Update and Redux: J – This is a simple and unexpected way of doing beets. The resulting flavor is more complex and richer, without being overpowering. Smoking time is short and can be done on most any outdoor grill. You will be pleasantly surprised.
C – Smoked beets?
I wondered what it was going to taste like. I love beets. I love the texture, the colors and the sweet taste. When Luke suggested we smoke some beets, I was all for it. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea of smoked beets and what they would taste like.
The process wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. We had to boil and cook the beets first. Unlike the smoked eggplant, the beets were hard and would take forever to cook in a smoker. They probably wouldn’t end up being cooked fully through. A disaster would have happened.
Luke’s process was simple. Boil the beets in separate pots until cooked. Since ours were gigantic, it took a while. Then, we peeled them and cut them into halves to smoke.
The smoking was easy. We placed them in the smoker for about 15 minutes to get a good, light smoke on them. They weren’t overpowered by a smokey taste.
I loved these even more than regular beets. The consistency was great. The smokey sweet taste was almost like meat to me. I think I could eat this all by itself and get full.
| Smoke Week: Smoked Beets |
- 3 large purple beets
- 3 large golden beets
- 2 tablespoons salt
- Place purple beets in a pot with water and a tablespoon salt. Place the golden beets in a separate pot with a tablespoon salt. Cook until beets are fork tender. About 1½ to 2 hours.
- Once done, peel the beets and cut the ends. Cut them in half.
- Place in a smoker and smoke for 15 minutes. You just want to have a light smokey taste. Not too smokey.
- Serve warm with some salad and a piece of bread.
- Enjoy!
I did just that. With some salad on the side, they became a main dish for me. This was delicious. These beets are dense and really filling. I really loved eating just them for a light vegan lunch or dinner.
Hope you try this. They were amazing.