Sweet Beet “Love” Soup

With its sweet, earthy flavour and deep purple colour, I have always been strongly attracted to beets.  In my childhood, my favourite salad ingredient was my Dad’s home grown beetroot, freshly pulled from the garden.

beetroot-uprooted copy

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But little did I know as a child how good they were for my health.  I only recently discovered that beets are actually a super food.  Well I never!  Here’s what I’ve learned…

1. Beets are packed with vitamins and minerals
They contain a huge array of nutrients, including potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamins A, B & C, beta-carotene, beta-cyanine and folic acid.

2. Beets are rich in antioxidants which help to protect against disease
Beets are a very good source of antioxidants vitamin C and manganese.  They also contain a powerful group of antioxidants called betalains, which can help in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and inflammation. (It’s the betalains that give beets their deep red colour).  The nitrates contained in beets can also help to lower blood pressure.

3. Beets cleanse the body
Beets are a great detoxifier, tonic for the liver and blood purifier.

4. Beets help your mental health
Beets, like chocolate, contain trytophan, a substance which is known to relax the mind and create a sense of well-being.  The betalains contained in beets have also been used in certain treatments of depression.

5. Beets boost our brain power
Beetroot contains high concentrations of nitrates, which are converted in the body into nitric oxide.  This helps open blood vessels in the body, increasing blood flow and oxygen.  Nitrites also increase blood flow to the brain, which may help to prevent dementia.

6. Beets are energy boosters
Beets are a great source of complex carbs and slow-release energy.  The natural nitrates found in beets also help to increase our oxygen intake and energy levels.

7. Beets enhance our physical performance
Studies have shown that the nitrates in beets can enhance physical endurance.  In one study, cyclists who drank 500 ml of beetroot juice were able to ride up to 20% longer.

8. Beets are great for weight management
Beets are high in complex carbs and fibre, but low in calories, which makes them the perfect food for weight management.

And finally, did you know that…

9. Beets are Nature’s Viagra!
The Romans used beets medicinally as an aphrodisiac, and science has proven that beets are indeed a natural Viagra.  Their nitrate content increases blood flow in all areas of the body.  Beets also contain high amounts of boron, which is directly related to the production of human sex hormones.

If you wish to know more, there’s a clip of Dr Oz talking about the health benefits of beets (including number 9!) here.

Getting in the Mood for Love with …

Sweet Beet Soup!

With its deep red colour and wonderful mood enhancing properties, I reckon beetroot would make a wonderful addition to any romantic meal that you might have planned for your loved ones this evening 😉

On tonight’s menu for us, is a starter of Sweet Beet Soup.  Until recently, I’d only ever eaten beetroot in salad but, inspired by Candy’s beautiful blog post called ‘Simple Pleasures’ I was inspired to try my hand at making a beet soup.

Candy kindly allowed me to share her beet soup photo. Isn’t it stunning?

Sweet Beet 'Love' Soup
 

And perfect for Valentines!

You must check out Candy’s post.  It is such a beautiful read!

For my beet soup, I chose to add sweet potato.  As well as adding sweetness and additional nutrients, I find it gives soups a wonderful, silky texture (without the need to add cream or milk).  Furthermore, with the addition of the potato, I find that a bowl of soup is filling on its own, without the need to add a side dish of bread.

For protein, additional flavour, textures and nutrients, I add a sprinkling of shelled hempseeds, lightly toasted pumpkin seeds and dried dill.

Here’s how I make it…

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Sweet Beet Soup

Serves 4
Hands on time: 5-10 minutes    Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
1tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3-4 medium beetroot, peeled and chopped (I use a potato peeler and wear kitchen gloves to avoid getting purple hands!)
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 litre / 34fl oz / 4 cups vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Suggested toppings:
Shelled hempseeds
Lightly toasted pumpkin seeds (I like to lightly toast them in a frying pan with a little extra virgin olive oil)
Dried dill

Method

  1. Gently heat the oil in a large saucepan and sauté the onion until it starts to soften.  Add the garlic, beetroot and sweet potato. Cover with a lid and sweat on a low heat for 5 minutes.  Add the stock, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes or so, until the beetroot is soft.  Allow to cool slightly, then blend smooth.  Add salt and pepper, if desired.
  2. Serve in warm bowls with a sprinkling of seeds and dill.

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[This recipe has been submitted to Ricki Heller’s #Wellness Weekend]

So I’ve got the starter and dessert sorted for tonight’s meal, just got to decide on the main course now!

Are you a fan of Beets? What’s your favourite way of serving them? 

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day everyone xx

p.s. It’s the last day to enter my Valentine’s Raw Chocolate Giveaway (ends midnight GMT tonight).  I’ve been overwhelmed by all the beautiful comments I’ve received on this giveaway.  Thank you so much guys! You really have made my week!  Since there have been so many entries, I’ve decided to make another batch of chocolates, and I’ll select 3 winners in total.  I’ll post details of the winners on FB and Twitter tomorrow, and also email directly.
Good luck everyone xx

14 thoughts on “Sweet Beet “Love” Soup

    1. I don’t normally like beetroot in hot dinners but I absolutely love this soup. I can’t stop eating it this week. Must be the ‘feel good’ factor lol!

  1. I really have tried to like beets. I have had them roasted, cold, and in juice…but nothing has made me be able to stomach them. All I can taste when I eat beets is dirt.
    For their health properties I would love to get over the dirt hump…but I just don’t see that happening.

    The soup is beautiful and a thanks to Candy indeed for her pics.

    I hope you are having a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Very sweet on M to get you a handmade card. Now did he make it himself? Or purchase it from someone who made it? I know he is somewhat artistically inclined (with his graffiti art).

    Also super excited that you are picking 3 winners…the best to whomever is chosen (I’ve got my fingers crossed that I am one of them).

    1. M spray painted me a card. It’s a silhouette of a boy handing some flowers to a girl. Really sweet 🙂
      I wonder if beets are one of those veggies that people either love or hate? I love the taste of all those sweet, earthy root veggies like beets and celeriac. I was raised on them as my Dad grew them in our garden.
      Perhaps the sweet potato and dill in my soup would disguise the earthiness of the beets enough for you to enjoy it? If you give it a try, do let me know!

  2. As a kid the only way I knew beetroot was as vinegar saturated gobstoppers! It’s taken me years to start to think of them any differently. I know what Rachel above means about ‘dirt’, though I think the descriptor ‘earthy’ definitely sounds less objectionable! Great idea to use them in a hot soup for a change, I’ve never made Borscht as cold soups just don’t do it for me. Talking of beetroot recipes, I also like the sound of the US dish known as ‘red flannel hash’, which is a veggie version of corned beef hash ..just without the corned beef naturally 🙂 Lovely pics!

  3. I think your post definitely outshined mine with all that great information! It makes me want to eat some beets–especially in soup form. It’s been awhile since I’ve had any and your soup sounds delicious! We only harvested about 5 beets from our garden this year because the moles decided to invade and disrupt their happy growing environment. Have you ever tried golden beets? I love them roasted but I wonder how they would be in a soup. Not as beautifully colored, but their flavor seems more mild–maybe a good alternative for those that don’t appreciate the red beet’s “earthiness”.

    1. Hi Cany! Thank you so much for allowing me to using your stunning pics of the beet soup! I love your ‘Simple Pleasures’ post. I’ve read it many times and have got the urge to watch Amelie again. In fact, I might watch it tonight 😉
      I’ve never seen or heard of golden beets. I’m guessing that they might not have all the rich antioxidants found in the red beets, but I could be wrong. I’ll have to Google them xx

  4. What’s not to like about beetroot?
    Where can i get beetroot juice? Or do I have to squeeze my own? So many questions…good post!

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