Roasted golden beets from the farmers market are a sweet and flavorful treat. I’ll show you how to roast golden beets that are OMG good straight from the oven, or perfect for using in roasted beet recipes.
It was at a farmers market a couple years ago that I first discovered golden beets. They are so pretty and enticing with their yellow and blushed red skin.
I grabbed a bunch to take home and roast in the oven like I do with red beets.
My oh my, I had a new favorite (sorry red beets). Golden beets are a treat, and if you see them at your farmers market I encourage you to try them.
In terms of size and shape, gold beets are similar to red beets. They are usually round, though I have found oblong golden beets at the farmers market. They range in size from small like a golf ball to large like a baseball.
It’s the coloring that really sets golden beets apart. True to its name, the skin of a golden beet is a beautiful golden yellow with red blush.
When you slice into a fresh golden beet, the flesh is deep bright yellow. The texture is what you expect in a beet – dense and firm.
Golden beets also differ from red beets in how they taste when roasted. While both red and golden beets sweeten when roasted – red beets maintain a more earthy flavor, whereas golden beets are lighter and sweeter. But not too sweet!
How Healthy are Golden Beets?
According to My Fitness Pal, half a cup of golden beets contains:
- 30 calories
- 6.5 grams of carbs
- 1.1 gram of protein
- 0.1 gram of fat
Golden beets are also packed with nutrients, especially folate, manganese, beta-carotene, potassium and fiber.
Eating both red and gold beets on a regular basis is a great way to eat the rainbow when it comes to veggies!
Roasted Golden Beets: Ingredients
There are only two things you need to make this roasted golden beets recipe:
- a pound of fresh golden beets
- olive oil
Beets are naturally sweet and, especially if you get them fresh from the farmers market, they are full of flavor. There is no need to add sugar, seasoning or even salt to your roasted beets!
If you can’t find golden beets but can find red beets – here is my simple roasted beets recipe.
Don’t Throw Away the Beet Greens!
If you purchase organic golden beets from the farmers market and the greens are still attached and fresh-looking, don’t just cut them off and throw them away!
Beet greens are one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. Do yourself a favor and sautée some fresh onion in olive oil, then add the greens and minced garlic until wilted. So delicious and so healthy!
How to Roast Golden Beets
1. Peel
Start with a pound of golden beets. Remove the stem part and any smaller roots extending from the beet then peel them with a vegetable peeler.
2. Chop
Before chopping the beets, consider how you’ll be serving them.
If you want sliced rounds, choose smaller beets and roast them whole.
If you want chunks of roasted beets to dress salad greens, then cut them into 2-inch chunks.
Just be careful not to cut them too small. Small pieces will dry out when roasted, but larger chunks can always be cut smaller after they are cooked.
3. Season
Place the peeled and chopped beets into a bowl and toss them with 2 teaspoons of olive oil until evenly coated.
4. Roast
Spread the beets out on a parchment paper lined baking pan for easy clean up. Bake on the middle rack of an oven that is preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Roast until the beets are tender when pierced with a sharp knife. I like to let them start to brown a bit so they have a yummy caramelized flavor and some coloring on their skin.
For example, with small to medium beets that have been cut into 2 inch chunks, they’ll need to roast for around 45 minutes.
Should I Roast Beets at 350 or 400 degrees?
You may be wondering about the benefits of roasting beets at 350 degrees rather than 400 degrees or 425.
I roast beets both ways, but recommend 350 degrees for roasted beets that will be used in salads. A lower heat will preserve moisture inside the beet, resulting in a plump but still sweet beet that presents well on a salad.
High heat roasting (ex. 400-425 degrees) is great for beets that will be enjoyed on their own, but does leave the beet shriveled, dryer and a bit crispy on the edges.
Even at 350 degrees, the beets will still come out sweet and delicious! For some caramelization, just leave them in an extra 5 minutes once they start to brown.
Roasted Golden Beets
Ingredients
- 1 lb golden beets
- 2 tsp olive oil
Instructions
- Remove the stem part and any smaller roots extending from the beets, then peel them with a vegetable peeler.
- Chop the beets into 2-inch chunks.
- Place the peeled and chopped beets into a bowl and toss them with 2 teaspoons of olive oil until evenly coated.
- Spread the beets out on a parchment paper lined baking pan for easy clean up. Bake at 350 degrees on the middle oven rack for about 45 minutes. They are done when easily pierced with a sharp knife.
Nice to see this recipe. it is healthy as well as delicious. Beets looks very crispy.
Healthy and delicious is right. And the longer you leave the beets in the oven the more they’ll brown. Thank you for the feedback.