Beetroot Risotto with Ancient Grains | Rebel Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with too much beetroot? ›

Using up raw beetroot

Toss with olive oil and thyme, then roast alongside chopped carrot, swede and cauliflower. Pile into wraps with humous, crispy chickpeas and feta. The raw root vegetable can also be used to make delicious – and healthy – winter salads.

Beet can make urine or stools appear pink or red. But this is not harmful. There is concern that beets might cause low calcium levels and kidney damage. But this hasn't been shown in people.

Anyone who has low blood pressure or is currently taking blood pressure medication should speak with a healthcare professional before adding beets or beetroot juice to their diet. Beets contain high levels of oxalates, which can cause kidney stones in people with a high risk of this condition.

How to prepare beetroot. To cook whole, wash but don't peel, then cut the stalks to 2.5cm and leave the root at the bottom; if either are trimmed too much, the beetroot's colour will bleed.

Most people do peel beets, because the skin is a bit unattractive and can be dirty even after a good scrub. But beet skins are rich in nutrients and perfectly fine to eat too.

Keep checking whichever method you're using. Don't remove the beet skin before cooking. It's really not necessary and it's much easier to do so after cooking. Some also find that removing the skin prior to cooking takes away some of the beet's earthy test.

Pairing beetroot with acidic components like red wine vinegar or citrus fruits like oranges can work beautifully. These can amplify its rich depth.

Retain the good-for-you nutrients in beets by roasting them or sautéing them instead. Or lightly steam them for just a few minutes, suggests Doyle.

Beetroots help insulin resistance: Beetroot helps improve insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes and reduces blood sugar. Your body releases metabolites in the process of breaking down food or other substances. The high concentration of this metabolite (nitrate) in beetroot may reduce insulin resistance.

Packed with nutrition, beets have antioxidants like betalains that fight cell damage and inflammation, potentially offering protection against cancer and heart disease. Health benefits of beets include more stamina during exercise, heart disease and stroke prevention, and lower blood pressure.

Can you freeze beetroot? ›

To freeze: It is best to freeze beetroot when cooked. First boil or steam the beetroot, allow to cool and pop into a sealed container and freeze. To defrost: When you take food or drink out of the freezer, it's important to defrost it safely. Don't defrost at room temperature.

Symptoms of beeturia

The primary symptom of beeturia is discolored urine or stools. Urine appears red or pink after eating beetroot or foods and juices containing extracts or pigments of beetroot. The extent of discoloration varies from person to person and depends on what you ingested.