Pickled Beets

Fresh beets don’t usually last long in my house. I typically remove the peels, roast them, and add them to salads. I eat salads pretty much every day in the summer. But I decided it was time to actually make my fresh beets last by pickling them.

beets

I just started canning last summer, and canning is the perfect way to make these pickled beets last even longer. Normally, pickled beets would only last in the refrigerator for a few weeks, and that’s just not enough time. Especially if you want them during the winter months. So, pickling plus canning equals a winning combination!

I won’t do a canning tutorial just yet, but stay tuned. And if you haven’t canned, try it. It’s incredible what varieties of foods and condiments you can create, and trust me – no one will get botulism if you just follow the rules.

So the recipe is in two parts – one is the pickling water, and the other, the beets.

Pickled Beets

The Beets:

6 beets, scrubbed, ends removed
A 3″ long piece of fresh horseradish, quartered
Bay leaves, about 6-8
Few peppercorns
Few whole cloves

scrubbed and rinsed beets

scrubbed and rinsed beets

Place the beets in a large pot on the stove. Don’t peel them, otherwise you’ll lose too much beet juice.

beets4
To the pot add all of the remaining ingredients, then add purified water until the beets are fully covered by at least 1″ of water.

Bring the water to a boil. As soon as the water boils, count 1 hour on the clock.

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If you want to make sure the beets are fully cooked, pierce the largest one with a cake tester or point of a knife.

beets

Immediately drain the beets into a colander and let them cool.

The Pickling Water:

2 cups purified water
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 bay leaves
1 smashed garlic clove
A 1″ piece of garlic, sliced into quarters
Few peppercorns

Combine everything in a medium pot. Place over high heat, and stir to dissolve the sugar. As soon as it’s dissolved, remove the water from the stove and set aside to cool.

When the beets are cool enough to handle, gently peel them, and trim away any hard, woody parts with a sharp knife.

beets33

If you’ve never worked with beets before, be aware that they stain everything. Skin included.

beets22

Have jars and lids available that have been washed through a dishwasher cycle or sterilized.

Slice or cube the peeled and trimmed beets and place them in the jars. Today I cubed mine.

beets11

When you’re all done, add the strained pickling water to the jars; the beets should be completely covered. Alternatively, you could include the pickled onions.

I placed a couple of horseradish pieces in two jars, and the star anise in a third. The fourth I left alone.

beets9

I then covered the jars with clean and dry lids, and stored them in the refrigerator. I wasn’t quite ready to begin the canning process, but when I do, I will bring the tightly sealed jars to room temperature before proceeding.

Pickled beets are one of my favorite additions to salad, which I eat often. the one in the featured photo includes avocado, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

Beets, pickled or not, go well in salads with salmon, steak, or grilled chicken. They’re also wonderful with red bell peppers, grated carrots, and cucumbers. And don’t forget the goat cheese!

verdict: These beets are delicious. I’m glad I didn’t add any more sugar to the pickling water. The horseradish isn’t very strong. And I love the addition of the star anise. Will make these again.

By Published On: July 9th, 201343 Comments on Pickled Beets

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

43 Comments

  1. sallybr July 9, 2013 at 10:08 AM - Reply

    Never pickled beets, I’ve been dreaming of pickling radishes lately, might take a ride on your post and finally DO IT!

    hubby is anti-beet. I know, I know… he hid that from me when we were dating… oh, well – he IS a keeper anyway ;-)

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:36 PM - Reply

      Jeez. What else did he keep from you? I mean, that’s critical!!! My hubs is anti- a lot of things, including vinegar, so no pickled anything for him. More for me!

  2. Jody and Ken July 9, 2013 at 10:15 AM - Reply

    Pickled beets are killer, if you can force yourself not to eat them before they’re pickled. Ken

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:35 PM - Reply

      I know, beets are so incredible. Unfortunately I only get the red variety where I live, so I’ve never played with the beautiful striped varieties…

  3. thesinglegourmetandtraveller July 9, 2013 at 10:18 AM - Reply

    I love beetroot cooked and raw … but I’ve never tried pickling them. These with horseradish and star anise sounds great. I must try!

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:34 PM - Reply

      Beets are so good just roasted and as is. But they’re very good pickled as well. Just different!!!

  4. whiskeytangofoxtrot4 July 9, 2013 at 11:07 AM - Reply

    My fave! Great first shot btw…. :)

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:32 PM - Reply

      Oh thanks! There’s nothing prettier than a salad. Well, almost!

  5. Our Growing Paynes July 9, 2013 at 11:25 AM - Reply

    I’ll have to show my husband this. I hate beets but he loves them and will pickle them. And they look gorgeous in that salad.

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:31 PM - Reply

      Beets were something that really tasted like dirt to me for many years, but then, somehow, I began to love them!

      • Our Growing Paynes July 9, 2013 at 12:39 PM

        Dirt and bitter. When I first learned that they extract sugar from beets I thought they were kidding. :)

      • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 2:34 PM

        Hahaha! I’ve never thought about that!

  6. Tracy Angilan Shimanek July 9, 2013 at 11:30 AM - Reply

    Mimi, my family pickled beets regularly. They would throw in boiled eggs too. Sliced, the eggs were magnificent… just lovely. Makes me miss them all. Salad days :)

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:31 PM - Reply

      That sounds really good. Does the beet juice soak into the eggs, or just stain the outsides?

  7. tableofcolors July 9, 2013 at 11:57 AM - Reply

    Sounds wonderful! I’ve never tried canning before…I’ll be waiting for your tutorial!

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:30 PM - Reply

      I’ve been scared to can my whole life! I think we all think we’re going to kill our family members!!

      • tableofcolors July 9, 2013 at 12:40 PM

        Yes, that is exactly it…wouldn’t want to be responsible for a food poisoning epidemic ;)

  8. apuginthekitchen July 9, 2013 at 11:57 AM - Reply

    What a gorgeous salad and I love pickled beets, those red beet hands I know that too well. Your recipe is fantastic, never added horseradish before. Sounds delicious!

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:30 PM - Reply

      I never have either! but I really like the addition of the horseradish, as well as the star anise.

  9. themodernsomm July 9, 2013 at 12:07 PM - Reply

    These sound sooo delicious!

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 12:29 PM - Reply

      oh, they are…

      • themodernsomm July 9, 2013 at 12:33 PM

        It’s funny, I used to hate beets when I was little. My family is mostly Eastern European so Borscht was a common thing, but it took me until my late 20’s to finally start enjoying them haha!

  10. FoodBabbles July 9, 2013 at 1:08 PM - Reply

    Just recently I was thinking about trying my hand at pickled beets! Thanks for the recipe. I’m going to give this a try this week. How long do they need to sit for the flavor to develop before eating them? Thanks!

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 2:33 PM - Reply

      I ate them immediately, and used some of the pickling water in my salad. But I’m sure they’re even better after a couple of weeks!

  11. StefanGourmet July 9, 2013 at 3:03 PM - Reply

    I believe the beets will last a bit longer without actually canning them if you add the pickling water when it’s almost boiling, then screw on the lid and put the jar upside down so the hot water will ‘sterilize’ the lid.

    • chef mimi July 9, 2013 at 4:14 PM - Reply

      Very interesting. Is this a proven technique?

      • StefanGourmet July 10, 2013 at 3:02 PM

        I’ve seen it in many recipes and it makes sense to me that it works, but I don’t know if anyone ever tested it. I’m sure it’s not as good as actual canning, but it ought to be better than just closing the jars without turning them over. Any contamination on the rim or lid will be sterilized (or close to that) by the boiling liquid.

      • chef mimi July 10, 2013 at 3:18 PM

        It definitely makes sense. Thanks for the idea.

  12. johnnysenough hepburn July 9, 2013 at 7:56 PM - Reply

    So trying hard to like beets. I even had a couple of shop-bought organic beets for lunch. Hmm…maybe I should try and roast them :)

    • chef mimi July 10, 2013 at 8:15 AM - Reply

      Roasting them doesn’t do much flavor wise, they turn out very similar if you boil them. It’s just a way to cook them and have the peels come off easily.

      • johnnysenough hepburn July 10, 2013 at 10:09 AM

        Thanks for that info. Ah, then it’s a case of pickling as that’s usually the only way I like them.

  13. tinywhitecottage July 9, 2013 at 9:04 PM - Reply

    I have never even tried eating pickled beets. Always roasted, and believe me…I roast 3 or 4 every single week for our salads through out the week. We love them. I would love to try this.

    • chef mimi July 10, 2013 at 8:14 AM - Reply

      If you like pickled things, you’d also love pickled beets.

  14. Choc Chip Uru July 10, 2013 at 5:06 AM - Reply

    I have never tried these but they look super flavoursome :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  15. Fig & Quince July 10, 2013 at 6:43 AM - Reply

    I’m in the middle of writing an eerily similar post … ha ha, great minds and all that, not to mention beet-lovers which I also count myself as one. I’m intrigued by the idea of adding star anise or horseradish to the pickle, have never done that and would like to try it.

    • chef mimi July 10, 2013 at 8:13 AM - Reply

      Funny! The horseradish isn’t very hot, being that it’s just a piece, but the star anise created a lovely flavor. I would definitely add it again.

      • Fig & Quince July 10, 2013 at 8:16 AM

        I love star anise (how it looks) but don’t know how to use it. With your endorsement, I will definitely add it to my next batch of pickled beets. Any more uses of star anise you have I would also eagerly wait/want to find out.

      • chef mimi July 10, 2013 at 8:33 AM

        You just throw it in whatever you’re cooking, and it really gives off an anise flavor. plus, they’re pretty!

  16. A Taste of Wintergreen July 10, 2013 at 7:02 AM - Reply

    The salad is way up my alley and your photographs are beautiful.

  17. Victoria July 10, 2013 at 7:37 AM - Reply

    I love beets! Pickled beets are one of my favorite salad toppers…yum!

    • chef mimi July 10, 2013 at 8:12 AM - Reply

      Beets are so good, I feel sorry for people who think they don’t like them!!!

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