Grilled Beets With Dilled Cucumbers 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.

GRILLED BEETS WITH DILLED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. In heavy-duty foil, wrap beets, in one layer, with ice. Cover grill; cook until beets are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 40 to 45 minutes, turning once.
• Rub off skins with paper towel. Cut beets into wedges. Toss in bowl with oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar; season with salt and pepper.
• In another bowl, toss cucumber slices with sour cream, dill, and remaining 2 teaspoons vinegar; season with salt and pepper.
• Place beets on platter; top with cucumbers.

CHILLED BEET SOUP WITH BUTTERMILK, CUCUMBERS, AND DILL (CHLODNIK)

Steps:

• Using a large knife, separate greens and stems from beets. Thoroughly wash greens and stems; set aside. Scrub beets, transfer to a medium pot, and cover with 1" water. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, uncover, and cook until beets are tender when pierced with a knife, about 10 minutes. Drain beets; discard cooking liquid. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, chop beet greens and stems. Transfer to a large pot and add 1/2 tsp. salt and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer, without boiling, until greens are tender, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Peel and coarsely grate beets, preferably wearing gloves. Add to pot with cooled greens. Gently stir in cucumbers, pickle, pickle brine, buttermilk, sour cream, and scallions. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover pot and chill soup at least 30 minutes. Adjust seasonings, if desired. Divide soup among bowls; top with eggs and dill.
• Do Ahead
• Soup can be made 2 days ahead; cover and chill.

BEET AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Mix water, vinegar, and sugar together in a bowl; add onion and cucumber. Set aside to marinate, at least 20 minutes.
• Combine 2 hard-boiled eggs cut into bite-size pieces and beets together in a bowl.
• Drain liquid from onion and cucumbers. Toss onion and cucumbers with beet mixture. Stir mayonnaise into beet mixture. Arrange sliced hard-boiled egg atop salad; sprinkle with dill, salt, and pepper.

CUCUMBER-DILL MARINADE WITH GRILLED LAMB KEBABS

Steps:

• Reserve 1 1/2 cups dip as serving sauce. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine remaining 1 cup dip, lamb, zucchini, and onion. Close and shake to thoroughly coat meat and vegetables. Let marinate 30 minutes at room temperature. (Can be stored in refrigerator up to 24 hrs in advance.)
• When ready to cook, heat a lightly-oiled grill pan over medium heat. Remove lamb and vegetables from marinade, let excess drip off, and thread on skewers. Place skewers in pan and cook, turning to cook all sides, until lamb is medium-rare and vegetables are cooked through, about 6 minutes total. (You may have to do this in batches.)
• Serve immediately over rice or with flatbread and pass reserved sauce on side.
• Serving Suggestion: Steamed rice, rice pilaf, or pita bread.
• In a medium bowl, mix together yogurt, cucumber, dill, coriander, red pepper flakes, vinegar, and salt until evenly combined. Season well with freshly ground black pepper, taste, and adjust seasoning, as needed. Serve with an assortment of vegetables for dipping.

GRILLED SEA SCALLOPS WITH YELLOW BEETS, CUCUMBERS AND LIME

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place beets in a baking dish with an inch of water. Tightly cover baking dish and roast for 1 hour or so, until beets are soft enough to yield to a fork and skins easily rub off. Peel beets, let them cool, then dice into 1/2-inch cubes. Alternatively, peel and dice raw beets, then simmer in salted water for 20 to 30 minutes, until tender. (Beets may be cooked up to a day in advance.)
• Put scallops on a baking sheet, pat dry and season on both sides with salt and pepper. Drizzle or paint very lightly with olive oil, just to coat the surface. Leave at room temperature for 15 minutes to absorb seasoning. (Or refrigerate up to 6 hours in advance; bring to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Put onions, ginger and lime juice in a mixing bowl with a big pinch of salt. Let macerate for 10 minutes or so, then add beets and cucumber to bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat well with juices. Leave to marinate, tossing occasionally, for at least 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
• Prepare a bed of medium-hot coals for grilling or heat a stovetop grill pan. Lay the scallops on the grill and let them crisp gradually, for 5 minutes or so. Don't try to turn them until they are well browned or they'll stick. Flip and cook for 2 or 3 minutes more, until cooked through, but juicy.
• Transfer scallops to a serving dish in one layer. Spoon beets and cucumbers over the scallops and sprinkle with dill, mint and chives. Squeeze a little more lime juice over everything and drizzle with good fruity olive oil.