At Last - The Pickled Beet Recipe!

Guess what that is?  Yup, it's a brand new jar of pickled beets that I made today!  There is a post from back in the summer about a wonderful salad with pickled beets in it - actually, home made pickled beets.  I told you about the amazing nutritional value of beets and touted the glory of these wonderful spicy delicacies like my grandmother used to make.  I even said I would post the recipe, and somehow that never happened.  I am sorry for the delay, but here it is today!

Why have I waited so long?  Mainly because beets are a cool weather crop.  They are normally planted 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost in spring and 2  to 3 weeks before the first frost of autumn.  They can be grown throughout the winter in milder climates.  Beets are harvested at about 60 days growing time.  Therefore, when I went to the Farmer's Market last week, they had a beautiful crop of fresh, ruby red beets.  Can I tell you how excited I was?  More than!!! - That's how excited.  The jars of pickled beets from my last canning session were long gone.  Seems everyone (except Dan) fell in love with them and they were quickly consumed.  Dan hates all things with vinegar in them.  I did this project today while he was spending time with his recording engineer making music.  That way, I didn't have to listen to him gag and retch all afternoon from the smell of simmering vinegar.  hahaha  But, I was making my own kind of music, believe me!

There are references to beets as early as the 8th century BC.  Now that's a long, long time ago.  They grew in the Mediterranean regions and were cultivated in other countries from there. There are several varieties of beets, but the ones I am using are known as "beet root."

 One of my fondest memories is of my grandmother's pickled beets which always had a place of honor on the kitchen table along with her spiced peaches, spiced apples and assorted jellies and jams.  I can still remember how wonderful it was to have a spiced peach or some pickled beets with dinner.  They have been one of my favorites ever since.  Dan's mom also made pickled beets that I truly loved.  Here is the recipe I used today.

Ingredients:

3-4 pounds fresh beets
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups water
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp whole allspice
1 tsp whole cloves
1 TBSP ground cinnamon

If you are using small beets, they can be pickled whole.  If using larger beets, they can be sliced in 1/4 inches slices, quartered or diced.  I quartered mine,  because they were all different sizes - too big to can whole.

To cook fresh beets:

Use tender, freshly picked beets.  Wash to remove all traces of garden soil.  Rinse and drain.  Cut off all leaves and stems, leaving about 1 inch of the root end.

Place beets in a large, heavy pan - preferably stainless or enamel.  Aluminum can stain.  Bring just to a boil, reduce heat to medium.  Cover and cook until fork tender, approximately 25-30 minutes.  Remove from heat and drain.

Let the beets cool until you can safely handle them.  Once cooled, you can peel the skin right off - like a hard boiled egg.  Beets will stain your hands, so wear gloves or use a paper towel to peel.  Leave beets whole if small, or cut them up as you prefer.

Look at the beautiful deep ruby red color.  Beets are so full of nutrition and good for you!  I know, you remember those awful Harvard beets they used to make at school in the cream sauce that had no taste.  I can't even think about those.  Ugh.  But roasted beets, or pickled beets are absolutely divine!


The Pickling Brine:

In a large stainless or enamel pan, mix apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, whole allspice, cloves and ground cinnamon.  Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar melts.  Reduce heat and let the brine simmer approximately 15 minutes.  Remove from heat.

Canning Process:

Have clean, sterilized jars ready.  You can wash them in the dishwasher if you have one (otherwise, wash and rinse by hand) and then place them in a cake pan.  Heat your oven to 200 degrees, place the pan with jars in the oven until you are ready to fill them.  Prepare 2 piece lids and rings according to directions.  ALWAYS use new lids.  Rings can be reused.

Pack peeled and trimmed beats into HOT canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch space from jar rim  Carefully pour hot pickling brine into each jar, covering beets and allow 1/4 inch head space.  (I used a big soup ladle and funnel to keep from spilling brine down the jars.)  Run a thin spatula through the jars to remove any air bubbles.  Wipe jar rims with a damp paper towel.  Add lids and rings.

You can use a water bath method to preserve the jars (follow instructions with water bath canner), or store the sealed beets in the refrigerator, which I what I do.  They don't last long enough to go through the whole water bath process.  There is nothing like the sound of the "POP" when the lid seals.  That means you are ready for some good eating in a few days!  I really can't wait.  This recipe made two quarts jars or 4 pint jars.  I will be going back to the Farmer's Market in search of more beets!

If you have access to fresh beets this time of year, give this recipe a try.  You will be so glad you did.  They are a wonderful addition to any meal with that lovely hint of cloves, allspice and cinnamon.
Deeeeee-licious!

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

“Beet ever so onion there snow peas legume.”
Margaret Thornley

"Eat Your Beets Horace, They're Good For You"

 

One of my fondest memories from my childhood is my grandmother's pickled beets.  Your first impulse is to say yuck, beets.  Gross!  But let me ask, have you ever had home made pickled beets?  Made with cinnamon, all spice and cloves?  Let me tell you, they are amazing!  Yes, amazing.  I am not talking about those awful things they served in the school cafeteria that were swimming in some kind of white sauce and were absolutely tasteless.  Even roasted beets are wonderful.  No, we are talking pickled beets. 

I recently purchased about four pounds of beets at the farmers market.  They were not too big, still dirty from being right out of the garden and had the tops on them.  My first thought was pickled beets here we come.  Let me tell you about the nutritional value of beets.  First, they are very high in fiber.  They contain potassium, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folate, betaine and many trace elements.  They are known to be anti-cancer (especially colon) and anti-inflammatory.  Pickled foods are actually very high in bifidobacteria, a necessary or "good" bacteria that aids in digestion and immune health.  So, before you toss out the thought of pickled beets, consider all the benefits they have besides being delicious.

I will post the pickling recipe at a later time, but I wanted to share the salad I made using my pickled beets.  (You can purchase pickled beets at the grocery, but they aren't quite as good.)  It was absolutely wonderful.  Here is what you need:

Ingredients:

Romaine lettuce or any mixed greens

1/2 cup pickled beets, sliced thin

1 avocado diced

1 medium tomato, diced

fresh mozzarella cheese

If using romaine, slice it in ribbons across the head and then cut the ribbons in half.  Place the lettuce or mixed greens in a salad bowl, layer avocado, tomato and beets on top.  Dice some fresh mozzarella and scatter over top of salad.  

Dressing:

1/2 cup good virgin olive oil

1/4 cup good balsamic vinegar

1 clove garlic turned into paste - do this by putting some coarse salt on a cutting board, mince garlic clove, then using the side of a big knife blade (like a chef's knife), place one hand on the knife handle and the heel of the other hand on the flat knife blade and mash the garlic back and forth in the salt until it becomes a paste

pinch salt

fresh cracked black pepper

mix ingredients together and serve on the side with the salad.  

This salad is so good and so full of nutrients and fiber which is an even bigger benefit.   Give it a try.  You may learn to like pickled beets after all.  As Dolly Levy said to Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly, "Eat your beets, Horace, they're good for you!"  If you are a fan already, good for you!  Another recipe to add to your book.  

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

‎"Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier." Mother Teresa