Middle Eastern food never fails to amaze me with its vibrant flavors and simplicity and ease of preparation. Its popularity is obvious from the fact that foods like hummus, felafel, pita and tabbouleh have melded effortlessly into our food vocabulary today.
I am lucky because one of my oldest and best friends, Margo, is an Armenian who was born and raised in Lebanon. I often pick up great tips for wonderful Middle Eastern dishes from her, and from eating at her home.
This super-simple recipe for beets, one of my favorite veggies, is one I got from her. When I first ate these beets at her home, I was speechless when she told me just how easy to make they are, and how tiny the ingredient list is, because the flavor was so incredibly and spectacularly vivid.
I make this dish often in my kitchen now, and it takes minutes to put together. It goes beautifully as a side dish with just about anything. Try it: you won’t be disappointed.
- 4 medium beets.
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4-5 cloves of garlic , crushed, preferably with a garlic press, or minced really fine.
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt to taste
- Scrub the beets clean, then cover with water and boil on a stovetop or zapped in a microwave until a fork stuck in the middle slides in effortlessly. (I don't skin my beets). Slice the beets thinly and cut each slice into quarters, then eighths.Pour the oil-garlic-lemon mixture over the beets and toss well.
- In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, garlic, lemon and salt.
- Pour over the beets and mix. Set aside for about half an hour for the flavors to infuse. Serve at room temperature.
- Delicious.
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I have long been intimidated by the thought of entering Jugalbandi’s gorgeous Click event because of the amazing quality of the photographs they get, but heck, you only live once! So this time I’m throwing my hat in the ring. Thanks, Happy, for the suggestion!
I am also sending on this super-simple recipe to Ramki’s event for minimalists, Recipes for the Rest of Us. Thanks, Ramki!
I wish beets weren’t so expensive here in Michigan. The golden colored ones are great roasted but these would be good in this recipe I bet.
Really easy, and with your ‘thappa’ of ‘tasty’ – I might as well bring this healthy vegetable home! I am afraid I eat it like a medicine!
LOVE beets. I will try this with the skins on, too… thanks!
Beets are most neglected vegetable in my kitchen. The color of this is attracting me to have some…
This sounds not only healthy but also delicious Vaishali. 🙂
I’d prefer to sandwich a couple between two crisp bread slices. 🙂
Wow wat a healthy dish, love beets like anything..will try for sure..
very lovely and colourful recipe. very healthy too.
That looks delicious and healthy!! Thanks for sharing.
Send this beautiful creation to Click.
Hi Vaishali,
Colorful click!
Happy New year
Wow,new and healthy dish.Here we r great fans of beets .but never tried it this way.Easy and wholesome
Real good one! I never made anything like this with beets, but do it with carrots & green chillies.. only add a little bit of chilli powder ( or gree chillie paste).. its a great side to about anything.
Looks delicious and attractive..I will surely try this..Thanks for this healthy recipe.
And I bought beets today! It’s fate 🙂
lovely picture Vaishali. never tried garlic infused beets. have u tried beetroot halwa. they r really delicious.
thanks for a delicious entry, dear vaishali.
Beets Looks lovely! Nice entry for click! First time to your blog and you have a wonderful place here.
I dont cook with beets, may be I can give this a try, infusing beets with garlic and olive oil sounds delicous…
I love beets… I usually make stir-fry of this with garlic and red chilli.. Missing this veggie so much here ..Sigh wish I could get some..I would have loved to try this 🙁
That looks really simple and nice Vaishali..I am not a big fan of cooked beets, but your photo tempts me to try it soon..
It is hard to get anyone to eat beet at home. DH does not like it when it is cooked, but he loves garlic and olive oil. Maybe this will inspire him 🙂
Amazingly simple recipe! Love olive oil and beetroot. Raw garlic is what bothers me…maybe I am a vampire 😉
Can’t wait to try this. Just roasted a yellow golden beet last night. My dog and I enjoyed it together like an apple. Super excited to enjoy these all summer.