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Nutritious, iron-rich and delicious. Beetroot greens have so much potential from a culinary and diet perspective - so, why waste?
Beetroot or beet greens can stand up as the star of the dish when given a moment to shine in a number of easy savoury recipes, as well as being a delicious way of getting your daily dose of greens.
From simply wilting the greens in hot olive oil with a little garlic as a side dish, to using them in soups and sauces or in stand-alone salads, they're too good to put in the bin.
Fifty percent of all vegetables and herbs we buy are thrown away, a shocking figure that is easily fixed with a little creativity in the kitchen. Join Massimo Bottura and Karime Lopez in our new series Why Waste? and they'll inspire you to see the potential in vegetables and herbs.
Find out some of the best ideas for using beet greens in the recipes below.
What are beet greens?
Beet greens are the scarlet stems and green leaves attached to the top of the bulbous beetroot. Not only are they completely edible, they have a delicious sweet flavour, much like Swiss chard.
How to store beet greens
Beet greens can wilt quickly, so keep them at their freshest by removing the stalks and leaves when you get home and storing separately in a container in the fridge.
Recipes with beetroot greens
Sautéd beet greens
Try Marissa Grace's stand-out recipe for sautéd beet greens bathed in a sweet and punchy sauce.
Green beet pistou
Try Elizabeth Stark's root-to-leaf beet soup recipe, topped off with a vibrant green beet pistou. Simply pulse the greens with garlic in a blender, then drizzle in olive oil while still blending, and season before spooning over your purple and earthy beetroot soup.
Beet green salad
Katie Webster's beet green salad with feta and sherry vinaigrette allows the beet greens to shine in a zingy dressing. Try serving the salad alongside grilled meats or fish.
Slaw with beet greens
Anna Thomas shares her recipe for a colourful rainbow slaw with a touch of cumin and cinnamon - the perfect crunchy and healthy side accompaniment to grilled meats like pork ribs.
Beet leaf dip
Tom Hunt shows how to turn his beloved beetroot leaves into a delicious dip in his beetroot leaf borani recipe.
Beet and beet green risotto
Epicurious has a creamy risotto recipe for using the whole of the beet, including the greens, with a fiery horseradish kick at the end, to really make a satisfying meal out of beet greens.
