Table beets

Table beet is a valuable food crop. Beet is used in the preparation of soups and salads, it is irreplaceable in cosmetology and is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Let's consider the features of table beet, its varieties, chemical composition, benefits and much more.

Beetroot is a source of vitamins that is popular all over the world. Beetroot contains vitamins B, C, P and PP, as well as calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium salts and phosphorus. Beetroot is used to boost the immune system and prevent various diseases. In addition, beetroot stimulates the digestive system and improves appetite. Table beetroot is valued for the organic acids it contains, as they promote the absorption and breakdown of proteins and prevent fat deposition on the walls of the liver.

Beetroot is useful for people suffering from excess weight, sclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. One beet root contains up to 20% sugar. Sugar in combination with magnesium salts strengthens bones and treats nervous diseases, prevents cancer and tuberculosis.

Beetroot varieties

The varieties of table beets are striking in their diversity. Each variety has its own storage conditions, preparation and certain useful properties. The beet used in soups and salads is table beet. It has a thick fleshy root and is dark red or red in color. In addition to table beets, there are wild annual varieties with a thin root. We are talking about such varieties as fodder, large-root, creeping and others.

Sugar beet is popular, which is grown to obtain sugar or for animal feed. Table beet also has varieties - leaf and root. One root of table beet contains about 2% protein and 17 mg of ascorbic acid per hundred grams of raw vegetable. Beet is the leader in iodine content. To preserve its beneficial properties, it is recommended to steam or boil beet.

Chemical composition of beetroot

The chemical composition of beets depends on their variety. Table beets contain about 20% dry matter, the main part of which is sugar (from 9 to 15%). Sugar consists of 3% sucrose and 2% fructose and glucose. It contains mineral salts - magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese and iron (approximately 1% each). The chemical composition of table beets is also rich in protein, fats and carbohydrates. Beets are rich in fiber, organic acids (oxalic, citric, tartaric and malic), pectin. As for vitamins, beets contain vitamins B1, PP, B2, iodine.

Table beet is a cold-resistant biennial crop. In the first year of ripening, a root crop and a rosette of leaves are formed, and in the second year, the vegetable produces seeds and a branched stem. The optimal temperature for growing beets is considered to be 20-25 ° C.

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Properties of table beet

The main properties of table beetroot are used in the food industry, cosmetology and folk medicine. The value of beetroot is its wide application. Beetroot is well stored and can retain its beneficial properties for 12 months. Beetroot is used in cooking and the canning industry. Salads, side dishes, borscht and much more are prepared from it.

Beetroot has medicinal properties and is used as a dietary product. The vegetable is suitable for people with digestive tract diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Regular consumption of beetroot helps strengthen blood vessels and remove cholesterol from the body. The vegetable prevents tumor formation and improves vision. And pickled beetroot is an excellent remedy against scurvy.

Benefits of Beetroot

The benefits of beetroot are hidden in its properties. Beetroot has a pleasant taste, light rings on the cut and can be red or dark red. Beet leaves are rich in vitamin A, so they are used to prepare salads. Beetroot is rich in vitamin C, vitamins PP and B. The beneficial properties of boiled beetroot are preserved even after heat treatment, which cannot be said about other vegetables.

Beetroot is a real treasure trove of useful vitamins and minerals. It contains carbohydrates, fructose, glucose and sucrose. Recent studies have confirmed that beetroot preserves youth and perfectly removes toxins and cholesterol. The vegetable has a protective effect against heavy metals, and pectin in beetroot prevents intestinal diseases.

Harm of table beet

The harm of beetroot depends on the individual characteristics of the body of the person who eats it. Some nutritionists do not recommend eating raw beetroot for people who suffer from heartburn, internal bleeding, colitis or any problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Beetroot can cause an allergic reaction on the skin, lead to enlarged lymph nodes and swelling of the nasopharynx.

Beetroot juice is prohibited for people with kidney stones or kidney failure. Since beets make kidney stones heavier and exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. Fresh beetroot juice can cause spasms and is not recommended for consumption within the first two hours after preparation. If you are going to cleanse your body or go on a beetroot diet, be sure to consult a nutritionist.

Caloric content of beetroot

The caloric content of beetroot is quite high compared to other vegetables. Thus, one hundred grams of fresh beetroot contains 42 kilocalories. The nutritional value of beetroot is represented by 1.5 g of proteins, 8.8 g of carbohydrates and 0.1 g of fat. Beetroot contains betaine and amino acids that protect the liver and help it work. And beetroot juice is an excellent therapy in the treatment of rectal cancer.

Beetroot dishes are excellent for satisfying hunger and do not affect your figure. It is useful to eat beetroot to improve the functioning of the intestines and digestive system. But it is better not to eat table beetroot for people with urolithiasis, kidney disease and bladder disease. It is recommended to limit the consumption of beetroot due to oxalic acid, which is part of the chemical composition of the vegetable.

Beetroot Recipes

Recipes with table beet are striking in their diversity. Beet is used to prepare first courses, appetizers, salads and even desserts. Beet is used in cooking in many countries of the world. Table beet goes well with legumes, many cereals and meat. Let's look at several recipes with table beet that can be prepared at home.

• Soaked beets - wash the beets, put them in a saucepan or barrel and fill with water. The container with the beets should be placed in a dark, cool place, a cellar or basement is ideal. After a while, the beets will release juice, which can also be consumed. The beets should be infused for three to four weeks.
• Pickled beetroot – first you need to prepare the brine. For the brine you will need ten liters of water and 300-350 g of salt. Place the clean beetroot with the top and tail cut off in a saucepan or barrel, pour in the brine and put it under pressure. The beetroot should ferment for two weeks, after which it can be eaten.
• Beetroot with plums - boil the beetroot, cut it into pieces and put it in a glass jar, putting plums and spices (cloves, lemongrass) between the rows of vegetables. The jars must be filled with hot brine. The brine is prepared based on a liter of water, 20 g of salt and 100 g of sugar. The jars are rolled up, and you get excellent preservation.
• Beetroot juice – boil and chop the beetroot. Squeeze the juice and mix with citric acid (no more than 5 grams). The juice can be drunk or preserved and consumed as a complete vitamin complex in the winter.

Beetroot Salad

Beetroot salad is a simple but incredibly tasty dish that is very easy and quick to prepare. So, to prepare beetroot salad you will need:

• Table beet (small).
• Prunes.
• Walnut.
• Mayonnaise.
• A clove of garlic.

Beets should be boiled and grated on a fine grater. Prunes and walnuts should be cut into small pieces (nuts can be grated or chopped in a blender). Garlic should be cut into small pieces or grated. Mix all ingredients and season with a spoon of mayonnaise. The salad is very nutritious and tasty.

Another beetroot salad is prepared from pickled cucumbers, boiled beets, canned peas and leeks. The ingredients are cut into cubes and dressed with a spoonful of sour cream and a spoonful of mayonnaise.

Pickled table beetroot

Pickled table beetroot is a tasty and healthy snack. We offer you recipes for making pickled beetroot.

• The beets must be washed and boiled in salted water until soft. After this, the beets must cool and the skin must be removed. Then the beets are cut into thin slices and placed in pre-sterilized jars with spices. The beets are poured with 60 ml of 9% vinegar (per liter jar) and boiling water-marinade. The jars are pasteurized for an hour at a temperature of 60 °.
• The pre-washed beets need to be boiled, cooled and peeled. After this, the beets can be cut into slices or cubes, and if the fruits are small, then marinated whole. Place the chopped vegetables in jars and add spices. As in the first recipe, the jars need to be filled with marinade. To prepare the marinade, mix 40-50 g of sugar and the same amount of salt with 60 ml of vinegar per liter of water. The marinade needs to be boiled and poured into jars while still hot.

Beetroot caviar

Beetroot caviar is a very popular dish that can be eaten as a tasty addition to porridge and other vegetables. Let's look at the recipe for beetroot caviar.

For 1 kg of beetroot caviar:

• 500 g beetroot.
• 100 g onion.
• 100 g tomatoes.
• 200 g carrots.
• Vegetable oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and other spices.

Peel the boiled beets, grind them to a mushy consistency and simmer on low heat for two hours. Once the beets are simmered, place them in a frying pan and fry with vegetable oil and spices for 30 minutes. Add sliced tomatoes, onions, carrots, vinegar to the fried beets and fry for 20-30 minutes. The finished caviar can be placed in jars and preserved or used as an appetizer, an addition to meat dishes and fish.

Medicinal properties of beetroot

The medicinal properties of table beet are known and are widely used in cosmetology and some medicines. But most often beet is used in folk medicine, as it is valued for its medicinal properties. Beet has a laxative effect, so it helps with constipation. It is enough to drink a glass of beet juice on an empty stomach or eat a beet salad and the problem with the intestines will be solved.

Beetroot will also have medicinal properties for people with anemia, will help with serious illnesses and loss of strength. The vitamin complex of beetroot helps to restore the immune system. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for pathologies associated with fragility and pathological conditions of the walls of blood vessels. Beetroot restores the digestive system and has a positive effect on the skin.

Storing Beetroot

Storing beetroot requires special conditions. Beetroot is a cold-resistant vegetable, and its storage depends on the variety and growing conditions. The vegetable must be stored in a cool, dark place. Beetroot is not demanding in terms of storage conditions, since it has a thick skin and perfectly retains its properties over a long period of time. In addition, damaged beetroot can heal. On average, beetroot is stored for 6-10 months, provided that it is not damaged. But beetroot without skin is stored for no more than three months and loses its beneficial properties.

Beetroot is a valuable vegetable with many useful properties. Beetroot is popular because it is used in cooking and folk medicine. The vegetable has a pleasant taste and is not demanding in terms of storage conditions.