Beets in our kitchens are rare. And the dishes in which it is used are quite few: borscht and vinaigrette with herring under a fur coat. Such neglect of such a useful product is not justified from any point of view.
The benefits of beets
Firstly, this vegetable is available all year round, therefore, dishes from it are among the most economical. Secondly, for the body, the benefits of beets and the harm in its absence in the diet are obvious. This is due to the presence in it of many essential vitamins (B, PP, C), important amino acids, bioflavonoids, carotenoids and a large amount of fiber. In addition, iodine, which is part of the vegetable, makes it an ideal tool for the prevention of diseases of the liver and thyroid gland.
Cooking methods
Traditionally, beets are boiled, stewed or eaten raw. But few people know that it can also be fried. This method of preparation makes the dish more aromatic, and its taste becomes brighter and more saturated. You can cook fried beets with vegetables, mushrooms and meat. Salads and various preservation are prepared in a similar way. For example, fried beetroot caviar for the winter, which can also decorate and diversify the festive table.
In the process of frying, you can use butter or vegetable oil. It all depends on the individual preferences of the cook. Ginger and dried herbs added during cooking will add new flavoring accents to the dish. In this form, beets go well with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.
However, cold appetizers from fried beets are far from the only culinary miracle with her participation. No less original will be a hot beetroot side dish with fish or meat. And added to the finished salad, it perfectly diversifies its taste and appearance.
Little gourmets
Oddly enough, for parents of small choirs, fried beets can be a real salvation. It is enough to cut out funny animal figures or cartoon characters from it, using ordinary cookie cutters and your own imagination, and then fry with a little added butter. The dish can be seasoned with salt to taste. To decorate beet animals, greens, cucumbers, eggs, carrots and other products are suitable. This option will be an excellent side dish for chicken or sausages.
Limitations
However, it must be remembered that both the benefits and harm to the body from beets are very significant. For example, it is strictly contraindicated in osteoporosis, as it prevents the full absorption of calcium. And people with diabetes are not advised to abuse this vegetable because of the sugar it contains. Observing these precautions, you can safely master new culinary frontiers with the use of beloved and, as it turned out, still very underestimated beets.
Beetroot Caviar Recipe
As the first test dish, it is worth cooking caviar from beets. The result should be not only original and tasty, but also a very healthy dish. To do this, you need the following ingredients:
- beets - 500 g;
- onions - 2 medium heads;
- tomato sauce or pasta - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- salt - 1 tsp;
- sugar - 1 tbsp. the spoon;
- pepper to taste.
Optionally, add garlic, pickles, prunes. Walnuts and greens are suitable for decoration.
Cut the onion into small cubes. Fry in sunflower oil until golden brown. Grate beets. Fry the resulting mass until soft. At the same time, the readiness of the frying can be checked by pressing the beets with a wooden spatula. If it is cut without much effort, then it is already ready for the next step.
Add prepared onions, sugar, salt, black pepper and tomato paste to the fried beets. Priority is not a big deal. Therefore, you can first fry the onion by combining it with tomato paste, and only after that add grated beets. If pickles are used in the recipe, then it is also better to wait a bit with salt, adding it to the finished dish as a last resort. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally. Roasted beetroot caviar with onions is ready. Optionally, add garlic, pickles, prunes. Walnuts and greens are suitable for decoration.
There is another important point: despite the fact that during the cooking process the beets are cooked, the final version of the dish is a cold appetizer. Therefore, it is advisable to cool it well before breakdown. So the original taste of fried caviar from beets will be fully revealed.
Controlled Combustion Technology
During the preparation of fried beetroot caviar, professional chefs often resort to a special method - controlled burning. Its essence lies in consciously bringing tomato paste to a slightly burnt state. In this form, it gives a unique taste and aroma to any ingredient, be it onions, carrots or rice. Also, thanks to this method, the process of caramelization of sugars in both tomato paste and fried vegetables is started.
Nuances and subtleties
Sugar plays a special role in the recipe, because often people mistakenly believe that because of the natural sweetness of the vegetable, it is not worth sweetening it additionally. In fact, it is sugar that gives beetroot the very unusual taste with which it is remarkable. This makes it an indispensable ingredient in this dish.
In addition, the composition of the recipe can be supplemented with pickles, which must first be peeled to give special softness and juiciness. Then they should be finely chopped or grated on a coarse grater, and then added to the beetroot overheat. The combination of sweet beets and pickles forms a very original flavor, which may not even require the addition of salt.
Also, to add a certain zest, you can put prunes in a dish or decorate it with nuts and herbs. And spicy lovers will like a spicy supplement in the form of several cloves of garlic.
There is another important rule that you need to remember when proceeding with the preparation of roasted beetroot caviar. Since this dish mainly acts as a cold appetizer, all its taste characteristics in a hot state should be a bit more intense than usual. After cooling, any dish loses its taste and becomes more fresh. Keep this in mind when adding spices to your cold treat.
Observing these important rules for preparing healthy and tasty beetroot caviar, you can be absolutely calm about the final result. This appetizer is suitable for any festive table, and just friendly gatherings. Guests will be delighted with such an original dish and its unusual taste. And none of them will ever guess how simple and easy it really is.