Fried beets are an easy, fast and healthy side dish. They’re crisp, earthy and delicious on their own or sprinkled with salt. They make a great savory snack that pairs well with a bowl of hummus, but they’re also perfect for salads.
You can fry beets in the oven, air fry them or use a pressure cooker. There are a few tips to keep in mind when cooking fried beets that will help you avoid burning them and keep them from losing their crispiness.
When frying beets in the oven, you’ll want to make sure they’re placed on a rimmed baking sheet so that they cook evenly. If they’re not spaced out enough, the moisture from each piece of beet will steam the ones next to it and they’ll end up mushy.
Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil or a nonstick baking mat. Drizzle the beets with oil and spread them out evenly on the sheet. They’ll take about 30 minutes to roast, but it’s important that they don’t overlap so that the beets roast evenly.
If you’re using a nonstick pan, transfer the beets to the pan in batches and let them cook until they’re crisp and golden brown. Remove them with a slotted spoon or tongs and drain them on a cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining beet slices.
You can serve fried beets as is or on top of a burger, sandwich or taco. Or add them to a beet and walnut salad like this one.
The chioggia beets in this recipe are striped, resembling candy canes, and they have an appealing sweet and earthy flavor that’s best roasted. They can also be seasoned with lemon or orange juice and herbs.
Another option is to roast them whole in foil. This technique is a little less messy and easier than peeling them, since the skins don’t need to be removed. You can wrap each beet individually in foil and then place them on a rimmed baking sheet, or you can use a large packet of foil wrapped beets. You’ll need to check on them at about 45 minutes to ensure they are cooked through and softer than desired.
Alternatively, you can make a quick and easy dipping sauce for fried beets using butter, flour and water. It’s not as flavorful as a classic mayonnaise-based dressing, but it does work well in a pinch.
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to fried beets, try stir-frying them. This method is quick, so the beets spend most of their time in the hot oil, which makes them a lot more nutritious and reduces the amount of fat they absorb.
When frying beets, use high-quality vegetable oil. This helps to prevent them from absorbing too much fat and keeps the texture of the chips nice and crisp. A light coating of rice flour is a good choice, too, since it doesn’t have a strong taste and will blend well with the other flavors in the dish.
