Harvard Beets Recipe
Harvard Beets is a classic American side dish featuring tender cooked beets in a sweet and tangy sauce made from sugar, vinegar, and butter, offering a perfect balance of flavors that complement any meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Beets
- 2 ½ pounds fresh red beets, trimmed, peeled, and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (for cooking water)
Sauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, ground fine
- ½ cup water reserved from cooking the beets
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 6 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Boil the Beets: Place the peeled and cut beets in cold water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Cook the beets for 15 minutes until tender. Ladle off and reserve ½ cup of the cooking water, then drain off the rest.
- Prepare the Sauce: Return the cooked beets to the pot. Add the sugar, white vinegar, cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir the mixture over medium heat to combine.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the corn starch into the reserved ½ cup beet cooking water until smooth. Stir this mixture into the pot with the beets and sauce. Continue cooking over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the butter until melted and fully incorporated into the sauce. Serve the Harvard Beets warm as a flavorful side dish.
Notes
- Peeling the beets after cooking can be easier if preferred.
- Adjust sugar and vinegar amounts to taste for a sweeter or tangier sauce.
- Use fresh beets for the best flavor; canned beets will change texture and taste.
- Ensure to stir the sauce continuously when thickening to prevent lumps.
Keywords: Harvard beets, beet recipe, sweet and tangy beets, beet side dish, American vegetable side
Find it online: https://thehungrymason.com/harvard-beets-recipe/
