I picked up some really nice beets from the farmer’s market and I roasted them this time like the way you do carrots…but with the stems and part of the leaves on. (I used the bigger parts of the leaves for salads). A little water in the pan covered in a 350 degree F oven for about an hour.  I saw on a cooking show that the beets keep more flavor in if you leave the tops on when you cook them. I also heard that beets keep in more flavor when you roast them. These beets did come out very flavorful and very earthy. I read that Chestnuts pair with earthy flavors like mushrooms so I thought why isn’t anyone pairing beets with chestnuts?  I found out that beets do indeed pair very well with chestnuts…so I decided to make some sort of salad of the two together. I made a green garlic vinaigrette…(light on the e.v.o.o…..because that’s how I roll) and added other ingredients that I thought went together. The salad looked prettier on a dish or in bigger pieces more layered but I thought it was best tasting as a chopped salad so that’s how I prepared it.

Ingredients for about 6 servings

1 bunch green garlic – (washed cut in half and chopped. Place in water to remove dirt. Repeat as many times as necessary. Remove with a mesh ladle and put to the side)

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 Tablespoon dijon mustard

1 teaspoon honey

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or more if desired)

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

1 bunch  beets (don’t use golden unless you boil them soft)

1 apple – chopped

1/2 oz fresh basil – chopped

7 oz vacuumed packed chestnuts (hard ingredient that’s only fresh one week a year here) – chopped (not too small)

1/4 sweet onion – chopped

3/4 oz fresh sage

2 oz sweet butter

2 Tablespoons canola oil

2 oz sharp hard Italian Cheese – shaved

Directions

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

Wash your beets (yellow beets are not recommended for roasting because they oxidize from roasting and need to be boiled)  really well and if they are very large cut them in half. You can leave the leaves on if your not putting them in a salad. Place beets in pan with about a half inch of water and cover the pan. Roast till fork tender. (about an hour)

Allow to cool. When cool enough to handle peel beets and cut in desired shape. (something bite size)

In a large bowl combine the beets, basil, chestnuts and onion and put to the side.

In a small fry pan on medium heat add butter and 2 Tablespoons canola oil. When hot add the sage leaves. They crisp up fast. Remove leaves and place on paper towel to drain. Put to the side when done.

Add the apple to the flavored oil and quickly sauté the apple just for less than a minute just to pick up a little flavor. remove the apple pieces with a slotted or mesh spoon and add to the big bowl with beets.

Use the oil and add green garlic till soft about four minutes.

When the green garlic is cooler or just warm blend together the green garlic, sea salt, dijon, 1/4 cup olive oil, white vinegar, white pepper till smooth.

Add desired amount of dressing to portion of beet salad you are having and finish with sharp cheese and crisp sage leaves.

I thought of a better presentation. I should have presented on a flat plate and just made rows of everything. It taste delicious the way I made it in photo. You will be pleasantly surprised. Something different and original to do with beets.