Beets With Yogurt Food

HASSELBACK BEETS WITH DILL YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim, peel and halve 2 1/2 pounds medium beets; slice as directed (see left). Place the beets in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and drizzle with 3/4 cup olive oil; season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add cup water and cover with foil. Roast at 425 degrees F, 40 minutes. Uncover and continue roasting, spreading the slices apart and basting with the pan juices halfway through, until the beets are tender, 30 to 40 more minutes. Let cool slightly. Mix 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons each chopped dill and lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Drizzle over the beets and top with crushed pink peppercorns and more dill.
• Cut a thin sliver from one side of the vegetable so it can sit flat. (If you¿re starting with halved veggies, like the beets at right, skip this step.)
• Position the vegetable cut-side down between the handles of two wooden spoons.
• Using a sharp knife, make crosswise cuts (1/8 to 1/4 inch apart), stopping when the knife hits the handles so you don't cut all the way through the vegetable.

BEETS WITH CREAMY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE AND MINT

Steps:

• Wrap the garlic cloves together in a piece of parchment paper; wrap each beet separately in parchment. Place the garlic and beets in a microwave-safe dish and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the garlic and set aside, still wrapped. Continue to cook the beets in intervals of 2 minutes, until they can be easily pierced with a knife, 8 to 10 minutes. Let sit wrapped in parchment to complete the cooking process and until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the yogurt, broth, vinegar, oil and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Peel the garlic cloves, mash completely and whisk into the vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper. (Alternatively, make the vinaigrette with the microwave-roasted garlic up to a few hours in advance to allow the flavors to blend. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• Peel the beets using a paring knife and cut into wedges or slices. Arrange on a platter, drizzle with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with the mint and pistachios. Serve immediately, while still warm.

MEDITERRANEAN BEET AND YOGURT SALAD

Steps:

• Roast the beets, peel and cut in wedges or slice into half-moons. Stir together the vinegar, sugar, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with the warm beets and allow to marinate for 2 to 3 hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
• Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle, add 1/8 teaspoon salt, and mash to a paste. Stir into the yogurt. Stir in half the dill. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drain the beets and stir some of the marinade into the yogurt (to taste). Toss with the beets, or arrange the beets on a platter and drizzle the yogurt over the top. Sprinkle on the remaining dill, and serve.

ROASTED BEETS WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place red beets in a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon coarse salt, 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap red beets in parchment paper-lined aluminum foil and set aside; repeat process in a clean bowl, first with golden beets, then with candy cane beets.
• Place wrapped beets on a baking sheet and transfer to oven; roast until beets are easily pierced with the tip of a small knife, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Remove skins by rubbing each type of beet with a paper towel.
• Cut beets into halves or quarters and transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, remaining 2 tablespoons coarse salt, and pepper; toss to combine.
• Spoon yogurt into the bottom of a large shallow serving bowl; top with an even layer of beets. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and balsamic vinegar; garnish with chervil and season with sea salt and pepper. Serve.

BEETS WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Cut the stems and leaves about 3/4 of an inch above the beets. To boil them, cook them in plenty of boiling salted water until tender-small ones will take about 30 minutes, larger ones about 1 1/2 hours. To roast them, put them on a sheet of foil on a baking sheet, cover them with foil, and roast in the oven at 400°F for 2 to 3 hours, depending on their size, until one feels tender when you cut right through with a pointed knife. You could cut them in half (lay them cut side down) and reduce the cooking time considerably.
• When cool enough to handle, peel and cut the beets into less than 1/2-inch-thick rounds or half-moon slices. Wear rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands.
• Beat the crushed garlic, if using, into the yogurt and spread the mixture on a serving plate. Arrange the beet slices on top. Beat the lemon juice with the oil and a little salt, stir in the chopped mint or parsley, and spoon over the beet slices.
• A Lebanese version uses 1 1/2 tablespoons tahina (see page 7) beaten into the yogurt. This, too, is delicious.

SHREDDED BEETS WITH THICK YOGURT

Steps:

• Drain the yogurt to 1½ cups: Line a strainer w/a coffee filter, add yogurt & set aside about 1 hour.
• Cut off all but 1 inch of the beet stalks and leave the roots intact. Rinse the beets well but do not peel. Cook the beets in boiling salted water until tender, 25 to 35 minutes. Drain, slip off the skins under cold running water, and cut away the root ends and stalks. Coarsely grate the beets, using the shredding disk of a food processor or the large holes of a hand grater (latex gloves are recommended for the latter or you'll look like an axe murderer!).
• Combine the garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the beets and yogurt and blend well. Taste and add a pinch of sugar if desired. Transfer to a serving dish, cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour. Garnish with sprigs of fresh mint just before serving.

BEETS WITH MINT AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Peel the beet and grate it coarsely.
• Put the yogurt in a bowl and beat it lightly with a fork or a whisk until it is smooth and creamy. Add the salt, pepper to taste, and cayenne, if using. Mix. Add the mint and beet. Mix gently.
• Put the oil and garlic in a small frying pan and set over medium-high heat. The garlic will eventually begin to sizzle. Press down on the garlic with a spatula and let it sizzle some more, turning the pieces once or twice, until they turn a medium brown. Now pour the flavored oil and garlic into the bowl with the yogurt and mix.