"beets" news and stories

Food fanatics like to play the "last meal" game: What would it be? Who would cook it? Which wine would you drink with it? What would you be wearing? For me, eggplant with pesto is on the short list. (OK, that and mashed potatoes, but that's for another day.)

Jules from Stone Soup provides a simple recipe for the dish, along with some rules to cook eggplant by. She prefers not to salt hers, as some maintain that salting removes moisture and bitterness. It's your choice.

This pesto is a traditional basil-and-pine-nut mix, but she also offers a recipe for a beetroot variety that is gorgeously ruby and sounds well worth the experiment. Use the eggplant and pesto leftovers in a sandwich. That is, if it's not your last meal.

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During the cold winter months, salads all too often get overlooked for heavier, warming dishes. However, with complex flavors and heartier textures, salads like this festive wintry beet salad are perfectly satisfying starters to any meal.

Mark Bittman created this raw beet salad to highlight uncooked beets, playing off their earthy taste with a light Dijon vinaigrette -- though for those craving a sweeter alternative, he suggests sautéeing the rosy roots in butter or oil. Tossed with shallots and an herb of choice (parsley, dill, rosemary, chervil or tarragon, to taste), the salad is vibrant in appearance and texture, punctuated by the distinct crunch of the raw beet. Flickr user Ayngelina topped hers with a sprinkling of fresh ricotta, which brightens the dish while softening it, with a sweet dairy finish.

Do you still enjoy salads during the winter months? Suggest your favorites in the comments!

Become a member of the Slashfood Flickr pool to get a shot at having your photos featured in Feast Your Eyes.

Roasted beets are vibrant and flavorful tossed in salads, pastas and more. Learn how to roast them and stock them in your fridge as tasty additions to your dishes.

Can you identify spring vegetables? Take this spring vegetable identification quiz on Slashfood to find out.

Beets can offer myriad culinary pleasures when treated right.