Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (2024)

Beet greens are so tender and delicious, you’ll wonder why you ever tossed them out in the first place!

Just a little garlic and lemon juice transforms the stems and leaves into a deliciously tender side dish that’s packed with flavor and nutrition!

Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (1)

An Easy Beet Greens Recipe

  • The best use for your garden-fresh beet greens. They’re healthy and packed with flavor.
  • This recipe uses both the leaves and stems to turn raw beet greens into a deliciously seasoned sauteed side dish.
  • An easy and quick dish, ready in under 15 minutes
  • Packed full of nutrients from fresh, natural ingredients
  • Perfectly balances tangy lemon, aromatic garlic, and earthy beet greens
  • A great way to add a touch of elegance to any meal.

Ingredients in Sautéed Beet Greens

Beet Greens – Choose stems and leaves that are fresh and firm. Cut or tear them into equally sized pieces. You’ll want to separate the stems from the leaves as they will cook at different rates.

Seasonings – Real butter and fresh lemon juice are key to bringing out the best flavor of sauteed beet greens and will offset any bitterness.

Flavor: Garlic adds flavor. Swap the olive oil for a bit of bacon grease to add a smoky flavor to the greens if desired. Add a few red pepper flakes for color and a little heat, or save a little lemon zest as a garnish!

Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (2)

How to Saute Beet Greens

This recipe also works with other greens like radish greens or mustard greens.

  1. Wash beet greens to remove any grit, dirt, or debris.
  2. Simmer the stems until fork-tender and drain per the recipe below.
  3. Add the beet leaves, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper to the pan. Squeeze lemon juice over the greens and sauté until the leaves are wilted.
  4. Remove from heat, stir in butter, and season to taste.
Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (3)

Storing Sautéed Beet Greens

Keep leftover sauteed beet greens in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat in the microwave or add to a veggie soup or a hearty chicken stew. Freeze-cooled beet greens in a zippered bag for up to 4 months, however, once thawed, their texture may change but their flavor will be just as delicious!

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Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (8)

4.94 from 46 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Sauteed Beet Greens

Beet Greens, minced garlic, and freshly squeezed lemon juice are combined and cooked until tender, then tossed with butter

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Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (10)

Servings 4 servings

Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (11)

Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 bundle beet greens
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ½ lemon
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons butter
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Wash beet greens and separate stems from leaves. Cut the stems into 1" pieces, and chop the leaves.

  • In a nonstick pan, add the stems and 1 cup of water. Cover and simmer for 4-7 minutes or until they're fork-tender. Drain well.

  • Add the garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper to the pan, squeezing the lemon over the greens. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until the greens are wilted.

  • Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the butter and salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

A bundle of beet greens is greens from about 4 to 5 beets.

4.94 from 46 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 55 | Carbohydrates: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 91mg | Vitamin A: 665IU | Vitamin C: 10.2mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (13) Course Side Dish

Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (14) Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (15)
Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (16)
Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (17)
Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (18)

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Sauteed Beet Greens Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat beet greens? ›

On their own, sautéed beet greens are a delicious side dish. I like to dress them up with a big squeeze of lemon, golden raisins, and toasted walnuts. The raisins bring out the greens' sweetness, and the walnuts add a delicious crunch.

Are sauteed beet greens good for you? ›

Beet greens have oodles of nutritional value, from fiber and protein to vitamins C, K, and B9. You can eat beet greens raw or cooked. No matter how you choose to chow down, you could enjoy health perks like a stronger immune system, healthier teeth, and a healthier digestive tract.

How do you get the bitterness out of beet greens? ›

Here are five ways to tame the bite of bitter greens.
  1. Blanch the greens first. Once, I decided to skip a step and not blanch the broccoli rabe for a pasta dish. ...
  2. Add strongly flavored ingredients. Fight bitterness with other flavors like sweetness and spice. ...
  3. Add acid. ...
  4. Use salt. ...
  5. Braise them.
May 1, 2019

Do you eat the red stems of beet greens? ›

As far as we're concerned, when it comes to what to do with beetroot leaves, the answer is obvious! Stem the tide of waste by eating your beetroot stalks! Beetroot stalks are very much edible and can be eaten raw or cooked.

What is the best and healthiest way to eat beets? ›

Retain the good-for-you nutrients in beets by roasting them or sautéing them instead. Or lightly steam them for just a few minutes, suggests Doyle.

Are beet greens anti inflammatory? ›

Antioxidant-Rich: Beet greens are packed with antioxidants that support overall health, protect against oxidative stress, and help reduce inflammation in the body. Heart Health Support: The presence of dietary nitrates in beet greens may promote healthy blood pressure levels and cardiovascular well-being.

Which is healthier, beet greens or spinach? ›

Beet greens have a similar colorful look as swiss chard and can be consumed in much of the same way. They also are very high in iron with a higher iron count than spinach as well as vitamin K, B6, magnesium and potassium.

Are beet greens good for high blood pressure? ›

Leafy greens such as spinach, Swiss chard, kale, beet greens, and collards pack a punch when it comes to lowering high blood pressure. They're sources of magnesium, as well as potassium, an essential nutrient for preventing or lowering high blood pressure.

Are beet greens good for kidneys? ›

There are many green, leafy vegetables that people following a renal diet may need to avoid or limit due to their high potassium content. This is the case for Swiss chard, spinach, and beet greens.

What kills the bitterness of greens? ›

Sautéing greens in oil with lots of garlic and/or onions works well to counteract the bitterness of mildly bitter greens. Counterbalancing with acid, salt and strong flavors. A bitter salad green like arugula (rocket, rucola) demands a rather strong tasting dressing.

What can you add to beets to make them taste better? ›

Flavors that pair well with roasted beets:

Arugula and other bold greens, including collard greens. Avocado. Balsamic vinegar, as well as red wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Black pepper.

Do beet greens go bad? ›

Beet greens can be stored in the fridge for up to two days. Wash beet greens right before using. 1. Place beet greens in a plastic bag.

What is the healthiest way to eat beet greens? ›

Are beet greens healthier raw or cooked? In most cases, the healthy nutrients of beet greens are consumed, as long as they aren't overcooked. "Like most vegetables, some nutrients may get lost in the cooking process, but cooked beet greens can still provide a great source of nutrients," Mathis says.

Can you freeze beet greens? ›

Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, beet greens, along with mustard and turnip greens freeze well for year-round enjoyment.

Can you eat too many beet greens? ›

Beet greens are very high in dietary nitrates, which can cause harmful health effects when consumed at excessive levels. High amounts of nitrate have been associated with a higher risk of certain types of cancer (16).

Do beet greens lose nutrients when cooked? ›

"Like most vegetables, some nutrients may get lost in the cooking process, but cooked beet greens can still provide a great source of nutrients," Mathis says. Just be sure to avoid overcooking, and refrain from boiling them if possible. Instead, if you want to cook your beet greens, try steaming or sauteing them.

How do you get the most nutrients out of beets? ›

All About the Betalains

Betalains are highly concentrated in the peel and flesh of the beet, however, beets do undergo a steady loss of nutritional value with heat, so to get the most betalain benefit, beets should be steamed for no more than 15 minutes, if at all.

Can you eat beetroot leaves raw or cooked? ›

Beetroot grows with a bountiful plumage of nutritious, iron-rich leaves that taste and look similar to rainbow chard, which is from the same family. They're usually thrown away, either at the farm or the market, but those stems and leaves are delicious cooked or raw.

Should I store beet greens in the refrigerator? ›

Storing beet greens is very similar to storing the roots. However, beet greens have a much shorter life span than their earthy counterpart. Beet greens can be stored in the fridge for up to two days.

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