Baby Beets With Scallions Food

BABY BEETS WITH SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Make vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, walnut oil, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove leafy greens from tops of beets; trim stems, and discard. Rinse greens thoroughly, and refrigerate. Pare away tough skin at top of beets. With a firm-bristle vegetable brush or the back of a paring knife, scrub beets clean under cold running water. Place beets in a small roasting pan. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil and the thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Add enough water to just cover the bottom, and cover tightly. Place in oven, and cook 20 minutes, remove lid, and continue cooking until beets are tender to the tip of a sharp knife, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Slice scallions in quarters lengthwise. In a large saute pan over medium-low heat, melt butter; add scallions, and saute, 5 to 7 minutes. Raise heat to medium high, and continue cooking until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer scallions to a bowl, and set aside.
• Remove beet greens from refrigerator. Using the same pan as for the scallions, saute greens over medium-high heat until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer immediately to serving plate. Place scallions over greens. Trim "tails" from beets, and slice larger beets in half. Arrange beets over wilted greens with scallions. Drizzle vinaigrette over beets and greens. Sprinkle with blue cheese. Serve immediately.

GRILLED STEAK SALAD WITH BEETS AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Aioli:
• Bring stock to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolk and mustard in a bowl. Whisking constantly, gradually add oil, drop by drop at first, until mixture is very thick. Whisk in lemon juice and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Stir in stock.
• Salad:
• Preheat oven to 200°F. Prepare grill for medium-high heat (or heat a grill pan over medium-high). Rub steak with cut sides of garlic and 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning several times, until lightly charred and mediumrare (an instant-read thermometer should register 130°F), 14-16 minutes. Transfer to a rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, toss scallions on another baking sheet with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning often, until tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer to rack with beef and keep warm in oven.
• Arrange greens on a platter; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with lemon juice and 1 tablespoon oil. Toss beets in a bowl with vinegar and remaining 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Arrange over greens. Slice steak 1/2" thick; top greens with scallions and meat. Pour any juices over; season with salt. Serve with aioli.

BEET AND TOMATO SALAD WITH SCALLIONS AND DILL

Steps:

• Cook the beets: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Scrub beets, and place in 2 baking dishes just large enough to hold them - golden beets in one, red in the other to keep colors from bleeding. Add an inch or so of water. Cover and bake until tender when probed with a skewer, about 1 hour. Set aside to cool. (Alternatively, boil or steam beets instead. Beets may be cooked several hours or up to 2 days in advance.)
• Prepare the vinaigrette: Put vinegar and pinch of salt in a small bowl. Add mustard and stir with a fork to dissolve. Beat in olive oil to make the dressing thicken slightly. Add pepper to taste, plus a bit more salt, if necessary.
• When the beets are cool enough to handle, rub off the skins. Cut golden beets in half lengthwise, then into 6 to 8 wedges, depending on the beet's size. Repeat with red beets. Place in separate bowls, and season with salt. Slice tomatoes 1/2-inch thick, place in a separate bowl and season with salt.
• Whisk vinaigrette, and pour over beets and tomatoes, dividing it evenly among the bowls. Toss gently and marinate for 10 minutes.
• To serve, spoon the golden beets, red beets and tomatoes into distinct piles onto a large platter or serve in separate bowls. Top with scallions, and sprinkle with dill. Garnish with arugula or watercress, if using.

BABY BEET TOPS (WITH TEENY WEENY BABY BEETS ATTACHED)

Steps:

• Wash beet tops well and shake excess water off.
• Cut the baby beets off the stems and slice the bigger ones in half.
• Cut the stems off the leaves and discard.
• In a large non stick frypan, over high heat, add the olive oil, onions and baby beet pieces.
• Saute'til onions are just beginning to soften.
• Add the beet leaves, whole.
• (They should be medium to small leaves and very fresh.) Reduce heat to medium and add the smashed garlic, salt and pepper.
• Turn everything over several times to mix well, while cooking 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add oyster sauce and balsamic vinegar, turn over several times, cover and cook another 5 minutes.
• Drain slightly/loosely, do not press, serve hot, immediately.