Red Beets
Estimated Inventory, 25 lbs : 25.42
This item was last sold on : 01/20/25
Description/Taste
Red beets vary in size, typically averaging 3-7 centimeters in diameter, and have a globular to ovate shape with a small taproot extending from the non-stem end. The firm skin is dark red to purple and is semi-smooth with tiny root hairs, russet, and scrapes covering the surface. Each beet varies in texture and shape depending on growing conditions. Underneath the surface, the flesh is a deep crimson and is dense, aqueous, and crunchy. When cooked, Red beets develop a tender, soft texture with a mildly sweet, earthy flavor. The beet plant also grows leafy stalks that are edible and have a taste similar to swiss chard.
Seasons/Availability
Red beets are available year-round.
Current Facts
Red beets, botanically classified as Beta vulgaris, are edible, underground roots that sprout tall leaves and are members of the Amaranthaceae family. The term Red beet is a broad descriptor used to encompass many different varieties of beets, including one of the most popular red cultivars known as the Detroit Red. Favored by chefs for their earthy flavor and deep crimson coloring, Red beets are cultivated primarily as a table root, used in everyday cooking in both sweet and savory preparations.
Nutritional Value
Red beets contain antioxidants known as betalains, which are pigments that give the root its dark hue, and this pigment is believed to help cleanse the body and remove toxins from the bloodstream. Red beets also contain iron, vitamins C and B6, magnesium, manganese, potassium, folate, and fiber to spur digestion and cleansing.
Applications
Red beets are popularly consumed raw in salads or are utilized in cooked applications such as roasting, steaming, frying, and boiling. It is important to note that Red beets will bleed a dark red hue when raw or cooked, and this liquid has the potential to stain surfaces and skin. The roots can be roasted and incorporated into soups, burgers, and quiche, cooked into pasta, blended into sauces, or sliced thinly into wedges and fried into chips. Red beets can also be mixed into hummus or used in baked goods such as cupcakes, cheesecake, tarts, and brownies. In addition to the roots, the leaves are also edible, commonly sautéed or used in salads, and are prized for their tender, crisp texture. Red beets pair well with fruits such as raspberries, blueberries, pears, and avocadoes, greens such as kale, spinach, arugula, and pea shoots, cheeses such as pecorino, goat, brie, and gorgonzola, pepitas, and walnuts. The roots will keep 2-3 weeks with the leaves removed and stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. With the leaves still attached the roots will keep up to one week. The green leaves will only keep 1-2 days once removed from the roots and stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Ancient Greece and Rome, Red beets were highly revered and were first cultivated for their leafy green stalks. These civilizations also developed methods to grow the plants year-round as the population grew to consume the leaves and occasionally the roots. In mythology, Red beets are considered an aphrodisiac as the goddess of love, Aphrodite, was rumored to have consumed the roots to enhance her attractiveness. Many Greeks also believed that eating from the same beet would cause a man and a woman to fall in love.
Geography/History
Red beets are native to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe and North Africa and have been growing wild since ancient times. Initially, the plant was cultivated for its leafy green tops, and the roots were often discarded or used as animal feed. Primary consumption of the root itself did not take place until the 1500s, and the discovery of the beet's high sugar content also led to its increased agricultural value, spreading the root throughout the world via immigration and trade. Today Red beets can be found at specialty grocers and farmers markets in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Pacific Coast Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-794-4632 |
| The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
| Cocina de Barrio Point Loma | San Diego CA | 858-349-2313 |
| Black Raill Kitchen + Bar | Carlsbad CA | 619-454-9182 |
| Bica | San Diego CA | 619-669-5725 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| Madi | San Diego CA | 320-491-1217 |
| Ulivo | San Diego CA | 619-962-7345 |
| Harley Gray Kitchen and Bar | San Diego CA | 619-840-7000 |
| The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
| Herb & Wood Bar | San Diego CA | 619-955-8495 |
| Gravity Heights Mission Valley | San Diego CA | 619-384-5993 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-761-1269 |
| Extraordinary Desserts Union St. | San Diego CA | 619-294-7001 |
| Gravity Heights Restaurant and Brewery | San Diego CA | 858-551-5105 |
| Flora Cafe | Bonita CA | 619-339-6604 |
| Cloak and Petal | San Diego CA | 626-319-6878 |
| Pacific Yacht Agents | Los Angeles CA | 808-214-0970 |
| Third Corner Ocean Beach | San Diego CA | 619-223-2700 |
| Ketch Grill and Taps | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Herb & Sea (Bar) | Encinitas CA | 858-587-6601 |
| Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
| Herb & Sea | Encinitas CA | 858-587-6601 |
| The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Marriott Gaslamp | San Diego CA | 619-696-0234 x6051 |
| Alila Marea Beach Resort | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
| Fish 101 | Encinitas CA | 760-943-6221 |
| Dot Café | San Diego CA | 914-263-1424 |
| Stake Chophouse & Bar | Coronado CA | 619-522-0077 |
| Portside Pier (Ketch Tasting Deck) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Books and Records | San Diego CA | 619-310-5298 |
| Seneca | San Diego CA | 619-588-2411 |
| Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
| Pretty Pickled, Pretty Sauced | National City CA | 619-869-9921 |
| Armonia LLC | San Diego CA | 619-724-7210 |
| Lafayette Hotel - Quixote | San Diego CA | 619-296-2101 |
| Bleu Boheme | San Diego CA | 619-255-4167 |
| La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club | San Diego CA | 619-816-8319 |
| Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
| Le Papagayo (Encinitas) | Encinitas CA | 760-944-8252 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Ciccia Osteria | San Diego CA | 619-674-4069 |
| Crown Point Catering | San Diego CA | 619-223-1211 |
| The Cottage Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 858-454-8409 |
| Catamaran | San Diego CA | 858-488-1081 |
| El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria | San Diego CA | 619-220-0692 |
| Sbicca Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 619-417-2587 |
| The Lion Share Bar | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
| Sycuan Casino | El Cajon CA | 619-445-6002 |
| Echale | Encinitas CA | 303-210-2892 |
| Brockton Villa Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-454-7393 |
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
| Vinya: Vino & Vinyasa | San Diego CA | 858-703-8101 |
| US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Sago | Encinitas CA | 858-382-4047 |
| Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill (UTC) | San Diego CA | 858-886-9909 |
| Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
| The Glen at Scripps Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-444-8500 |
| Marriott Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-3000 x6335 |
| Bistro du Marche by Tapenade | La Jolla CA | 858-551-7500 |
| Il Giardino di Lilli | La Jolla CA | 619-467-9897 |
| Nomad Donuts | San Diego CA | 619-431-5000 |
| Mission Bay Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 858-488-0501 |
| Cocina de Barrio Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 760-840-1129 |
| Convention Center East | San Diego CA | 619-525-5832 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Counterpoint | San Diego CA | 619-564-6722 |
| Pacifica Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0505 |
| Cutwater Spirits | San Diego CA | 619-672-3848 |
| Rose Café | Carlsbad CA | 310-399-0711 |
| Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn (Avant) | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
| Harvest Kitchen (Corp Lunch) | San Marcos CA | 619-709-0938 |
| Bea Green Cold Pressed Juice | Alpine CA | 619-398-6295 |
| Wildland Bar | Carlsbad CA | 619-385-0914 |
| Javier Plascencia | Bonita CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Park Commons - ARE | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Daily News Cafe | Carlsbad CA | 760-519-3048 |
| Snake Oil Cocktail Company LLC | San Diego CA | 619-754-4041 |
| Pizzeria Luigi | San Diego CA | 610-539-7025 |
| Alexander's on 30th | San Diego CA | 858-774-3062 |
| Edgewater Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-7581 |
| Paradisaea Restaurant | La Jolla CA | 732-915-6669 |
| Joya Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-255-5979 |
| Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-551-5105 |
| Jeune Et Jolie | Carlsbad CA | 858-231-0862 |
| Camino Riviera | San Diego CA | 619-685-3881 |
| Finca North Park | San Diego CA | 619-581-3003 |
| Barra Oliba | San Diego CA | 610-310-5110 |
| Cape Rey Carlsbad, a Hilton Resort | Carlsbad CA | 760-602-0800 |
| Special Order | San Diego CA | 619-876-4070 |
| Isola La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-412-5566 |
| Zel's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-0076 |
| Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
| Terra Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-293-7088 |
| Uptown Tavern | San Diego CA | 619-683-9322 |
| Tom Hams Light House | San Diego CA | 619-291-9110 |
| Marisi La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 951-852-6730 |
| Fox Point Farms (Haven) | Encinitas CA | 619-892-0553 |
| La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-7063 |
| Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 619-302-3682 |
| Animae | San Diego CA | 619-925-7908 |
| Culinary Concepts | San Diego CA | 619-865-1918 |
| The Tavern Bar | Coronado CA | 602-628-5890 |
| Puesto-Downtown | San Diego CA | 619-233-8880 |
| Garbatella Osteria Bar | Chula Vista CA | 619-651-1185 |
| Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
| Fairmont Grand Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-314-1975 |
| Polaris Supreme | San Diego CA | 619-390-7890 |
| Urban Kitchen Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
| Crust Pizzeria Solana Beach | Solana Beach CA | 858-212-8751 |
| Green Acres Campus | San Diego CA | 858-450-9907 |
| Il Sogno Italiano | San Diego CA | 619-380-2652 |
| Craft House Fashion Valley | San Diego CA | 619-948-4458 |
| Sabi Juice | Chula Vista CA | 619-971-8545 |
| The Plot | Oceanside CA | 422-266-8200 |
| Tartine | Coronado CA | 619-435-4323 |
| Campfire Bar | Carlsbad CA | 858-231-0862 |
| Pokewan (Del Mar) | San Diego CA | 858-847-2881 |
| Piatti | San Diego CA | 858-454-1589 |
| The Guild Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-764-5108 |
| Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
| Half Door Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-655-7459 |
| Marriott Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-369-6029 |
| Cocina De Barrio | San Diego CA | 760-840-1129 |
| Chateau La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-459-4451 |
| WineSellar & Brasserie | San Diego CA | 858-450-9557 |
| Isola Pizza Bar | San Diego CA | 619-564-2938 |
| Encontro North Park | San Diego CA | 310-955-6333 |
| Crust Pizzeria Carlsbad 2019 | Carlsbad CA | 760-944-1111 |
| Blue Ocean | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-4959 |
| Bar Ella | San Diego CA | 858-808-2286 |
| Cocina de Barrio NP | San Diego CA | 858-349-2313 |
| Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
| Revolution Roasters | Oceanside CA | 760-330-6827 |
| Solana Beach Kitchen | Solana Beach CA | 610-717-7217 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| Little Frenchie | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
| Kaluu | San Diego CA | 619-338-9655 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
| Mission Ave Bar and Grill | Oceanside CA | 760-717-5899 |
| Sisters Pizza | San Diego CA | 858-228-6822 |
| St. Paul's Senior Services | San Diego CA | 619-239-6900 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| Cross Roots | San Diego CA | 858-245-1678 |
| Graze | San Diego CA | 619-839-9852 |
| Communion | San Diego CA | 619-606-5568 |
| Bishop School | San Diego CA | 858-459-4021 |
| Madison | San Diego CA | 619-822-3465 |
| The Original 40 Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-206-4725 |
| Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters | La Jolla CA | 858-228-5655 |
| The Country Club Of Rancho Bernardo | San Diego CA | 858-487-1134 |
| Mission Pacific | Oceanside CA | 760-450-7864 |
| Barbarella La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-7373 |
| San Diego Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-758-6334 |
| Glenbrook Health Center | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
| Toast Catering | San Diego CA | 619-795-9135 |
| InterContinental Vistal Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| Parisien Gourmandises | La Jolla CA | 858-352-6552 |
| Neighborhood Burger | San Diego CA | 619-446-0002 |
| Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
| Cody's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0040 |
| The Promiscuous Fork-La Jolla Blvd | La Jolla CA | 858-776-3246 |
| Rosemary Trattoria | Coronado CA | 619-669-8435 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Red Beets. One
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