Golden And Red Beet Soup Food

GOLDEN BEET SOUP

Steps:

• Melt margarine in large pot over medium heat. Add beets, onions, ginger, and lemon peel. Cover; cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 6 cups broth and bring to boil. Cover; reduce heat and simmer until beets are very tender, 1 hour. Remove from heat; let stand 20 minutes.
• Puree soup in blender in batches until smooth. Return puree to pot. Add 2 tablespoons lemon juice to soup and thin with more broth, if desired. Season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice.
• Slice enough beet greens to measure 3/4 cup. Microwave greens 1 minute to wilt; place in blender. Add 3/4 cup soup; puree greens until smooth. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover soup and puree separately; chill. Rewarm both separately before using.
• Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle some of greens puree over soup and serve.

GOLDEN AND RED BEET SOUP

Steps:

• Trim beets (reserve greens for another use) and peel. Separately cut golden and red beets into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Finely chop onion. In each of two 3-quart saucepans melt 1 tablespoon butter over moderate heat. Add red beets and half of onion to butter in one pan and golden beets and remaining onion to other. Cook beet mixtures, stirring, 5 minutes. Add 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to each beet mixture and simmer, uncovered, 40 minutes, or until beets are very tender.
• In a blender or food processor puree each mixture separately with 1 1/4 cups milk until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Return soups to pans and reheat over moderate heat.
• In a small bowl whisk together crème fraîche or sour cream and dill. Divide soups among 6 bowls, pouring them simultaneously into opposite sides of each bowl.
• Serve soup topped with cream mixture and garnished with dill.

CHILLED GOLDEN BEET AND BUTTERMILK SOUP

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine chopped shallots and vinegar and let macerate for 20 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with a few grinds of black pepper. Set aside.
• Put beets in a large pot over medium heat and add 1 teaspoon salt and enough water to cover. Boil for 25 to 40 minutes, depending on size, until tender when poked with the tip of a knife. Drain beets and let cool, then peel off the skins with your fingers.
• Cut 1 beet into a small, even dice, then add to the shallot mixture, season with a pinch of salt (or to taste) and set aside. Cut the remaining beets into large chunks and purée in a blender with buttermilk and lemon juice until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until completely cool.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil. Serve with marinated beets, herbs and sour cream on the side, so people can garnish their own bowls as they like.