How to Make Harvard Beets

Harvard beets have a sweet and tangy flavor that makes them a pure delight to eat, especially for kids. The natural sweetness along with the brown sugar, orange, and tangy vinegar, easily puts this dish on the regular rotation list.

^{This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link, I may earn a small commission AT NO COST TO YOU. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.}

Ruby Red Beets = such an underrated veggie!!

HARVARD BEETS

I know why my Auntie Chris introduced me to her homemade Harvard Beets recipe when I was a kid. As you may have experienced, regular beets on a 10-year-old’s palate don’t always go over well.

Her recipe for Harvard beets, using fresh beets, can convert any beet hater into a beet fan!

Fresh beets have a flavor that sometimes can only be appreciated as an adult. They’re sweet in comparison to other vegetables but they also have an unmistakable ‘earthy’ flavor that can turn up the nose of little ones.

I love her for feeding me her recipe because now, I personally, LOVE beets. Their versatility is fantastic.

I’ve prepared them so many ways! While this beet recipe is one of my favorites, I also like making one of my OTHER favorites, Pickled Beets but you can boil, fry, or even shred them raw and make beet salads, etc, etc. It’s all good in my book.

Why do they call them HARVARD beets?

While beets are pretty nutritious themselves, sometimes the flavors are a hit and miss with people. Someone along the way decided to make them yummier by adding sugar and vinegar, so a sort of sweet and sour idea. (And it was a great idea! lol)

Originating in England, it made its way to the eastern part of the U.S. Then, someone noticed that the beet dish was the same hue as the Harvard Football Jerseys, and hence, the dish was called Harvard Beets.

Now, I’m not 100% sure if that’s actually true, and honestly, who cares. I just know these beets are amazing in flavor and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters! 🙂

Prepping the Beets:

First, we have to deal with the beets themselves. We need them cooked and ready to eat. The ways to cook them are:

• boiling
• roasting
• steaming

Ok, so when I make this Harvard beets recipe, I usually choose to roast the beets. I find them a lot more flavorful when roasted versus boiling or steaming, but all of those cooking methods are great.

I’ve even Pressure Cooked Beets as well, which makes quick work of prepping them.

So wash up the beets, cut off any of the green tops, cut off the root on the bottom if it’s still attached, and then get out your tin foil.

If they’re fairly big beets, then roast them singularly, but if they’re on the smaller size (around the size of an egg), then roast a few together. Wrap them in enough tin foil to cover them well, and place them on a baking sheet.

Roast them at 350 for about an hour or so. A fork should go into them easily. Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely.

Remove the foil and with your hands, just start brushing the skin off the beet. It should slide off super easily if they are cooked enough. You might want to wear gloves because beet juice can stain but personally, I don’t care too much about it, so I just use my hands.

Ok, so when all the skins are off, cut them up into small squares about the size of a die.  Set them aside for now.

In a pot, add the sugar, vinegar, orange juice, and spices.

• 

• 

Heat to boiling, and then add the slurry. Once it’s thickened, turn the heat to low and add the beets. Mix the beets in until they’re heated through and nice and shiny.

• 

• 

That’s pretty much it! They’re ready to serve and they’ll go nicely with most proteins except fish. I think the beets are too strong and will overtake the subtle flavors of fish. But hey.. if you want fish with your Harvard beets, do your thing, my gorgeous reader!

FRIDGE AND FREEZER

This delicious beet recipe will last in the fridge for up to 4 days, covered airtight. In a freezer-friendly container, this dish will keep nicely for up to 3 months.

To thaw, leave them overnight in the fridge and slowly reheat, covered over medium heat. You can also microwave them for a few minutes to reheat, but be sure to cover the container in case there are any splashes causing a cleanup!

KITCHEN FAQ’S AND TIPS

• Beet Greens: If you are fortunate enough you buy beets with the greens still attached, DO NOT THROW THEM OUT!! Give them a good wash, cut them in half or thirds, and steam them in a pot with a small amount of water. They’re just like spinach, swiss chard, or kale, but SO MUCH TASTIER! After steaming, sprinkle a bit of vinegar and melt some butter on top, and they’re PERFECTION!!
• Can I use canned beets? Yes, you can. However, using fresh beets will produce a much nicer dish, and there’s more nutrition available than using canned. Also, canned beets might be a bit soft and may fall apart easier.
• Are Harvard Beets Gluten Free? Yes but they are not Keto friendly as this recipe includes sugar.

If you’re totally digging the flavors of beets, I have another couple of recipes you might want to check out. I have a Beet  Avocado and Feta Salad recipe that when I serve at get-togethers, I get asked for the recipe EVERY.SINGLE.TIME., no joke.

And at Christmas or any sort of festive holiday, these Crock Pot Cranberry & Candy Cane Beets side dish is a great one to bring. You can bring the entire slow cooker and people can serve themselves from there. Easy Peasy!

I hope that with this Harvard Beets recipe you can introduce picky eaters to a world of loving beets. They’re so tasty and nutritious and versatile! Please let me know below in the comments if you try any of these recipes and what you think of them!!

** DON’T FORGET TO PIN THIS HARVARD BEETS RECIPE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD FOR LATER!! **