Beetroot

Betterave

What it is

Romans ate only its leaves and left the root to medicine. When British blockades cut Napoleon off from cane sugar, he ordered thousands of hectares of beet planted — and the root that stains everything crimson became Europe’s sugar bowl.

In the kitchen

Roast it whole in its skin to keep the juices in; it peels with a rub of the thumb once cooked.

Goes with

Goat cheese Walnut Orange Dill Balsamic vinegar Yogurt Cumin

Same species

Chioggia beetroot Crapaudine beetroot Isomalt Sea beet Swiss chard Vergeoise

Also used with

Smoked eel Cold-pressed flaxseed oil Garden cress Hemp oil Milk kefir Soy lecithin

In season alongside

Arbutus berry Blackberry Borlotti bean Brussels sprout Butternut squash Cabbage

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