BEETS WITH GARLIC-WALNUT SAUCE

Beets With Garlic-Walnut Sauce image

A departure from the standard pairing of beets with goat cheese is a dressing of walnuts, garlic and fresh orange juice. Note that all of these have some bitterness or acidity, which counter the sweetness of beets beautifully.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Time 1h20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

2 pounds red beets, about 4 large, trimmed of greens
1/4 cup olive oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup walnuts
2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
Salt
black pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish

Steps:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash beets well. While still wet, wrap them individually in foil and place on a cookie sheet or roasting pan. Bake beets, undisturbed, for 60 to 90 minutes, until a thin-bladed knife pierces each with little resistance. (They may cook at different rates; remove each one when it is done.)
Meanwhile, put oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. When it is warm, add garlic and cook until fragrant and beginning to soften, about 6 minutes. Add walnuts and continue to cook until they begin to color, about another 4 minutes. Let mixture cool slightly and then put it in a small food processor; process until you have a relatively smooth paste. Add orange juice to taste and sprinkle with salt and lots of pepper.
After beets have cooled, peel off skins. Slice beets into wedges or cubes and toss with dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning, garnish with parsley and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 252, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 597 milligrams, Sugar 16 grams