What do you do with beetroot?

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I've never had fresh/raw beetroot and I think I'd like it.
What's the best thing to do with it and will it stain my kitchen?

Mmmmm, beetroot, blue cheese and walnut salad - a classic, yum. Yes it does stain but it’s easy to clean it up if you do it straight away, it’s only a problem if you leave the staining and let it dry.

It needs to be cooked, really, to get the nicest version. If you already like pickled, try the vacuum packed, cooked version - you can put that direct into stock with a cooked potato and some herbs, a splash of beetroot vinegar, horseradish or wasabi (as that's mostly horseradish anyhow) and then blitz it for the most violently pink soup possible.

Then there's also steaming and roasting raw, whole beetroot. You'll look like a serial killer unless you either wear gloves or coat your hands in cooking oil before peeling them - it's easier when they're already steamed than when raw.

I julienne it with a julienne peeler and add to salads. It does seem to tint everything, but washes out fine.

Roasted beetroot is lovely.

Generally I'm happy with cooked sliced beetroot with cheddar and crackers or in a salad.

I can't stand pickled beetroot. It's got such a nice flavour and pickling ruins it.

Beetroot and chocolate brownies

Make beetroot chutney - simple and delicious!

Borscht is a super warming winter soup, you can add sliced sausage or diced ham to make it even more substantial.

I like the vacuum packed beetroot served with a yoghurt and spring onion dressing, cubed beetroot as part of a Russian salad is tasty, and beetroot with rollmops is delicious too.

Pickled beetroot is evil but fresh or vacuum packed without vinegar is great.

Grate it raw, add sunflower seeds and a handful of chopped parsley or coriander. Dress with balsamic dressing. You can also add grated carrots or pumpkin seeds, or crumbled feta would be nice.

Grated raw beetroot, grated raw carrot, raisins and walnuts make a lovely salad. Very nutritious too. You can obviously add more ingredients if you wish.

These sound great! I didn't know you could eat it raw. Sounds stupid but I assumed it was like a swede.
Really looking forward to beetroot salads and soups.

My friend makes beetroot chocolate brownies. They are delicious.

I was once served beetroot that had been cooked then set in blackcurrant jelly, it was the most delicious 'side' I have ever tasted. And I hate beetroot!

This beetroot, chickpea and coconut curry: thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/beetroot-chickpea-and-coconut-curry/

you can make lovely dips with beetroot. cream cheese or non.

Cube and roast sweet potato, toss with chopped beetroot (the precooked vacuum packed stuff, or if buying raw then roast it too) and rocket, spinach, walnuts and goat's cheese.

Boil, peel (warning they're hot and stain!), stick a fork in one like a lolly, sprinkle with salt and eat warm, lush.

Or boiled, cooled, thickly sliced, sprinkled with chunky salt in a buttered white bread sandwich.

That's a very normal salad as is carrot and orange in orange jelly where I live.

Love all beetroot. Roasted is my fave.

I make a salad with cubed boiled beetroot, cherry tomatoes, chunks of cucumber, feta and then lightly toasted walnuts and balsamic dressing. Yum.

I peel it and roast it with carrots and chunks of red onion, with thyme, salt and garlic cloves, and a little drizzle of honey and lemon right at the end. It's a lovely side dish

I quite often buy golden beetroot which is a similar flavour with none of the purple staining.

I've got a load of beetroot in the garden
Today I've made a soup with beetroot, red onion, garlic, yellow pepper and a stock cube.

Tastes alright, going to maybe stir some feta into it when I eat it.

In a salad with goats cheese, walnuts and rocket - gorgeous

Ooh that sounds amazing! We love vegetable tarts but I've never thought of using beetroot.