Colorado beets for warmer weather
“Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.” If you are familiar with Dwight Schrute from NBC’s hit TV series The Office then you know how often this character, a beet farmer, references this underutilized vegetable. We are featuring Colorado Proud beets and burrata for this month’s recipe, and you won’t be disappointed at how well the humble beet fits into your meal rotation.
Nutritionally, the golden beet is quite similar to that of red beets. They have similar carbohydrate, fat, and protein content and both are equally packed with potassium, a blood pressure-lowering mineral. The main nutritional difference between the two are the pigments, which provide nutrients commonly found in other yellow and orange vegetables. Vitamin C, Vitamin A, beta-carotene, flavonoid and zeaxanthin are abundant in golden beets. There are also some differences beyond basic nutrition. For starters, golden beets are sweeter in taste and less earthy in flavor. For those who do not like the taste of red beets, there’s a good chance they may enjoy golden beets.
Burrata is an Italian style cow or buffalo milk cheese with a solid outer casing and a soft interior of stracciatella and cream, giving it an unusual, soft texture. This cheese pairs beautifully with the sweeter golden beet to create a delicious dish perfect for brunch.
Each month, the Colorado Department of Agriculture features a different ag commodity to highlight the variety and quality of products grown and raised in the state. For May, Chef Jason Morse of 5280 Culinary uses Colorado beets to complement the warmer weather.
Chef Jason says, “I must admit something, I LOVE BEETS. Maybe not so much when I was a kid, but as an adult I can’t get enough of them. The flavor is so amazing and connects you to the earth with that rich earthy flavor. I crave them as a salad, side dish or just in a bowl. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I enjoyed making it. Happy cooking! ”
Beets and Burrata
Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C., 5280 Culinary, LLC and Ace Hardware Grill Expert
Yield: 2 Salads
Prep time: 10 Minutes Cook time: 20 Minutes plus rest time Ingredients:
12 ea Beets, Golden, Small 1 qt Apple Cider (or Juice) 6-8 oz Burrata Cheese, Fresh, Large
Taste Rub-A-Dub Seasoning, 5280 Culinary
Taste Garden Rub, 5280 Culinary
N cup Apple Vinaigrette or your favorite vinaigrette As Needed Italian Parsley,
Preparation Directions:
1. Wash all tools prior to use
2. Clean and sanitize all cutting boards and prep surfaces prior to use
3. Read all manufacturer’s instructions before using grills, ranges, ovens and any cooking tools Cooking Directions:
1. Wash Beets and trim off the stalk and roots ends
2. Place into a medium sized stock pot and cover with the cider/juice
3. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until fork tender
4. When beets are done, turn off the heat and cover the pan for 5 minutes to let the beets finish
5. Uncover the beets and using tongs, carefully remove the beets to a cooling rack
6. Allow beets to cool for 10 minutes
7. Peel the beets and quarter them
8. Place beets into a mixing bowl and season with Garden Rub and Rub-ADub seasonings
9. Add N cup of the apple vinaigrette
10. Mix well and let sit for 5 minutes
11. Place mixed beets on the bottom of the platter
12. Top with the fresh Burrata, drizzle with balsamic glaze, and garnish with chopped parsley 13. DEVOUR! This brunch dish pairs well with a cabernet franc from Turquoise Mesa Winery. For more information on wine, visit Colorado Wine.
Visit ColoradoProud.org for a complete list of recipes.
Colorado Proud is a program of the Colorado Department of Agriculture that promotes food and agricultural products grown, raised or made in Colorado. The program’s 2,900 members include growers, processors, schools, restaurants and retailers statewide.