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Add Some Color to Your Life With this Easy Beet and Carrot Slaw Recipe
Who knew raw beets could taste so good?
I wouldn’t want to bite into a raw beet like I would an apple. But, when cut into small enough pieces and perfectly dressed, they make a great zingy beet slaw.
You know what the best part is about cooking raw beets?
Well, that is a trick question. Because the best part is that you don’t have to cook them at all. Healthy dishes that require no cooking is always a good thing in your busy life.
This beet and carrot slaw recipe is a great vegan side dish. You can also put these beets on salad to make it more filling. It keeps for a few days covered in the refrigerator, so you can use it as a quick condiment on anything you’d like.
Young beets that you’ll find the springtime are a bit sweeter and easier to eat raw than their more mature counterparts. As summer moves along and the beets grow, they become earthier and larger. In any case, this beet slaw will taste healthy and delicious.
If you’re ready to get your hands dirty and colorful, this beet slaw recipe is for you!
Health Benefits of Beets
Simply put, beets are super healthy. Some experts even consider them a “superfood”.
Beets are packed with fiber, folate, and antioxidants that aid in digestion. According to Medical News Today, studies show beets may reduce blood pressure, improve digestion, reduce the risk of diabetes, and increase athletic performance.
Seems like we should all be eating more beets. This beet slaw recipe will help you do just that.
How Long Will This Beet Slaw Keep?
Store this beet slaw in a covered container and place in the refrigerator. It will keep 4-5 days and continue to marinate.
This slaw is great as a condiment for sandwiches, salads, grains, and beans. So, it’s great to have some on-hand. I love these deli containers for storing meal prep ingredients. They’re cheap, versatile, and all sizes use the same lid. They are what restaurants use.
For container that are little nicer, these OXO glass containers are also awesome. You can store, cover, reheat (if needed), and serve all in one container.
Do I Have to Peel The Beets and Carrots?
Yes, you should peel the beets. Beet skins are edible, but bitter. You don’t need to peel the carrots unless you prefer to.
I peel vegetables and potatoes as little as possible to avoid unnecessary effort, time, and waste. So, in many cases I’d recommend skipping the peeling this step. But for raw beets, go ahead and grab the vegetable peeler.
How Can I Avoid My Kitchen Looking Like a Piece of Pink Modern Art?
Beets are beautiful. But, their color does rub off on whatever they come in contact with. So your hands will get stained – don’t worry it washes off easily.
When working with beets, I like to use a separate small cutting board that can be easily cleaned and tossed in the dishwasher like this one.
That way, your kitchen and main cutting board won’t have streaks of purple.
Beet Slaw Preparation Tips
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If you want a quicker method for slicing up the beets into small, slaw-like pieces, you can use the large holes on a box grater. The texture will be a bit less crunchy than if you cut into small matchsticks.
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Toss the beets with just the acid before adding any oil. This allows them to soak in some of the acidic flavor.
How to Buy Fresh Carrots
Pick carrots that are firm and stiff. Avoid ones with soft spots and scars. If carrots have their tops on, then they were picked fairly recent. Look for tops that are perky and green.
How To Buy Fresh Beets
Beets are generally available with their leafy tops on or off.
If their tops are still on, inspecting these will be your best bet. It means they were dug up within the past week or so. Look for greens that are perky with no shriveling.
If their tops are removed, look for beets with tight, firm skins. You should not be able to squish them at all.
What Type of Beets Should I Buy?
Any and all beet varieties work great for this slaw. This slaw is beautiful with a mix of beets if possible.
You may see a few different varieties of beets at your grocery store. Most likely you will see a red (or purple) variety and gold variety.
Red beets are the most common. They are versatile, earthy, keep well in the refrigerator, and are the most commonly used. They’ll also stain an entire dish pink, so keep that in mind when using.
Golden beets are also widely available. They are less sweet than red beets, but also less earthy. Golden beets make for an easier cleanup since they don’t stain everything like red beets do.
If you are shopping at the farmers market, then you may see even more than this.
Read more about the varieties of beets here on the SpruceEats
Variations to this Beet Slaw Dish
It’s always fun messing around with recipes and making them your own. This beet slaw is a great canvas for adding different flavors. Here are a few ideas:
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Use a different nut – I used almonds because I had them on hand. Pistachios, pecans, walnuts or other seeds would work great.
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Beets or Carrots Only – Make this a carrot only or beet only slaw. Substitute one for the other and use the same ingredient amounts.
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Swap herbs – You can’t go wrong with swapping the cilantro for another herb like mint, parsley, or basil. Better yet, use a mix.
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Apple slices instead of raisins – Raisins add a nice sweetness to this slaw. Use apple slices instead for more crunch. Or another dried fruit.
It’s Always Beet Season
Beets are super tasty, versatile, and healthy. They really are one of the most perfect foods. Here are some other recipes to check out:
More Vegetable Side Dish Recipes Like This One:
Beet and Carrot Slaw with Raisins and Nuts
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 3/4 pound beets, peeled, grated or cut into matchsticks ( about 2 medium beets)
- 1/2 pound carrots, grated or cut into matchsticks
- 1 lemon, juice only (about 2 tbsp.)
- 3/4 cup lightly packed cilantro
- 1/2 cup almonds, pecans, or pistachios, roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Add white wine vinegar, raisins, and garlic to a large bowl. Let sit while you prep the beets and carrots.
- Add beets, carrots, cilantro, nuts, salt, and lemon juice to the bowl. Toss to combine. Add olive oil and gently toss again to combine.
- Serve immediately or store 4-5 days covered in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Ready to Make This Beet and Carrot Slaw?
I love the crunch and look of this slaw when the beets and carrots are sliced into matchsticks. But, after making it, I will use a box grater next time. It took way too long to cut the veggies up.
Now that you have this recipe you’ll need some beets.
But, I know it’s not always easy to make it to the grocery store to buy fresh produce. So, I made this list of the best places to buy produce online.
You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to get fresh produce delivered right to your doorstep with the click of a button.