By Robin Young | PREVIEW Columnist
“Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.” If you are familiar with Dwight Schrute from NBC’s hit TV series “The Office,” then you know how often this character, a beet farmer, references this underutilized vegetable.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture is featuring Colorado Proud beets and burrata for this month’s recipe, and you won’t be disappointed at how well the humble beet fits into your meal rotation.
Nutritionally, the golden beet is quite similar to that of red. They have similar carbohydrate, fat and protein content, and both are equally packed with potassium, a blood pressure-lowering mineral. The main nutritional difference between the two are the pigments, which provide nutrients commonly found in other yellow and orange vegetables. Vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carotene, flavonoid and zeaxanthin are abundant in goldens.
There are also some differences beyond basic nutrition. For starters, golden beets are sweeter in taste and less earthy in flavor. For those who do not like the taste of red beets, there’s a good chance you may enjoy golden beets.
Burrata is an Italian-style cow or buffalo milk cheese with a solid outer casing and a soft interior of stracciatella and cream, giving it an unusual, soft texture. This cheese pairs beautifully with the sweeter golden to create a delicious dish perfect for brunch.
Each month, the Colorado Department of Agriculture features a different ag commodity to highlight the variety and quality of products grown and raised in the state. For May, Chef Jason Morse uses Colorado beets to complement the warmer weather.
“I must admit something, I love beets,” Morse said. “Maybe not so much when I was a kid, but as an adult I can’t get enough of them. The flavor is so amazing and connects you to the earth with that rich, earthy flavor. I crave them as a salad, side dish or just in a bowl. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I enjoyed making it. Happy cooking.”
Beets and Burrata
Recipe by Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes plus rest time
Yield: Two salads
Ingredients:
• 12 each beets, golden, small
• 1 quart apple cider (or juice)
• 6-8 ounces burrata cheese, fresh, large
• Rub-A-Dub Seasoning (all-purpose BBQ rub) to taste
• Garden Rub (Bangkok-inspired rub) to taste
• 1/4 cup apple vinaigrette or your favorite vinaigrette
• Italian parsley, chopped as desired
• Balsamic glaze, dark as desired
Cooking directions:
1. Wash beets and trim off the stalk and roots ends.
2. Place into a medium-sized stock pot and cover with the cider/juice.
3. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until fork tender.
4. When beets are done, turn off the heat and cover the pan for 5 minutes to let the beets finish.
5. Uncover the beets and, using tongs, carefully remove the beets to a cooling rack.
6. Allow beets to cool for 10 minutes.
7. Peel the beets and quarter them.
8. Place beets into a mixing bowl and season with Garden Rub and Rub-A-Dub seasonings.
9. Add 1/4 cup of the apple vinaigrette
10. Mix well and let sit for 5 minutes.
11. Place mixed beets on the bottom of the platter.
12. Top with the fresh burrata, drizzle with balsamic glaze and garnish with chopped parsley.
13. Devour.
This brunch dish pairs well with a Cabernet franc.
Visit ColoradoProud.org for a complete list of recipes.
Volunteers needed
Archuleta County 4-H needs volunteers. We are looking for short-term commitment for superintendents at the county fair. Please contact our office at (970) 264-5931 or contact 4-H Coordinator Becky Jacobson at rjacobson@archuletacounty.org.
Shredding event
The shredding event has been canceled until further notice. Due to new ownership of the shredding company, we can no longer offer our biannual shredding event. We used this service, too, so we understand the inconvenience. We will work on bringing another shredding event to Archuleta County. Thank you for your past participation.
Countywide yard sale
There will be a countywide yard sale on May 28. You can reserve a space for $50 indoors or out at the Extension building at the fairgrounds. Call (970) 264-5931 for more information and to register.
CPR and first aid classes
CPR and first aid certification classes are offered every other month (February, April, June, August, October and December) from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid, and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. Call the Extension office at (970) 264-5931 to register.
Visit online
Visit us on the Web at https://archuleta.extension.colostate.edu/ or like us on Facebook and get more information: https://www.facebook.com/CSUARCHCTY and https://www.facebook.com/ArchuletaCounty4H.
