Not the most intuitive pairing, but beets and oranges are a wonderful combination of earthy and sweet. The recipe has my favorite flavors, but mandarins are a more seasonal citrus. For the video, I needed to substitute the citrus fruit. For the glaze, there are options for the sweeteners. I prefer to use “fruit sugars,” such as date or coconut sugar. Agave, maple syrup and table sugar give more of a glaze, but less on the nutritional value. Finally, for culinary flare, I add another layer of flavor with a shot of Mandarine Napoléon or Grand Marnier (depending on my citrus choice).
8mandarin oranges, other options are tangerines, or 4 cara cara or valencia oranges when available.
1TBSPcoconut sugar, other options are date sugar, agave, maple syrup, or table sugar
½tspkosher salt
2TBSPfresh ginger, grated
1tspground ginger
cupvegetable stock
1ozMandarine Napolèon liqueur, or Grand Marnier liqueur, depending on your citrus choice
Instructions
Zest one mandarine. Peel zest strips strips off a second madarine. Then peel all four mandarines and mash them in the bottom of medium covered sauce pan. (Remove the seeds.)
Grate your ginger. If you store your ginger in the freezer it stays fresh for months. It also makes it easy to grate with a planer.
Add the beets and all the remaining ingredients to the citrus in the sauce pan. Bring the mixture to a boil and immediately reduce to simmer. Cook the beets until tender but not "soggy". About 30 minutes.
Uncover the pot. Remove the beets to a small, heated bowl and cover to keep warm.
Bring the liquids back to a boil. Carefully add the liquor and burn off the alcohol. Return to a simmer, and let the water evaporate until the sauce thickens and becomes a glaze,
Watch the pot carefully. Take if off the heat when it is reduced to about ⅓ cup of liquid.
Presentation: Plate family style on a medium platter or bowl. Pour the glaze over the top. Garnish with mint leaves and orange zest.
For leftovers: These beets, warm or cold, are a delicious addition to a green salad! Just saying....
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Beets à l' Orange
Amount per Serving
Calories
405.75
% Daily Value*
Fat
1.81
g
3
%
Saturated Fat
0.28
g
2
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.47
g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.34
g
Sodium
868.17
mg
38
%
Potassium
1735.95
mg
50
%
Carbohydrates
91.42
g
30
%
Fiber
16.14
g
67
%
Sugar
69.02
g
77
%
Protein
8.55
g
17
%
Vitamin A
2509.62
IU
50
%
Vitamin C
111
mg
135
%
Calcium
187.4
mg
19
%
Iron
3.5
mg
19
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.