I love beets, but I used to throw the beet greens away or simply buy loose beets. Sometimes the greens can taste bitter – I have a solution for that!
I didn’t like messing with the greens which sometimes were limp and wet – not very appetizing. But lately I started seeing the bunches of beets with beautiful, healthy and crisp greens. Why waste such a nutrient dense food?
Beet greens have been compared to kale as the new kid on the nutrient dense block. Of course, the most nutrient dense foods are the organs of grassfed animals, but for a vegetable, this one is definitely nutrient dense.
Beet Green Are Deeply Nutritious
Aside from the nutrients in beetroot which you can see here, the greens are a good source of folate, pantothenic acid, phosphorus and zinc, and a very good source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese. (source)
In fact, beet greens are loaded with vitamin A and vitamin K1. Vitamins supports the immune system, antibody and white blood cell production and K1 supports our blood clotting system.
Beet greens also contain a little protein. Apparently they do contain a significant amount of salt, but this is naturally occurring and is fine.
Grab those bunches of beets and use the greens! I would always eat them cooked.
Be sure to cook them in a good fat and you will find that the bitterness goes away. The fat is also critical to absorption of all those minerals and nutrients. Add it to salads or eat as a side dish.
You can add bacon, nuts, mushrooms, etc. to make it more complex, but we like it plain.
You can feel the nutrients going into your body.
Ingredients
- 1 or 2 bunches of beet greens (I usually use 2 as it cooks down to a small amount)
- Fat from butter, ghee or bacon fat
- Sea salt and pepper
- Garlic minced (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the stems off from the beets and clean thoroughly
- Remove the center stems with this handy greens stripper
- Tear into smaller pieces
- Heat a large fry pan to medium
- Add the fat and melt
- Add the greens and saute covered until wilted and a darker color
- Add the spices and mix
- Plate and serve small portions
Equipment
- Large fry pan with cover (where to buy)
- Greens stem stripper (where to buy)
Other Article and Recipes with Beets
Roasted Beet Salad
Lacto-Fermented Beet Kvass
Video/Recipe: The No Tomato Sauce (Paleo, AIP, SCD/GAPS)
Golden Roasted Beet Salad with Dill
Roasted Beet and Fennel Salad with Balsamic Glaze
Balsamic Roasted Roots
Butternut Squash Zoodle Sauce (Paleo, AIP, GAPS, SCD)
Beet Juice Found to Lower Blood Pressure
