One of the most fulfilling things as a cook is being able to use an ingredient in its entirety. Not wasting a single thing. These sautéed beet greens are simple to make, and they are a quick way to make a whole nother dish from those beets you’ve already got. Combined with a handful of common ingredients, these greens can be transformed into something delicious and versatile that you can enjoy time and time again.
The image below shows almost all of the ingredients needed to make the beet greens. Onion is listed in the recipe card but neither it nor the lemon are absolutely necessary. See? Super simple.
For information about the health benefits of consuming beets: 15 Health Benefits of Beets
Sautéed Beet Greens
Equipment
- Knife and cutting board
- Colander
- Sauté pan
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion medium-sized
- 7-8 beet green stalks
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- Red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt
Instructions
Prepare the greens
- Rinse the beet greens using cold water and a colander to remove any grit or dirt. Strip the leaves from the stems then remove and discard any tough parts of the stems.
- Finely dice the stems and set aside. Roughly chop the tender leaves.
Sauté the greens
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until they become translucent. Add diced stems and cook for another 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low then add garlic, stir, and cook for another minute before adding greens and red pepper flakes to the pan. Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the pan as well.
- Cook until stems and greens are tender, about 5 more minutes, tossing occasionally. Season with salt, to taste. Add lemon zest to finish (optional).
Notes
- The same process can be applied to other greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens to create quick side dishes at home.
- Feel free to play around with the seasonings, substitute with your favorite flavors.
Nutrition
These greens would also be really tasty on the side of or incorporated into our Coconut Curry and Chickpea Salmon recipe. Check it out!
