Our CSA has started giving us beets! I love beets; from their earthy flavor to their bright color. And since my husband isn’t as ecstatic about them, I am always looking for recipes to make myself for breakfast or lunch. Enter the Berry Beet Smoothie! A way to use up beets all week long, AND keep them all to myself. The berries add sweetness and tons of nutrition, and the orange juice adds a brightness that pairs wonderfully with the earthy beets. Here’s how I prep the beets for the week, without heating up the whole kitchen, and the smoothie recipe, with tips.
Prepping the Beets
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. (If you don’t have an air fryer, do the same with your oven.)
Wash your beets well, using a scrub brush if needed. Trim down any stalks to about 1/2"-1". Cut a piece of aluminum foil for each beet. Drizzle each one with a few drops of olive oil, rubbing it around their skin, then wrap them individually. Place them all in the air fryer and bake for 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of your beets. Mine were medium-large, and took about 60 minutes, but I have had smaller ones take just 30. They are done when a fork easily pierces them. Allow the beets to cool, then gently rub the skin off of them. It will fall right off. (If you have them, wear disposable gloves so you don’t dye your hands magenta.) I then cut them in halves or quarters, and stash them in the fridge all week.
Berry Beet Smoothie Recipe
1 baked & peeled beet
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries (fresh is recommended, but you can use frozen, if needed)
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup water
1 T hemp seeds (optional)
To your blender, add the orange juice, water, beets, strawberries, frozen raspberries, and hemp seeds, if using. Blend on high 1-2 minutes until very smooth.
Note: Using some frozen component (like the raspberries) will help your smoothie come together better. But using too many frozen pieces will result in the blender seizing up, and possibly destroying your motor. (And you might get Brain Freeze.) If using frozen strawberries, try buying them sliced (no sugar added) and add them to the orange juice and water, and allow them to thaw for 20 minutes before attempting to blend everything. I like to make tea, empty my dishwasher, and neaten up the kitchen, and before I know it, the strawberries are soft enough.
If you have leftover orange juice, try freezing it into ice cube trays, to use in reciples like this!
Congratulations! Your Berry Beet Smoothie is a Featured Project this week! 