Beets and Beet Greens
Beta vulgaris esculenta
R
ed beets have such a grand color and fl a
vor, especially when they wind up in the
classic Polish borscht, along with its inevitable
velvety sour cream fi nish . . . Now that would
be reason enough to plant the root were it not
for the added benefit of the equally delicious
young beet leaves, which actually have better
nutritional value than the root.
Our beets grew rapidly in the only semi
shaded part of our garden, but they still got a
good 6–7 hours of sun each day. I thinned
them to a 2-inch clear space several times. (I
steamed the early 6-inch-high greens with their
immature roots and served them with nonfat
vegetarian canned baked beans—delicious!)
I love the idea that this wild North African
native was first cultivated by the Eg yptians;
somehow it has added a layer of the exotic that
Poland—no matter how great its cuisine—
doesn’t evoke.
My earliest memories of beets revolve
around the thin pickled slices served with sal
ads and the way my grandmother used to dice
beets and stir them into clouds of amazingly
light and fl uffy mashed potatoes, along with a
handful of parsley. There was no need for
cream, milk, or butter; the sweet/sour of the
pickled beet and its smooth light purple com
panion were enough!
In early spring into summer, I have also used
the leaves in small pieces in salad mixes.
I found out, too late for my first year, about
the Chioggia—a classic heirloom beet with a
candy striped interior that doesn’t bleed like
the deep red varieties. They lose their distinct
red and white rings when boiled or steamed,
but do better when wrapped in foil and roasted.
So next year I’ll plant the yellow Goldens and
the curiously striped Chioggias.
The Numbers
Beets contain high levels of oxalate, which could be
of concern for kidney stones.
Roots for each 100 g boiled (3.5 oz ; ½ cup): 43 calo
ries, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 10 g carbohydrate, 2 g
protein, 3 g dietary fiber, 77 mg sodium
Leaves for each 100 g raw (3.5 oz ; 1 cup fi rmly
packed ): 22 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 4 g
carbohydrate, 2 g protein, 4 g dietary fi ber, 226 mg
sodium
84 • GROWING AT THE SPEED OF LIFE
