Spicing Up Your Sides – Roasted Beets with a Balsamic Reduction

Last week Natalee and I purchased and split a Farm Fresh Box from The Local Community Food Centre in Stratford. The box provides high quality, locally grown produce.

I took home a butternut squash, onion, garlic, beets, tomatoes and carrots. Over the month of October I’ll share with you what I made.

First I made the beets – really because I love, love, love beets!!

I made roasted beets with a balsamic reduction – yum. I served them with our baked chicken fingers and a side salad.

First roast the beets following our how to video 

While the beets are roasting make the balsamic reduction

Ingredients

• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. red onion, chopped finely
• 2 tsp. garlic, minced
• ½ tsp grated fresh ginger
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
• ¼ cup reduced sodium beef broth

Directions

• Heat oil on medium heat, in a small pot.
• Add onions and sauté until soften.
• Add garlic and ginger, continue stirring for a minute.
• Add balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and broth.

• Continue stirring while the sauce simmers and until it reduces to half. Then remove from heat.

• Once the beets are roasted, let them cool for a couple minutes and then carefully remove the skins. The beets will still be really hot. 
• Slice or quarter the beets and drizzle the balsamic reduction over them.

So I learned that beets are hard to photograph - they don't look like anything special but trust me they are delicious! 

Enjoy!

Shannon RD

Registered Dietitian

For more information and to order a Farm Fresh box check out their website http://thelocalcfc.org/?page_id=2782