Quick (and tasty!) Pickled Beets

Who doesn't love a good pickle?

While we’re of the belief that our Cooked Beets are divine au natural, we also love to play with their flavors and versatility. Since they’re already cooked with nothing added, our beets are a prime canvas for some quick pickle fun!

For those who are unfamiliar, quick pickling is a way to brine foods so that they’re ready to enjoy in a few hours, instead of the few weeks or months required by traditional pickling. Our beets are perfect quick pickle candidates because their steam treatment eliminates the boiling and peeling you would otherwise have to do. Simply whisk together 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard in a sealable mason jar and add one package of Love Beets Cooked Beets.

Then the fun part – do you want your pickled beets to be salty, sweet, or spicy? You can play around with seasonings until you find the perfect fit. For sweeter beets, toss some cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a sprinkle of extra sugar into the jar. Spicy your thing? How about pouring red pepper flakes, paprika, and cayenne into the brine? Looking for a punch of umami? Pressed garlic, Himalayan pink salt, and sliced red onion will do the trick!

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Once you’ve crafted your batch, seal the jar and shake until all the ingredients are incorporated and covering the beets. Place the sealed jar in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes, then pop open and enjoy! We like the eat them straight from the jar, but pickled beets are also delicious on a salad or charcuterie board. Since they’re in a brine, your quick-pickled beets will last in the refrigerator, but note that the longer you leave them, the softer they will get!

If the allure of pickle heaven isn’t enough to draw you in, you’ll be pleased to know that pickled beets are bursting with nutritional benefits. Beets themselves, of course, are loaded with heart-healthy nitrates, potassium, iron, folate, magnesium, and vitamin A. Fermented foods (including anything pickled) are excellent sources of probiotics. Balancing the “good bacteria” in your gut has been shown to improve physical, mental, and emotional well being, while optimizing your immune system and helping to prevent heart disease.

Love this DIY take on the classic pickle or have questions about the perfect spice proportions? We’re always here to talk!