Tag Archives: Beets

Food, Vegan

Roasted Beets and Bean Burger

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This burger is such an explosion of taste and nutrients that you would not miss any animal protein whatsoever.

 

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The intensity of taste was deepened by roasting the beets in a 350-degree oven for about 35 minutes along with one head of garlic. Roasting beets is something I do on a regular basis and keep in the fridge for salads and sides. Just wash and wrap the whole beet in foil and throw them in the oven, could not be simpler… The foil helps keep the red liquid in check.

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The beans were soaked overnight and then pressure cooked for about 15 mins. The binding in this burger in the addition of a few tablespoons of ground oats or potato flour. I found that coarsely grinding the beans and walnuts also held up the burger well.

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The next layer of taste is the fresh herbs – basil, parsley, and oregano – whatever you have on hand

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And it is Fiesta Friday co-hosting week which I am very excited about. This is when I spend my weekend going through some amazing recipes and bloggers. If you have not visited yet click right here to join Angie’s Fiesta Friday My co-host this week is Debanita @ Canvassed Recipes. Do stop by and visit her fabulous blog.

 

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Let’s get to the recipe then…

 

Roasted Beets and Bean Burger

  • Servings: 6-8
  • Difficulty: moderate
  • Print

A Vegan GF burger

Credit: foodforthesoul00.com

Ingredients

2 whole organic beets

1 whole head of garlic ( or 1 tsp garlic powder)

1 1/2 cup black beans soaked overnight

1 red onion

1 whole green chili

1 tsp cumin powder

1 cup walnuts

1 cup of fresh herbs ( Basil, parsley, oregano)

1/2 to 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats or 2-3  tbsp potato flour

Oil for frying

Salt to taste

 

Directions

Wrap the beets in foil and roast in a 350-degree oven for 35 mins.

Slice the top of the garlic head, drizzle some olive oil, wrap in foil and put in the same oven as the beets.

Pressure cook the soaked beans until tender and drain

Grind the walnuts and the oats into a meal in separate bowls

Grate the beets in the large bowl.

Coarsely grind the red onion and chili and add to the bowl

Coarsely grind 3/4 of the beans and add to the bowl. Add the remaining beans

Add the walnut meal spices and the herbs and mix well.

Add the oats (or potato starch) a little bit at a time until the mixture comes together to form a patty. You don’t have to use up all the binding…just enough

Shape into patties and pan fry about 4 mins on each side.

You can serve them on your favorite bun with your favorite toppings. I have kept this low carb and gluten-free by serving on lettuce with homemade basil pesto and avocado slices, red onion, and tomatoes with a sprinkle of feta.

I also found that making these ahead of time and chilling in the fridge overnight helps the patties hold their shape. These patties freeze really well.

 

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Food, Pickles, salad, side dishes

Fermented Food experiments #2 -Beet Kanji

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Fermented foods are just beautiful  not only for the taste buds but also for your gut.  Ancients culture have propagated fermented foods for preservation and taste through the centuries. The souring action if microbes that produced fermentation have been critical in our diets throughout  the globe.  Similar foods can be found in every culture,  just called something different.
Indian “Achar” or “Kanji” are great examples and so is the fabulous “Kimchi” from Korea.
My personal story takes me back to the late 1970’s where as a young girl spending lazy winters vacation in Lucknow, India  I would watch my grandfather ferment and pickle various vegetables in earthenware and produce the probiotic liquid called “Kanji” in India. It  was delicious, tart and healthy and the joy of helping my grandfather  while he worked on these beautiful foods is a memory that is permanent ink in my soul.
True to foods that nourish your soul and help you remember your history, in this series I am sharing different fermented food s I am experimenting with.
Click here for a previous recipe of Kashmiri Achar
Click here for a previous recipe of Red Cabbage Pickle

In this edition: Fermented Beet tonic – Kanji

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BeetKanji-5786This fermented beet pickle and tonic fascinates  and mesmerizes with its deep violet color and tangy taste. There many health benefits of both the beets and these are just amplified through fermenting.

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“Kanji”  is usually a pungent combination of water, mustard seeds, beetroot and carrots and is full of digestion-boosting friendly bacteria and enzymes. I have only used beets here so the color is quite intense. Beets are high is sugar but the fermentation breaks the sugars down and makes this drink a healthy tonic. Very similar to Kvass which is an eastern European fermented beverage commonly made with rye bread.

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Fermented Beets - Kanji

  • Servings: many
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

a zesty beet fermented drink and pickle

Credit: https://foodforthesoul00.com/ 

Ingredients

  • 3 – 4 large organic beets
  • 3 tbsp mustard seeds
  • 3 whole red chilies ( Serrano)
  • 2 tsp pink Himalayan salt
  • 6–7 cups filtered water

Directions

  • Wash and Slice and dice the beets in bite size pieces. I like to leave to skin on for organic beets.
  • Crush mustard seeds with mortar and pestle just to a coarse grind
  • Place the diced beets and carrots into a half-gallon glass jar.
  • Add the Serrano pepper, mustard seeds and salt.
  • Add the water, leaving one-inch of air space between the top of the water and the top of the jar. Tightly cover the jar.
  • Ferment the kanji for 2-3 days at room temperature.
  • Stir with a clean wooden spoon and taste. If it’s tangy – it’s fermented and ready
  • You can transfer the jar to the fridge and store for a few weeks.

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Enjoy a cup or bowl of this delicious liquid and eat the pickles beet and add them to your salad.

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Divine!

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Sharing this at Angie’s Fiesta Friday

Food, salad

Edamame, Beets and Grains

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Edamame, Beets and Grains

This sumptuous salad is a full meal…You can top it onto some organic greens.
The grains are a mix of Quinoa, Amaranth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth_grain) and Millet slightly toasted and and cooked in a rice cooker.
I used a cup of steamed and shelled edamame, 1 cup of roasted chopped beets, couple of sprigs of chopped dill, roma tomatoes and some thinly sliced organic greens. Mix it all together with the fluffed up grains. The dressing was salt, pepper and a good dose of fresh lime and one crushed garlic. I also added a sprinkle of Nutritional yeast but thats optional.