If you turn your nose up to vegetables and consider them decorations and embellishments to the meat on your plate, the following information is going to truly surprise you.

Did you Know?


Beetroot is a root vegetable, scientifically known as Beta vulgaris and its packed with essential nutrients, beetroots are a great source of fibre, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron and vitamin C.


Behold, the mighty and humble root vegetable…

The beetroot!

Here’s why you have got to experiment with beetroot in the kitchen:

Food writer and TV chef, Anjum Anand says beetroot is a much-loved local vegetable in India and a stand out in this recipe.

Let’s start with the basics…

What is Thoran?

Thoran is a coconut based vegetable Keralite dish. This popular and common dish is usually eaten with steamed rice.

What is Ruby Chard?

A crinkly leafy vegetable, which is a member of the beet family, that has a bright red stalk with green leaves that have red veins running through them. Chard grows in clumps but is sold in loose leaf bunches.

Baby coloured chard, just picked and ready for one of our local restaurants. #organic #rubychard #darleysrestaurant #localygrown

A post shared by Fabrice Rolando & Family (@firstfarmorganics) on

“I have added the chard as I love the texture and earthiness it brings to the dish, and it feels virtuous with it.”

Anand adds: “You can vary this recipe with a host of other vegetables and greens. I also often add a can of chickpeas if I am serving this as a main course, as the earthiness and mealiness work really well with these flavours. It is also a lovely side dish to serve with a lentil curry, grilled meats or Tamil-style lemon rice.

Read: Tuck into calorie-free foods


Beetroot and Ruby Chard Thoran: (Serves 4-6)

Ingredients

2 tbsp coconut oil

¾ tsp brown mustard seeds
2 tsp urad dal (split and skinned black lentils), if you have them
2-4 dried chillies
20 fresh curry leaves
500g raw beetroots (beets), peeled and chopped into
1cm cubes salt
2 small shallots, or ½ red onion, quartered
80g grated fresh coconut, plus more to serve
1 tsp cumin seeds
18g finely chopped root ginger (peeled weight)
1 large garlic clove
14 large stems of ruby or rainbow chard, leaves shredded, tender stems sliced

Instructions

Heat the oil in a non-stick saucepan over a medium heat.

Add the mustard seeds, lentils and dried chillies and reduce the heat. Once the popping of the mustard seeds starts to subside and the lentils have turned a light golden, add the curry leaves.

Follow 5 seconds later with the chopped beetroot and some salt. Stir well for a few minutes, then reduce the heat.

Cover and cook for 18-20 minutes, or until beginning to soften (it depends on how large the beetroot was chopped).

Meanwhile blend together the shallots or onion, coconut, cumin, ginger and garlic without any water. It will form a coarse paste.

Add the paste to the beetroot and cook gently for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add the chard. Cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the whole thing is done. Taste and adjust the seasoning, sprinkle with the extra coconut and serve.

Snack ideas with beetroot:

LOL Factor 😆

In the anti-beet camp are President Obama and his wife Michelle, who asked that they not be planted in the White House’s organic vegetable garden.

Categories: Foodporn