Recently a friend gave us a bunch of fresh beets that she had just grown in her garden. So, the question was, What do we do with beets? I guess one could make Borscht. What else? There’s always beet salad.  But you really have to like beets to eat beet salad. Beets, like some foods is an acquire taste. Kids do not like beets. I away s did (I was a weird kid). In the family we had Ensalada de Remolacha or Beet Salad. And we all loved it. It contained onion, tomato, lemon juice,  olive oil, and a little sugar. From the youngest to the oldest, we would scarf it up.The perfect side dish to steak, ham, chicken or lamb.

Kiddies, here it is, the the beet recipe everybody will love—by way of Nuyorican cuisine.

ENSALADA DE REMOLACHA
(Beet Salad)

Ingredients:

1 pound beets, trimmed of leaves
Salt to taste
1 small onion, slice into thin rounds
1 small tomato, about ¼ pound, cored and cut into thin slices
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil

Instructions:

  1. Put the beets in a kettle or saucepan, add water to cover and salt. Bring to  boil and let cook, uncovered, about 30 minutes or until beets are tender. Cooking time will depend on the size and age of the beets.
  2.  Drain the beets, peel them, and place in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix gently. Chill until ready to serve. Garnish with basil before serving..
    Yield: 4-6 servings.