Beet Borscht Salad

Adapted from Fruit and Vegetable Stand by Barry Baluster and Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

I adapted this recipe from a 1987 edition of the book Fruit and Vegetable Stand by Barry Baluster. The first time I made it, I read the recipe wrong, and this is what I did. I liked the way it turned out so much that I have been making it this way ever since. It doesn't sound like much, but it's very good and very pretty - definitely greater than the sum of its parts.  I learned how to roast beets from Marcella Hazan. 

Beet Borscht Salad
Adapted from Fruit and Vegetable Stand by Barry Baluster and Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan.

Serves 4 - 6 depending on whether you're using it as a salad or a condiment

Ingredients

4 to 6 medium red beets
Sour cream (I use full fat) or Plain Greek Yogurt (I like full fat Fage)

Instructions

Cut off the long stringy tops of the beets with kitchen shears, trim the root ends if they are "furry," but leave the beets intact. Wash the beets well. Wrap the beets tightly in aluminum foil (I wrap them twice) and bake in a preheated 400°F oven until easily pierced with a metal cake tester right through the foil. This usually takes 1 hour.

When the cake tester slips easily through them, remove the beets from the oven. Open the foil carefully so you don't burn yourself. Let the beets cool a little, then slip off the skins. It is easiest to do this under cold running water while they are still warm.

Slice, dice, or quarter the beets depending on your preference. I usually leave them in largish pieces. Chill.

Serve with dollops of sour cream on top of the beets. Alternatively, toss diced, chilled beets with sour cream. 

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