We Asked 3 Chefs Their Favorite Vegetable—They All Said the Same One
We Asked 3 Chefs Their Favorite Vegetable—They All Said the Same One
The Unlikely Favorite of Chefs
When it comes to cooking, there are countless options when it comes to choosing the perfect vegetable. However, despite the abundance of varieties, many people tend to stick to the same old favorites. In this article, we spoke to three top Los Angeles-based chefs to discover their favorite vegetable, and to our surprise, they all had the same answer: beets.
The Underappreciated Beet
Root vegetables like carrots and potatoes get plenty of love, but beets often fly under the radar. Maybe it’s because home cooks aren’t quite sure what to do with them, or perhaps it’s because they require a bit of scrubbing and TLC to get them plate-ready. Whatever the reason, our chefs are here to change your mind about the humble beet.
A Brief Background on Beets
Beets have been around for centuries, originating in the Mediterranean around the 8th century. Ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed beets so much that they developed techniques to grow them outside of their normal growing season, making them widely available for a greater part of the year. The root vegetable eventually made its way to North America via European immigrants in the early 1800s, where it became a staple food, particularly valued for its long shelf life.
Why Beets Are Better Than You Think
Beets are packed with high levels of fiber and potassium, crucial nutrients for maintaining optimal digestive and heart health. A recent study even found that beets can help lower blood pressure and contain antioxidant and antitumor properties. Outside of their impressive health benefits, chefs appreciate the versatility and earthy qualities of beets.
The Best Ways to Prep Beets, According to Chefs
No matter the type of beet you have on hand – red, golden, or Chioggia (sometimes called candy cane or candy stripe beets) – the preparation possibilities are practically limitless. Here are a few tips from our chefs to get you started:
Slow-Roasted for Meaty Texture
"The best way to cook beets at home is to wash them carefully to get all the dirt off, dry them off, then toss in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Next, wrap them up in foil, place them in a preheated 375-degree oven, and cook for one and a half hours. Check them with a cake tester or the tip of a sharp knife to see if they’re cooked. Once done cooking, peel the outer skin and cool. Now you can use them in multiple ways – add them to stews, puree them for a soup, add them to a salad, or serve them on the side with a nice steak," says Mazen Mustafa, chef de cuisine at asterid in Downtown Los Angeles.
Braised and Boiled to Retain Color
"I love braising [beets] in the oven or stovetop. I put them in water with a little bit of vinegar, chili flakes, sugar, and salt. It’s my preferred way of cooking them because you can set and forget them. By the time you remember you were cooking beets, they’re fully cooked," says Mindy Oh, executive chef of Music Center.
Beet Juice for Drinking and Curing
"Juicing beets isn’t a new method by any means; still, I use beets as a natural colorant when I make purple-cured salmon. I recommend making a beet juice base to cure your fish. I use 50 grams of beet juice per kilo of salt and 300 grams of sugar. It makes a crudo look amazing!" says Hendrix Vega, executive chef of Amour.
Even More Ways to Explore Beets
"At work, we cook them in so many ways. We slow-roast them, brine and cook them, smoke them, and juice them. Among my favorite ways that we do it at asterid is incorporating all those methods into one dish, which is slow-roasted beets, XO sauce, tomato marmalade, and crystal lettuce. We will steam the brined beets until tender, then put them into a super-low oven to dehydrate them. After that, we smoke them to get them a bit of depth, then glaze them in a reduced beet juice with a bit of black garlic vinegar," says Mazen Mustafa.
Conclusion
With so many healthy and delicious reasons to eat beets, plus tips from the experts for preparing them at home, you’ll want to add beets to your list for your next grocery store trip.
FAQs
Q: What are the health benefits of eating beets?
A: Beets are high in fiber and potassium, which can help lower blood pressure and support digestive and heart health.
Q: How do I prepare beets for cooking?
A: Wash them carefully, dry them off, then toss in olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can slow-roast, braise, or boil them, depending on the recipe.
Q: Can I juice beets?
A: Yes! Juicing beets is a great way to incorporate them into your diet. You can also use beet juice as a natural colorant for dishes like purple-cured salmon.
Q: Are beets a versatile ingredient?
A: Absolutely! Beets can be used in a variety of dishes, from savory soups to sweet desserts.
