The beetroot has a lot of nicknames: beets, garden beets, red beets, golden beets, or, in more scientific terms, beta vulgaris. Beets are a root vegetable available year-round in many climates, but most abundant during the summer and fall months. Beets come in a variety of colors and can be eaten raw, juiced, roasted, boiled, pickled, sautéed or steamed.

Although often overlooked, the greens of the beet can also be cooked and eaten. The greens contain more vitamin A, potassium, iron and calcium than the root and usually come attached when purchased at farmers markets and most grocery stores. The taste is similar to spinach.

When selecting beets, look for those less than three inches in diameter. Beets larger than this can be fibrous or woody in texture. Firm and fresh roots are ideal; avoid buying any that appear to be dry. According to our Test Kitchen experts, “you can achieve maximum storage time and maintain the beet’s moisture by trimming the greens, leaving at least 1-2 inches of stem. Store the unwashed beets in plastic bags in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Cut a small hole in the bag to prevent condensation build up which can cause spoilage. Stored properly, beets can last up to three weeks. To store the greens (don’t throw them out!), put them in a separate bag and they will last about four days.”

We love beets served on salads with goat cheese just as much as we love them plain, roasted with garlic and salt. We encourage you to get creative and try out a few different preparations so you can find what you like the best.

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Dressing

Yield: Serves 4
Author: Hamilton Beach Test Kitchen

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh beets, trimmed
• Olive oil
• Sea salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 package (14 oz.) mixed salad greens
• 2 large oranges, peeled, sectioned and cubed
• 1 container (4 oz.) crumbled goat cheese
• 1 cup toasted walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. To roast beets, place each trimmed beet on a square of aluminum foil. Brush the beets with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Wrap the beets and place on a baking sheet.
3. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until beets are tender.
4. Remove beets from oven and let stand 10 minutes to cool. Peel beets by rubbing the skin with a paper towel. Chill and cut in cubes.
5. To make dressing, add 1/2 cup olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to jar of a single-serve blender. Blend until smooth.
6. On salad plates arrange salad greens, beet and orange cubes. Sprinkle with goat cheese and walnuts. Drizzle with balsamic dressing.