Beet Yogurt Recipes

HASSELBACK BEETS WITH DILL YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim, peel and halve 2 1/2 pounds medium beets; slice as directed (see left). Place the beets in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and drizzle with 3/4 cup olive oil; season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add cup water and cover with foil. Roast at 425 degrees F, 40 minutes. Uncover and continue roasting, spreading the slices apart and basting with the pan juices halfway through, until the beets are tender, 30 to 40 more minutes. Let cool slightly. Mix 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons each chopped dill and lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Drizzle over the beets and top with crushed pink peppercorns and more dill.
• Cut a thin sliver from one side of the vegetable so it can sit flat. (If you¿re starting with halved veggies, like the beets at right, skip this step.)
• Position the vegetable cut-side down between the handles of two wooden spoons.
• Using a sharp knife, make crosswise cuts (1/8 to 1/4 inch apart), stopping when the knife hits the handles so you don't cut all the way through the vegetable.

THICK YOGURT WITH BEETS, GARLIC AND DILL

Steps:

• Boil beets until tender, about 20 minutes. When cool enough to handle, rub skins off baby beets with a kitchen towel. Coarsely grate beets.
• In a mixing bowl, combine garlic, lemon juice and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in yogurt and olive oil, then beets and dill. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.

MAST-O-LABOO (BEET YOGURT)

Steps:

• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Stir sugar into water to dissolve. Cook beets in boiling water until tender, about 45 minutes; drain and cool beets completely.
• Cut cooled beets into 1/2-inch cubes. Measure 1/2 cup of beet cubes and reserve remainder for later use.
• Stir beets into yogurt in a bowl; season with salt.

MEDITERRANEAN BEET AND YOGURT SALAD

Steps:

• Roast the beets, peel and cut in wedges or slice into half-moons. Stir together the vinegar, sugar, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with the warm beets and allow to marinate for 2 to 3 hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
• Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle, add 1/8 teaspoon salt, and mash to a paste. Stir into the yogurt. Stir in half the dill. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drain the beets and stir some of the marinade into the yogurt (to taste). Toss with the beets, or arrange the beets on a platter and drizzle the yogurt over the top. Sprinkle on the remaining dill, and serve.

ROASTED BEETS WITH CHILES, GINGER, YOGURT AND INDIAN SPICES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Peel the beets and cut into 1-inch chunks. Toss with the oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally, then sprinkle with mustard seeds, coriander and cumin and roast until the beets are tender, about 15 minutes more.
• While the beets roast, prepare the dressing: using the side of a knife or mortar and pestle, mash the garlic with a pinch of salt until it forms a paste. Place yogurt in a bowl; whisk in garlic paste, jalapeño, ginger, 1/4 teaspoon salt and lime juice. Whisk in the cilantro.
• Scrape the warm beets into a large bowl. Stir in the dressing and pomegranate seeds, if using. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

BEETS, SPICED QUINOA AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin. In a medium saucepan or a large, heavy skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and add the spices. When they begin to sizzle, add the cooked quinoa. Stir together for one minute, and remove from the heat. Taste and adjust salt. Transfer to the baking dish, and spread in an even layer.
• Arrange the sliced beets over the quinoa. Drizzle on the remaining olive oil, cover and place in the oven for 20 minutes or until hot. Meanwhile, place the garlic in a mortar and pestle with a generous pinch of salt, and mash to a paste. Whisk or stir into the drained yogurt.
• Remove the quinoa and beets from the oven, and top with dollops of yogurt. Sprinkle with the walnuts, and serve.

ROASTED BEETS WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place red beets in a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon coarse salt, 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap red beets in parchment paper-lined aluminum foil and set aside; repeat process in a clean bowl, first with golden beets, then with candy cane beets.
• Place wrapped beets on a baking sheet and transfer to oven; roast until beets are easily pierced with the tip of a small knife, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Remove skins by rubbing each type of beet with a paper towel.
• Cut beets into halves or quarters and transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, remaining 2 tablespoons coarse salt, and pepper; toss to combine.
• Spoon yogurt into the bottom of a large shallow serving bowl; top with an even layer of beets. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and balsamic vinegar; garnish with chervil and season with sea salt and pepper. Serve.

SIMMERED BEET GREENS WITH ROASTED BEETS, LEMON AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut the greens away from the beets, leaving about 1/4 inch of stems. Scrub the beets and place in a baking dish or lidded ovenproof casserole. Add 1/4 inch water to the dish. Cover tightly. Place in the oven and roast small beets (3 ounces or less) for 30 to 40 minutes, medium beets (4 to 6 ounces) 40 to 45 minutes, and large beets (8 ounces) 50 to 60 minutes, until easily penetrated with the tip of a knife. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the covered baking dish. Cut away the ends and slip off the skins. Slice or cut in wedges and set aside.
• While the beets are in the oven, stem the greens and wash in at least 2 changes of water. Place in a bowl.
• Heat a large, wide skillet over high heat and add the greens by the handful, stirring each handful until the greens wilt in the water left on the leaves after washing. Once one batch has wilted, add another until all of the greens are wilted. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, turn the heat down to low, season with salt and pepper, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. The greens should be tender but still bright. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice, toss the greens in the pan, taste and adjust seasoning. (Note: if you are not serving this right away, don't add the lemon juice, as it will change the bright color of the greens; instead, add shortly before serving).
• At this point you have the option of transferring the greens to a platter or serving the dish right from the pan. Whether in the pan or on a platter, arrange the beets on top of the greens. Drizzle on the remaining olive oil and squeeze on more lemon juice to taste. Mash the garlic to a purée with a pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle and stir into the yogurt. Place spoonfuls of yogurt over the top of the beets and beet greens, sprinkle on the walnuts and serve, with grains if desired.

BEET SOUP WITH TARRAGON, CHIVES AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Put olive oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot or deep, wide skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cook slowly, stirring, until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Add beets and season generously with salt and pepper. Add a pinch of cayenne and pour in vinegar. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add water and raise heat to a brisk simmer. Taste broth and adjust. Cook for another 10 minutes, until beets are completely soft.
• Purée in a blender, in batches if necessary, and strain through a fine-mesh sieve. (Consistency should be like heavy cream, no thicker - thin with water or broth as necessary). Return puréed soup to pot and reheat. In a small bowl, combine yogurt with tarragon and chives. Add a good pinch of salt and beat with a fork to loosen yogurt.
• Taste soup, and adjust for salt and vinegar. Ladle into individual bowls. Swirl a large (2 to 3 tablespoons) spoonful of herbed yogurt across the surface of the soup.