Steamed Golden Beets, Fresh Garlic & Cherry Tomatoes
Serves 4
There are those who do not love beets and I plead guilty. But over time I have found certain recipes that bring out the earthy tones of beets in a pleasing way. This dish is entirely dependent upon the quality of its ingredients – I recommend a visit to a local farmers market for organic vegetables as a prerequisite.
4-6 medium or small golden beets, cleaned and sliced thinly
2 heads of fresh garlic, thinly sliced
12 red cherry tomatoes cut in half
12 yellow cherry tomatoes cut in half
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Preparation: Clean and thinly slice the golden beets and garlic. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Prepare a bamboo steaming basket or similar steamer and put the beet and garlic tops in the water along with a lemon peel. Steam the beets, garlic and tomatoes for about five minutes, or just until the beets are still crunchy. Put the vegetables into a mixing bowl and combine with the butter, dill, sea salt and ground pepper. Toss briefly and serve.
Presentation: I presented this dish in a constructed salad of fresh spinach served with a poached egg and prosciutto, black olives and shavings of Spanish Manchego cheese with a vinaigrette dressing.
