any old, wilted, or discolored leaves or stems. Wash the greens and stems. Cut them into bite size pieces, placing the stems and leaves in separate bowls.

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add a small amount of vegetable broth, water or oil. Add the chopped garlic and prepared stem pieces. Add salt, pepper or any seasonings, as desired. Stir-steam the vegetables for about 5 minutes, until the stems are crisp-tender. Add more liquid as needed to keep the vegetables from burning.

Add the greens and stir-steam until they are wilted and as tender as you like. Two or three minutes may be enough. Add a little more liquid or seasonings as needed while the greens cook. Only add enough liquid to keep the vegetables from burning. When the vegetables are as tender as you like, remove them from the heat and serve.

Tip: If leafy greens taste bitter to you, drizzle a little lemon juice or vinegar over your cooked greens before serving. Up to one tablespoon should be enough to reduce bitterness without giving them a lemony flavor.

About Judi

Julia W. Klee (Judi) began her journey enjoying “all things food” in elementary school when she started preparing meals for her family. That love of food blossomed into a quest to learn more and more about health and wellness as related to nutrition. She went on to earn a BS Degree in Food and Nutrition, then an MS Degree in Nutrition. She has taught nutrition and related courses at the college level to pre-nursing and exercise science students. Her hunger to learn didn’t stop upon graduation from college. She continues to research on a regular basis about nutrition as it relates to health. Her hope is to help as many people as possible to enjoy foods that promote health and wellness.