Creamed Beetroot Food

BEET SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot on medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until onions are soft and translucent.
• Add beets and potatoes, stir to coat with the onion mixture.
• Add broth, just enough to cover the beets and stir until well combined. (Only add enough broth to cover the vegetables, you may need more or less depending on the size of your beets, as you don't want a runny soup and you can always add more at the end if needed.)
• Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes until the beets are tender and can easily be pierced with a fork.
• Once cooked, using an immersion blender or in batches using a bar blender, purée until smooth.
• Once blended, season generously with additional salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately with a dollop of sour cream and a sprig of dill.
• Any leftover soup can be cooled completely and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

CREAMY ROASTED BEET SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan set over moderate heat cook beets and onion in butter, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add broth, thyme, bay leaf and salt and pepper to taste and simmer soup, covered, for 15 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Transfer to a food processor or blender and puree, in batches if necessary, until smooth. Return soup to saucepan, stir in cream and vinegar and bring soup to a simmer, stirring, until heated through. Garnish each serving with cream and dill, if desired.;

CREAMY BEET SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they're tender-crisp. Add the potato and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Drain the liquid from the beets and reserve 1 cup beet juice. Add the beets and broth to the saucepan and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes more or until the potato is tender.
• Place 1/2 of the broth mixture into an electric blender or food processor container. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into a medium bowl. Repeat the blending process with the remaining broth mixture. Return all of the pureed mixture to the saucepan. Stir in the reserved beet juice, dill and black pepper. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is hot.
• Serve with sour cream.

CREAMED BEETS

Steps:

• 1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in flour. Let it heat over a medium heat, but don't let it brown. Stir in milk, blending well. When it starts bubbling around the edges, add the beets, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to very low and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
• 2. NOTE: You can also add a dash of nutmeg and 1/2 cup of plain yogurt, after reducing the heat to low.

CREAMED BEETROOT

Steps:

• Melt butter in a pan, add the onion and fry gently for 5 minutes with out browning.
• Add the flour and cook a further 2 minutes, stirring all the time. Remove from the heat and gradually add the milk, beating vigorously after each addition.
• Return to the heat and bring to the boil stirring constantly.
• Lower the heat and simmer 2 minutes stirring occasionally, then stir in the cream, herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Fold in beetroot and apple and simmer a further 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and leave to cool, stirring occasionally to prevent skin forming.

CREAMY BEETROOT RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Peel and trim the beetroots (use kitchen gloves if you don't want your hands to get stained) and cut into large wedges. Place on a large sheet of foil on a baking sheet. Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, season, then cook for 1 hr until the beets are soft.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil with the butter in an ovenproof pan with a lid. Tip in the onion and garlic, then cook for 3-5 mins until translucent. Stir in the rice until well coated with the butter and oil. Pour over the white wine, then let the mixture bubble away for 5 mins.
• Stir well, then pour over the stock. Stir again, cover and place in the oven. Cook for 15 mins until the rice is soft. Remove the beetroots from the oven. Whizz ¼ of them to make a purée, then chop the remainder into small pieces. Stir most of the Parmesan, the beetroot purée and chopped beetroot through the risotto, then serve with some soured cream dolloped over and the dill and extra Parmesan scattered on top.

CREAMY BEETROOT HUMMUS

Steps:

• Tip the chickpeas, beetroot, tahini, lemon zest and juice, garlic, yogurt and 21/2 tbsp oil into a food processor. Season well, and blend, scraping down the sides after 30 secs or so, then blend again until smooth. Transfer to a pot or jar with a lid, drizzle with the remaining oil and scatter over the pine nuts. Serve with crunchy vegetable sticks.

CREAMED GOAT'S CHEESE & ROAST BEETROOT SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Roll the beetroot in half the olive oil in a small roasting tin, season, cover with foil and bake for 1 hr - check it's cooked by pushing a knife into the beetroot, it should go in easily. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Leave the oven on. Meanwhile, whisk all the dressing ingredients together. Place the ciabatta on a tray, drizzle with the remaining olive oil and bake for 8 mins until crisp, then leave to cool. When the beetroot is cool enough to handle, peel, cut into wedges and add to the dressing to lightly pickle. Can all be done up to two days ahead.
• Break the goat's cheese into small chunks in a bowl, beat with a spoon, then add the crème fraîche, thyme, truffle oil, if using, and some cracked black pepper, then whisk until light and fluffy. Spoon into a piping bag and chill. Can be done two days ahead.
• Halve the chicory and remove the core with a sharp knife, then slice the leaves. Add to the bowl with the beetroot. Cut the cheeks off the sides of the apple and finely slice. To serve, pipe the goat's cheese onto each plate, then build the beetroot up around it. Press the chicory into the cheese and spoon over the dressing, then add the apple. Break the croutons into random shapes and press into the cheese too. To finish, scatter over the nuts and orange zest.