Sautéed Beet Greens Recipe (2024)

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Sauteed Beet Greens are a simple and delicious side dish that takes just a few minutes to make. Beet greens, which are the green part of the root crop, are similar to Swiss chard. The greens have a mild flavour and lend themselves perfectly to a simple saute in garlic and lemon.

Sautéed Beet Greens Recipe (1)

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Why You Shouldn't Throw Away Those Beet Greens

When you buy or grow beets, you are getting two veggies in one. The root of the beet, or beetroot, is delicious and you can use it in salads, like these: ,Roasted Beet and Apple Salad and, among others. You can even use beetroot to make hummus: Roasted Beet Hummus.

And every time you cook with beets, you can save the greens to use in salads or to sautee as a side dish. Try making this Beet Soup and then using the greens to make this simple but delicious recipe for sauteed beet greens.

Besides being delicious, beet greens are incredibly good for you. They are very high in fibre and a good source of Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Calcium, Vitamin C, and Iron, along with all kinds of minerals. Find out more: What are the benefits of eating beet greens?

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Here's What You Need To Make This Recipe

Besides the beet tops, you need just a few ingredients to make sauteed beet greens and you probably have them in your kitchen already.

Beet tops and stems cut from two or three bunches of beets.

(About 1 pound of greens, or 4-5 cups) This is quite approximate due to different sizes of beets, but it's fine if there are more or less. It will also seem like a lot, but the leaves will reduce by quite a bit when you cook them.

Extra virgin olive oil.

Normally I wouldn't recommend extra virgin olive oil for sauteing or cooking, at all, because it has a low smoke point, and its delicate, fruity flavour gets lost in the cooking process. However, this recipe has such a brief cooking time that the oil doesn't get a chance to smoke. And the simplicity of this dish allows the extra virgin olive oil to shine. For that reason, use good quality oil.

Garlic.

Use fresh garlic, not garlic powder. You can mince the cloves yourself, or you can use jarred pre-minced garlic.

Lemon juice and zest.

Again, use a fresh lemon. Bottled lemon juice may have its place, but not here.

Salt, pepper, and a pinch of dried red pepper flakes.

You can skip the red pepper flakes, but the amount isn't enough to add noticeable heat. It does, however, enhance the dish.

And that's it!

Sautéed Beet Greens Recipe (3)

How to Make This Recipe, Step By Step

The beet tops will need a thorough rinse to remove any sand or grit. Just put them in a colander and toss them around under running water. Shake them to remove as much water as possible. You can pat them dry with paper towel, or use a salad spinner.

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We are using the stems as well as the leaves. Because the stems are tougher, they take a bit longer to cook, and they are cooked first. So the stems need to be separated from the leaves.

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Everything gets chopped up

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Cook the stems first in a small amount of water

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Drain the stems and set aside. Heat the oil, garlic & spices in the pan

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Add the beet leaves, and cook, tossing with tongs, until just wilted.

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Remove from heat and add the cooked stems and lemon zest. Squeeze the lemon juice on and toss it all together.

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Serve right away

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What to Serve Your Greens With?

Sauteed Beet Greens are a perfect side dish served for any meal. They compliment chicken (Grilled Harissa Chicken Drumsticks), fish, (Grilled Asian Salmon Kebabs), beef, pork or even meatloaf (Turkey Cauliflower Meatloaf)

You can also have these greens with any vegetarian meal, tossed with some pasta, or topped with a poached egg.

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Tips For Perfect Sauteed Beet Greens

  • Start with the freshest greens possible. The leaves should be dark green with no signs of yellowing.
  • Always pre-cook the stems.
  • Use a good quality olive oil and a fresh lemon
  • Zest the lemon before cutting it.
  • When cooking the leaves, use thongs to keep tossing them so that they cook evenly.
  • Be very careful not to overcook them. Take them off the heat when the leaves are just wilted.

Sautéed Beet Greens Recipe (13)

Recipe

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Sautéed Beet Greens Recipe (14)

Sautéed Beet Greens

Beet Tops are delicious sauteed in olive oil, lemon and garlic. A quick and easy, delicious side dish.

5 from 16 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 77kcal

Author: Colleen Milne

Ingredients

  • 2-3 bunches of beet tops About 4 cups, chopped
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 lemon juice and zest

Instructions

  • Thoroughly wash the beet tops with cold water to remove any dirt and debris

  • Separate the stems from the beet leaves

  • Cut the stems into one-inch pieces and roughly chop the leaves

  • Put the stems into a skillet or wok and add enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer until tender, (About 5 minutes)

  • Drain the stems into a colander and set aside

  • Add the oil to the pan and heat over medium heat until a drop of water thrown in sizzles

  • Add garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes

  • Cook, stirring for about a minute, until fragrant

  • Add the beet leaves and, using thongs, toss until the leaves are coated in the oil and spices. Continue to toss until the leaves are just starting to wilt.

  • Squeeze the juice of half the lemon over the leaves. Add the lemon zest, and toss to coat.

  • Remove from heat and serve immediately with the remaining half lemon, sliced.

Notes

Trim greens and their stems from beets right away to extend the storage life of both the beets and the greens. Beets will keep for quite a while in the fridge, up to a month, while greens should be used within 3-5 days.

An easy way to wash beet greens: fill a large bowl with cold water, add the greens and swirl them around to remove any dirt or debris.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 339mg | Potassium: 182mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1276IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

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Sautéed Beet Greens Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you get the bitterness out of beet greens? ›

Here are five ways to tame the bite of bitter greens.
  1. Blanch the greens first. Once, I decided to skip a step and not blanch the broccoli rabe for a pasta dish. ...
  2. Add strongly flavored ingredients. Fight bitterness with other flavors like sweetness and spice. ...
  3. Add acid. ...
  4. Use salt. ...
  5. Braise them.
May 1, 2019

What is the best way to eat beet greens? ›

Sautéed Beet Greens Serving Suggestions
  1. With eggs. Fold the beet greens into scrambled eggs or an omelet, or add them to your next veggie frittata.
  2. In pasta. Toss the greens with pasta, walnuts, feta cheese, and red pepper flakes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
  3. In a grain bowl.

Are sauteed beet greens good for you? ›

Beet greens have a similar colorful look as swiss chard and can be consumed in much of the same way. They also are very high in iron with a higher iron count than spinach as well as vitamin K, B6, magnesium and potassium. They are also a great source of fiber.

Do beet greens lose nutrients when cooked? ›

"Like most vegetables, some nutrients may get lost in the cooking process, but cooked beet greens can still provide a great source of nutrients," Mathis says.

What kills the bitterness of greens? ›

The foods that help reduce bitterness are:
  • Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens)
  • Sweet or Spicy.
  • Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar.
  • Long cooking like braising (think southern collard greens that are cooked for hours)
  • Blanch first.
Jul 7, 2021

What can you add to beets to make them taste better? ›

The roasted beets are wonderful on their own, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, or dressed up more with citrus juice, herbs, or balsamic vinegar. Serve them with any weeknight dinner, or add them to a holiday meal. These oven roasted beets keep well for days in the fridge, so they're great for making ahead.

Are beet greens anti inflammatory? ›

Nitrates also improve oxygen levels in the body, which enhance exercise performance and athletic ability. Beet greens also help fight inflammation, improve digestive health, support brain health and contain anti-cancer properties.

Should I store beet greens in the refrigerator? ›

Beet greens can be stored in the fridge for up to two days. Wash beet greens right before using. 1. Place beet greens in a plastic bag.

Are beet greens a laxative? ›

High in fiber, beet greens improve digestion and improve chronic constipation. Boost your fiber intake with leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables to stay regular.

Are beet greens good for high blood pressure? ›

Leafy greens such as spinach, Swiss chard, kale, beet greens, and collards pack a punch when it comes to lowering high blood pressure. They're sources of magnesium, as well as potassium, an essential nutrient for preventing or lowering high blood pressure.

Are beet greens kidney friendly? ›

Raw Swiss chard, spinach, and beet greens are preferable to cooked greens to avoid too much potassium. However, moderate your intake of these foods, as they're also high in oxalates. Among sensitive individuals, oxalates can increase the risk of kidney stones ( 43 ).

Is it safe to eat raw beet greens? ›

Beet greens have oodles of nutritional value, from fiber and protein to vitamins C, K, and B9. You can eat beet greens raw or cooked. No matter how you choose to chow down, you could enjoy health perks like a stronger immune system, healthier teeth, and a healthier digestive tract.

What is the healthiest way to eat beets? ›

Eating beets raw or juicing and roasting them may be more beneficial than boiling them. Beetroots, commonly known as beets, are a vibrant and versatile type of vegetable. They're known for their earthy flavor and aroma. Many people call them a superfood because of their rich nutritional profile.

Are cooked beets a laxative? ›

Ultimately, the fiber from beets adds bulk to stool while also softening it, decreasing the chance of constipation. Or, if you tend to have loose and watery stools, the fiber may aid in solidifying stool as it absorbs water and adds bulk. A bulky, soft stool is ideal for whole body detoxification.

Are beet greens healthier than kale? ›

They're far more delicious than those of kale and collards. They're also more nutritious. Beet greens are some of the most nutrient-rich greens around, containing more antioxidants and other phytonutrients than the bulbous roots themselves, according to Jo Robinson, author of Eating On The Wild Side.

How do you make beets less bitter? ›

If you're boiling them, add plenty of salt (as if you were boiling pasta) and about a quarter-cup of red wine vinegar to the water. If you're roasting, you can adjust the flavors afterwards. Try marinating them with citrus zest, garlic, scallion, vinegar, and again, plenty of salt.

How to neutralize bitter taste? ›

The Fix: Balance bitter flavors by introducing something salty, sweet, or sour. For naturally bitter foods such as kale, you can soften the flavor by add a lemony vinaigrette, Parmesan cheese, and pomegranate seeds. You can also elevate kale by tossing it olive oil and salt, then roasting it in the oven until crispy.

How to make leafy greens not bitter? ›

Blanch Them

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

How to make bitter leaf less bitter? ›

Add enough salt (you can be generous with the salt) The more salt, the better. Pour in hot boiling water, stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the leaves from the hot salty water and transfer them into cold water. This process blanches the leaves and removes the bitterness.

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