Topic: beetroot leaves - cooked?

[aquilegia]

I know you can eat young leaves raw in salad, but can I cook old leaves (after harvesting the root) like spinach/chard? Would it taste nice?

[MarthaMad]

Yeah they are nice.  Much like spinach! No suprise there.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Better than spinach.

[BAGGY]

I tried the raw ones yesterday and bleugh !  Is there one particular variety that is better than others ?  I am rather frugal and hate to throw anything away that i have grown.

[Mrs Ava]

There is a variety of beetroot that you grow for the foliage, but I can't think of the name!  Will look it out.

I love foliage, am queen of the leaves, like radish leaves and beetroot leaves in my salad, even the course ones, so long as they are finely shredded.  :P

[Mrs Ava]

Okay, Tuckers do one called; Rouge Crapaudine which is a very old variety, and the leaves can be eaten like swiss chard.

[john_miller]

There is also a very ornamental variety called "Bull's Blood" that is grown for it's leaves rather than the root.

[aquilegia]

Thanks all - will give it a try when I harvest them.

Like Baggy, I hate throwing things away (well - on the compost) when I could eat them. And thanks to Gran who saw them and thought they were spinach, which first gave me the idea.

EJ - radish leaves? didn't think they were edible. They make my hands itch when I touch them, so I daren't eat them anyway!

[BAGGY]

My MIL does curry or dolmades styleeee stuff with pumkin leaves.  She must be well 'ard coz they is nasty buggers

[Doris_Pinks]

My daughters were crying, saying our Guniea Pigs were dying, had to take them to the vets instantly cos they were peeing blood, yes you guessed it, fed em Beetroot leaves!  (they watch far too many vet type programmes! ;D )

[Mrs Ava]

Aqui, not the old big furry leaves, the young tender ones.  When I  thin a row, I take the thinnings and rinse them, and fling them as they are in my salad.  ;D

[redimp]

Yes the big furry ones - they taste good as well and in a salad provide an alternative texture - and a bit of added roughage  :-\

[carloso]

will my pee turn red ?

oh my ! thats excellent news i didnt realise you could eat the leaves but will be from now on
do they freeze ? any particular way ?

excellent

errr Gunia pigs do they freeze well ? with or without fur? OKOK I JOKE!!!

[Merry Tiller]

It's not only your pee thet turns red :-[

[Mrs Ava]

 :o :o :o :o :o

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

If you wanna freeze the leaves, I would do the same as spinach or chard.  I froze some spinach last year and I blanched it for a couple of mins, then plunged it into icey water, then when cold, squeeeeeeeeeeeeezed every last drop of water out.  Scattered it over a tray all loose, covered with some foil and fast froze, then when frozed, poured it looesly into a tuperware box and bunged it in the freezer.  I know frozen isn't always as good as fresh, but it was fine in quiche, and as a stuffing for pasta!  ;D

Guinea pig..... :-X

[carloso]

merry wash your thoughts out lol

thanks ej ill give it a go and see what happens

carl

[Doris_Pinks]

Carl, i think that Rats would freeze better, cos they have long tails and you could then kinda use them as a Kebab on the barbie! Guinea Pigs, well, they eat them in Peru! ;D

[carloso]

lol d**n doris

i wanted a thick brown and white  fur coat !! not a tatty black one, ah well maybe next yr when the rabbits invade again lol

[carloso]

OMG isee what you mean Merry lolol

i thought i needed a major operation !!!!! lol