26 Beet Recipes That Celebrate This Earthy, Vibrant Vegetable

Are you a fan of beets? We think these colorful bundles are a real package deal. Whether you go for gold or red, the roots pack nearly four grams of fiber per cup and the leaves contain potassium, calcium, and iron. Our recipes bring out the natural flavor of beets and add vibrancy to every dish. If you're not a fan of beets' famously bright hues, cover your work surfaces. Then start peeling, slicing, and grating. The key to peeling beets is rubbing a towel against their skin soon after they've cooked but are still warm. The skin should come off easily without breaking the beet.

Fresh, flavorful beets are easy to find, especially from late spring through fall. Look for beets that are firm and not too big, with taut, smooth skins and greens that look fresh enough to eat (in fact, beet greens are edible, too). If you can, snap up tender baby beets—they cook faster and taste sweeter. To store, cut the greens from the roots, leaving an inch of stem attached, and place the parts in separate plastic bags and refrigerate. Beet roots will last at least a month, but you should use the greens within three or four days. Once the greens start to wilt, it's a sign you should toss them out (or compost!).

Now get to work! Beets are most popular in savory recipes, but don't underestimate their power to add moistness and a fudgy texture to desserts, too. You can also use beets to dye foods, as well. While we usually steer clear of getting too comfortable with this technique, sometimes it's worth embracing. It can transform the color of ingredients to match its deep purple hue. When used on salmon, for example, beet dye turns the peach flesh into a lovely burgundy hue. It's an absolute show stopper when made for a crowd.

Of course, the best and most common ways to use beets are to steam or roast the beets, then slice or dice them for toast, salads, or whirred into a creamy soup. If you're ready to add more beets your meals, we're sharing our most spectacular recipes to inspire you.