Fresh Dilled Beets 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.

ROASTED BEETS WITH DILL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place beets in small roasting pan with 1/4 cup water. Cover pan tightly with foil. Bake until beets are tender when pierced with knife, about 1 hour. Cool slightly. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Peel beets. Cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Stir in dill and lemon juice. Add beets and toss until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl; serve.

PICKLED BEETS

Steps:

• Bring all ingredients except beets to a boil in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Cool marinade, then chill, covered, 1 day to allow flavors to develop. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl.
• Cook beets in a saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Drain and cool. Slip off skins and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Stir together beets and marinade, then marinate, covered and chilled, 1 day.

BEET AND CABBAGE BORSCHT

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add potatoes, cabbage and onion and sauté until cabbage softens, about 5 minutes. Add 8 cups broth, beets and tomatoes. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Working in small batches, puree 4 cups of soup in blender; return to remaining soup in pot. If desired, add more broth by 1/2 cupfuls to thin soup. Add lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle soup into bowls. Top with dollop of sour cream; sprinkle with parsley. Serve, passing lemon wedges separately.