If you happen to have an overabundance of produce laying around your home and you do not want them to go to waste, pickling may just be the perfect option for you. Pickling is the quickest and simplest way to preserve produce of any kind.
One of the products that are commonly used in this process is beets. More than just preservation, pickling beets are also nutritional and can be used in various ways. In this article, you will learn what to do with pickled beets and how to make them.
What Are Beets?
Commonly referred to as beets in the US and Canada, while termed as beetroot in British English, these are the taproot section of the beet plant. They are also known as golden beets, dinner beets, red beets, garden beets, and table beets.
Aside from being a delicious food source, beets also have outstanding nutritional values which makes them a medicinal plant. Moreover, it is also used as food coloring because of its vibrant red hue.
Beets are usually boiled or roasted. It can also be eaten raw, alone, or combined in salads. However, a large part of beet produce goes into pickling. This way of preparing beets is even regarded as a traditional food in several countries.
Health Benefits of Pickled Beets
Pickled beets contain zero fats and tons of vitamins in one cup. Additionally, they are also low in calories which makes them a go-to dieting food choice.
There has been a great number of studies that focus on the benefits of beets to a person’s health. Here are some of them.
1: Blood sugar management – pickled beets are known to be a good way to manage your blood sugar. This is possible because the vinegar used in the process of pickling beets significantly reduces blood sugar levels.
2: Preventing cancer – some studies have shown that pickled beets can help prevent certain types of cancers. They contain a probiotic called Lactobacillus Plantarum which attacks leukemia and oral cancer cells.
3: Good for digestion – since pickled beets contain probiotics, it is also good for digestion.
4: Prevents inflammatory diseases – not only does it prevent cancer, but pickled beets can also help prevent inflammatory diseases.
They contain flavonoids that serve as powerful and effective antioxidants which can boost the immune system and help reduce inflammation. Moreover, it aids in reducing the risks of having heart diseases, cognitive issues, and other chronic diseases.
5: Helps regulate blood pressure – beets have an abundant potassium content which helps regulate blood pressure. Potassium plays an important role in flushing out excessive amounts of sodium in the bloodstream that causes elevated blood pressure.
6: Helps manage anemia – some studies show that beets help increase protein hemoglobin levels that transport oxygen throughout the entire body.
Tips for Pickling Beets
Use fresh beets – if you are to pickle beets, it is always best to use the fresh ones. One sure way to identify fresh beets is by their color. Fresh beets have a deep and vibrant red color. Be sure to pick beets that do not have blemishes or soft spots.
Choose the best type of vinegar – when pickling beets, the type of vinegar you will be using also matters. Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar are both great options. However, if you are after the type of vinegar that will give more flavor, you can go with apple cider.
Experiment by adding your own ingredients – At first, you will most likely follow the basic recipe of pickling beets. However, over time, you can try to explore or experiment by adding other ingredients like onions or hard-boiled eggs that can result in a variety of flavors.
what to do with pickled beets
Ingredients:
• 8 pieces of fresh beets (medium-sized)
• 1 cup of vinegar
• ½ cup of sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoon of whole cloves
• 1 ½ teaspoon of whole allspice
• ½ teaspoon of salt
Instructions:
The first step you need to do is to clean and boil your beets. Start by preparing your beets. Gently scrub your beets to get rid of any dirt and trim off the top. Once cleaned, place your beets inside a dutch oven, then pour in water.
Bring this to a boil then turn down the heat and let it simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until your beets are tender. Drain the water and let the beets cool down a bit. Peel and slice your beets, then set them aside.
The next step is preparing the brine mixture. Combine the vinegar, salt, sugar, cloves, and allspice in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil in about 5 minutes. Once done, pour the mixture over the sliced beets. Let this mixture cool down, then refrigerate it.