Tangled Beet Salad

I’m posting this recipe for Tangled Beet Salad because I don’t like beets. Okay, I didn’t like beets–not until I tried this salad at my local grocery store. Wow. Delicious! I always used to think beets tasted like dirt, but not anymore. Combined with garlic, lemon, lime and cilantro they are fresh and delightful!Which is really good news, because beets are pretty easy to grow. And really healthy. According to the AHA, they can lower blood pressure. One study by Lazlo Vali claims they can promote liver detoxification. If that wasn’t enough, they can help prevent cancer, increase energy levels, reduce inflammation…. The list goes on. But me? I’ll grow them if they taste good, because most anything I grow in my garden is pretty much healthy.

Tangled Beet Salad Recipe

This recipe calls for a spiral cutter, but if you don’t have one, simply cut the beets into thin slices. The key to success is the marinade and how well it can penetrate your beets. Also, it lists cilantro as an ingredient and I ALWAYS prefer fresh cilantro because there’s nothing like the aromatic flavor of this herb that simply can’t be replicated.And if you don’t have a zesting tool, get one. Not only will you use it for this recipe, but my sweet Oatmeal-Carrot Cookies and Granola recipes demand it!

If you’re growing beets in your garden, this is a must-try salad. No beets?  Then they are a must-try to grow! When the recipe indicates to serve, do so immediately upon mixing beets and zucchini for a nice contrast between the red and green vegetables. Otherwise, your dish will end up looking like one red salad (like mine above!). CAUTION: Beet juice will be everywhere and stains, so don’t wear white!

How to Grow Beets

This root vegetable is fairly easy to grow, but needs very well-drained soil as its roots must be able to dig deep. Plant in full sun, though it can tolerate light shade. As for nutrients, think low Nitrogen and moderate to high phosphorous and potassium, depending on your soil conditions. Too much nitrogen will give you glorious leaves, but it will detract from the growing power directed into the root. The ruby-red root that is so delicious in this recipe, so be forewarned. Sow your seeds about 1-1.5″ deep and 2-3″ apart and keep moist. They don’t like to get too hot either, so keep well-mulched or top dress with a thin layer of compost.

Carrots make good companions for beets, as do bush beans, anything in the cabbage family, corn, leeks, lettuce, onions and radish. Pole beans and mustard are bad companions, so make sure they keep their distance. Harvest when beets reach about 1.5 – 2.5″ in diameter. As they grow larger, they begin to lose flavor. Harvest time is approximately 50-65 days. Enjoy!