These beautiful sautéed beet greens make me think of the holidays! They are so comforting, so flavourful, and so easy to make!
Beet greens have the sweetness that kale lacks
They cook quickly like spinach
The vibrant stems look similar to rhubarb but are edible!
And they belong on your plate!
Buying Beet Greens
You can likely buy beets separated from the greens at your local grocery store. In fact, we mention in our How To Roast Beets post that we tend to buy beets without the greens. The price is lower when the root has been separated from the greens BUT...
The sweetness of the beet root will be stronger when they have not been separated from their greens for long AND... you get to sauté the greens for this beautiful side dish!
The Cost
Well, 1 bunch of beets with their greens attached costs us roughly: CAD $4.99. There are typically three beet roots attached to the greens.
It's a shame to think the greens often end up unused! Get the most out of your tasty bunch of beets and for an additional few cents, saute your beet greens with some:
- Garlic
- Chilli flakes
- And a dash of lemon juice
The Taste
Oh yes they do! Beets are one of the tastiest root vegetables around and their greens hold that same wonderful flavour!
- They're sweet
- Soft like spinach
- No need to "massage" them like kale to break down any toughness
- They soak up added flavours
- You can eat them raw or cooked
- And both the green leaf and deep red stem can be eaten!
Although these beautiful beet greens look similar to the stalks and leaves of the rhubarb plant... they are not poisonous.
In fact, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals! Open up this healthline article if you're interested in learning more about the benefits of the beet plant!
We love this Festive Beet Pumpkin Polenta that includes both the beet root and the greens!
Recipes With The Beet Root
What can't you do with the beet root!
Our preferred method of cooking the root is oven roasting but you can check out our thrifty how-to on Roasting Beets for a full list of options!
We keep a constant supply of cooked beets in our fridge and use them for so many super tasty recipes:
Try our hearty Borscht
Our Smoky, Spicy Beet Penne
A sweet, Chocolate Peanut Butter Beet Smoothie (trust us!!)
And our beautiful, Pumpkin Beet Polenta featuring these tasty greens!
So don't toss those greens! Sauté them with a few extra spices and let us know if you serve up these beautiful beet greens as a vibrant side dish and what you pair them with!
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Sautéed Beet Greens - Get The Most From Beets
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Simple and beautiful sautéed beet greens make the perfect side! They are quick to make, so flavourful, and perfect for your holiday dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch beet greens*
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- optional: ¼ teaspoon red chilli flakes
*Fresh ingredients you need that are not part of our pantry and freezer tips.
Instructions
- Wash your beet greens and allow to dry.
- Chop into 2” pieces.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat, add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until lightly browned and fragrant.
- Add greens and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 5-8 minutes until soft and wilted.
- In the last couple of minutes of the cooking time, drizzle a bit of lemon juice over the greens and sprinkle a pinch of chilli flakes if desired. (fun fact… adding lemon juice to leafy greens helps your body absorb more of their iron… so splash a bit on there!).
- Serve and enjoy!
- To store, refrigerate in an air-tight container for up to 2 days and reheat in a hot pan.
Notes
*Approximate Cost: CAD $5.27 (1 bunch of beets with the greens attached costs us: $4.99). Don't throw out the tasty greens! Get the most from your dollars.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Sauteed
- Cuisine: European
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