Beets and Orange Salad in White Balsamic Vinegar

                                 

                                   



Do you know how to cook fresh beets?  It's easy, and you don't have to peel them. You simply scrub them, boil them with skin till tender, slide off the skin, and eat them. Cooking beets looks intimidating, but it's really really easy. If you do decide to cook some,  you can try  this simple, tasty, cold recipe that makes a great side for a BBQ or a tasty accompaniment for any dinner on a hot summer night. I love the color combination of the ruby red beets and vibrant oranges. It makes a beautiful presentation.

                        


I haven't cooked fresh beets in a long time. Despite loving beets, I always think cooking them is going to be too messy. But it's summer, and fresh  beets are in the farmer's markets and all the CSA's. I've really been craving them, so I decided to go for it. 

                       

Someone once told me not to cut any part of the beet before boiling it. They said by not cutting you will reduce the bleeding ( and mess) . The method seemed to work. I just scrubbed the beets well and threw them into a pot of boiling water and boiled them until they were soft. I used a slotted spoon to remove them from the boiling water, rubber gloves so my hands didn't turn red, and just slid off the cooked skin with my fingers.. ( it was a little messy but fast and easy, and worth it.)

Once the skin ( which is very thin) just slid off, I then sliced my beets in 1/2 moons and displayed them on a plate. I also had some oranges which I sliced and laid them around the beets and squeezed a little of the juice on the beets as well . I then sprinkled the beets with white balsamic vinegar (  I bought at Trader Joe's - love that place- and dove in.. Absolutely delicious.

Boiled and skinned beet ; Takes 10 seconds -  skin slips right off 

While I'm on the beet kick, I might even make some beet borscht,  which is a great cold soup on a hot summer day

Power Up Your Diet !  Beets are an excellent source of immune building antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, including iron.  In addition, they are very

• low in calories ( about 45 calories a cup) 
• high in fiber 
• have zero cholesterol
• almost no fat 
• provide cardiovascular benefits 
• rich in potassium 

 Potassium is known to help lower heart rate and balance the metabolism within the cells by opposing the negative effects of sodium.

It's such a healthy vegetable for your family and because beets are sweet , even little one's may eat them

 ( probably not the older ones if they are not used to them) I always use organic beets because they are always available at my supermarket,  and they taste so darned good .. and actually they are about the same price as regular fresh beets!

I found the white Balsamic Vinegar at Trader Joe's. I had never heard of it before, but it looked intriguing. I tried it out on this recipe. I think it tastes more like regular vinegar, but it was non the less delicious.

Like watermelon, beets feel cooling to me in this hot weather. Maybe because I serve them cold.

Do you like beets? How do you cook them? Do you have any good beet recipes to share? Looking forward to your comments! Please leave one.

    
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