Beet Greens Crostini Recipe with Goat Cheese | White On Rice Couple (2024)

Home » Recipes » 100+ Easy Meals » Beet Greens and Goat Cheese Crostini- Eat your greens

Jump to Recipe

by Todd + Diane

Our biggest apologies to all you friends who are still frozen under snow or drenched with rain. This beet greens and goat cheese crostini recipe isn’t to gloat about our wonderful sunshine and blue skies. It’s about reminding you to enjoy eating your beet greens.

Beet Greens Crostini Recipe with Goat Cheese | White On Rice Couple (1)

Beet Greens Crostini Recipe

When spring arrives the joys of consumingspring greens and tender vegetables are sure signs to celebrate the season. Our garden is dotted with tender, teeny-weeny beet roots right now and during this stage of growth, we don’t wait for the beets to get bigger. There’s plenty more beets roots to be left alone to grow, but for now, all the tender stuff is harvested for the beet greens!

Beet Greens Crostini Recipe with Goat Cheese | White On Rice Couple (2)

Healthy Beet Greens

Beet greens sauteed in simple olive oil, or tossed in a crisp green salad are just a few great recipe ideas for keeping you from tossing away these valuable tops. Unfortunately, some of the beet greens in grocery stores can be too tough and fibrous, so you’ll have to blanch them in hot water first. Or if you’re going to use the beet greens in a salad, you might have to remove the center, tougher ribs of the leaves and just eat the outer leaves.

But when spring comes, normally beet greens sold at farmers markets are tender and completely edible! Better yet, if you have the garden room or a big pot and the patience to wait a few weeks, you can harvest your own tender beet greens! Growing them yourself is surely the way to enjoy eating from garden to table this spring.

Our garden is plentiful with baby beet roots and tender greens because we’ve been fortunate to get an abundance of rain this year, followed by gorgeous days of warm sunshine. The beets are stretching their limbs and leaves out of the soil faster than we an keep up with them.

Goat cheese and beet greens salad

Simple goat cheese and beet green salad is normally what we always prepare with our first harvest of the year, but today, we decided to change it up a bit and make a wonderful little appetizer. Here’s our beet greens crostini as a result of our cravings.

Toasted bread, with a generous swipe of goat cheese, topped with some simple balsamic roasted beet roots and fresh beet greens is what we’re talking about today! It’s easy, superbly fresh and simply spring. Need we say more?

Eat your beet greens,

Diane and Todd

Beet Greens Crostini Recipe with Goat Cheese | White On Rice Couple (3)layer your crostini to your liking, but try a very thin slice of fresh lemon, awesome!

Beet Greens Crostini Recipe with Goat Cheese | White On Rice Couple (4)

Balsamic Beet Greens & Goat Cheese Crostini

Yield: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

The best part of this recipe is that you can use the whole part of the beet root, including stems and leaves. Tender beet greens can be eaten raw or cooked if the greens are tougher.

5 from 5 votes

PRINT RECIPE Review Pin It

Ingredients

  • 2-3 Beets w/ Greens still on
  • 1 Baguette , sliced thin (about 20 pieces), toasted in pan or oven
  • 6 ounces Goat Cheese
  • Lemon Zest from 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon fresh Lemon Juice
  • very thin slices of fresh Lemons (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar , or more if needed
  • fresh cracked Black Pepper

Instructions

  • If roasting beets: Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Wash beets, trimming greens @1" above top of beet. Put beets in a baking dish large enough to lay beets in a single layer. Add 1/4" of water to dish, cover with aluminum foil and put in oven. (If you want a bit more tang, coat beets with some balsamic vinegar while roasting.) Roast until cooked through, 30 min - 1 hr, depending on size of beets. Test doneness by feeling the resistance of a toothpick when poked into beet. Remove from oven to cool.

  • After beets have cooled, rub off outer skin, then slice or dice to your preferred serving size. If you want to serve warm, quickly saute beets with a little olive oil or butter until heated. Season with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. (Other serving options: saute some crushed garlic until lightly cooked then saute beets together; finish sauteed beets with a little balsamic vinegar; add some fresh chopped herbs when sauteeing beets-mint, basil, tarragon, etc; add a bit of fresh lemon or tangerine zest after sauteing beets.)

  • For cooking the greens: Wash and cut leaves and stems. Heat water to boil in a medium pot. Add stems and leaves to boiling water and quickly blanche them. Taste a piece of stem and leaves until they are blanched to your liking. Quicklydrain greens and rinse with cold water. Add greens to bowl, squeeze out excess water, then add balsamic vinegar and salt to taste.

  • In bowl, combine goat cheese, fresh lemon zest and juice and fresh cracked black pepper. Combine well.

  • Spread goat cheese on crostini (toasted baguette slices) with goat cheese, thin layer of lemon sliced, thin slices of roasted beets and beet green greens (cooked or raw).

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 200kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 575mg, Potassium: 144mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 302IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 77mg, Iron: 2mg

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Garden Recipes, Gatherings & Parties, Oven, Stove Top

Calories: 200

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

100+ Easy Meals Appetizers Food Garden Garden Recipes Recipes Salads Vegetables Vegetarian

40 Comments / Leave a Comment »

Beet Greens Crostini Recipe with Goat Cheese | White On Rice Couple (5)

Our Cookbook

Bountiful: Recipes Inspired by Our Garden

Buy Now on Amazon »

Subscribe

40 comments on “Beet Greens and Goat Cheese Crostini- Eat your greens”

  1. Jenn July 17, 2012 @ 12:32 pm Reply

    This is a great post, and I absolutely love goat cheese! What kind of goat cheese did you use for this recipe? I’m always looking for good ones to try!

    • White on Rice Couple July 17, 2012 @ 6:05 pm Reply

      Thanks Jenn. We are always changing up the goat cheeses we buy. Just depends where we are at when we get the craving. There are some nice ones at our local farmer’s market and at the stores we’ll often buy Silver Goat brand as well as a couple other we just know by sight and can’t recall the name.

  2. Ann Allchin April 23, 2012 @ 9:34 pm Reply

    Thanks for a fantastic recipe! I never would have used whole lemon slices, but they’re fantastic. I showcased this recipe on my blog where I try to cook with uncommon ingredients (cookingdangerously.com). Check it out! Your photography is fantastic.Beet Greens Crostini Recipe with Goat Cheese | White On Rice Couple (8)

  3. Justin June 16, 2011 @ 6:06 pm Reply

    A great idea for a green that does get overlooked. Its perfect and Im making it tommorow

Leave a Reply

Beet Greens Crostini Recipe with Goat Cheese | White On Rice Couple (2024)

FAQs

What wine goes with goat cheese and beetroot? ›

Sancerre, a French wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, would be an excellent pairing for this salad. Its high acidity and citrus notes would complement the tangy goat cheese and balance the sweetness of the beets.

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.

Are beet greens bitter when cooked? ›

They have a mild, sweet, and earthy flavor, and they take on a delicate, silky texture when cooked. Honestly, I think they're just as tasty as beets themselves. Try them once, and you won't toss them again. Below, you'll find my favorite sautéed beet greens recipe.

Do you have to cook beet greens to eat them? ›

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. Beet leaves are delicious when sautéed as a crispy side dish or tossed in a salad.

What pairs nicely with goat cheese? ›

A milder fresh goat cheese will go perfectly with a sweet conserve, such as fig or raspberry. A cheese with a more pronounced flavour such as Ripened goat log will taste great alongside black cherry or blueberry conserves.

What compliments goat cheese? ›

Prosciutto is a great savory compliment to a fresh goat cheese. Strawberries, Sugar Snap Peas and Asparagus. I personally love goat cheese and strawberries, makes such a nice contract with the sweetness vs acidity of the cheese.

Should you eat the stems of beet greens? ›

The beetroot plant is delicious and completely edible - from its purple roots to the green leaves and stems.

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

Are beet greens a laxative? ›

Generally, beet greens have a laxative effect and soften stool, except in Vata individuals where the diuretic and astringent effect can causes mild constipation.

Can you revive wilted beet greens? ›

Wilted greens can be revived easily by being submerged in a large bowl of cool water (just soak them for a couple of hours until they have perked up), but know that leaves with slime cannot be saved.

Can I eat wilted beet greens? ›

Beet greens have a sweet and mild flavor that's preserved when you wilt instead of boil them. These delicate greens are delicious served hot or room temperature and the only additional flavors I use are salt, pepper and garlic. You can garnish with chopped beets or enjoy them all on their own.

Can dogs eat beet greens? ›

When you buy a beet plant, don't toss those beet greens, which are full of extra vitamins and minerals! Dogs can eat beet greens just as you would prepare other dog-friendly greens like spinach. Cook the greens to make them easier to digest and serve in moderation.

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.

What is the difference between beetroot and beet greens? ›

Beet greens are the scarlet stems and green leaves attached to the top of the bulbous beetroot. Not only are they completely edible, they have a delicious sweet flavour, much like Swiss chard.

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).

What wine goes with beetroot? ›

The rich sweet and earthy flavours of a beetroot risotto call for a light-bodied red wine such as Pinot Noir. A beetroot dip or hummus is a great addition to any mezze spread - try serving a fruity rosé such as Woodchester Valley's Pinot Rosé or Babylonstoren's Mourvedre Rosé.

What wine pairs best with beets? ›

Pinot noir or dolcetto would be a perfect match for this.

What wine goes with red beets? ›

Roasted beets

Or, honestly, a Cabernet Franc, like a Chinon from the Loire, would go well with the beets. Cab Franc also has a kind of vegetal quality. That would also be great with grilled asparagus or broccolini. Or a Sauvignon Blanc, which also often has those vegetal qualities.”

Does red or white wine go with beets? ›

On the other hand, sweet, earthy veggies like sweet potatoes, beets and mushrooms come to life with a richer white wine or a light to medium-bodied red, like a Pinot Noir or Merlot.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 6299

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.