Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, 30 Minute Recipe) (2024)

Home Uncategorized Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, Keto, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, 30 Minute Recipe)

By: Cristina Curp, FNTP

2 CommentsThis post may contain affiliate links.

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These Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce are elegant and quite delectable. This recipe is easy, flexible, oh-so-satisfying, and totally lacking in dirt taste.

Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, 30 Minute Recipe) (1)

Table of Contents

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1 This is not your average beet recipe

2 How to create a dairy-free cream sauce

3 Why you should eat these Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce

5 Tips for pan frying in cast iron

6 Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, Keto, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, 30 Minute Recipe)

This is not your average beet recipe

If you’ve tried beets in the past and you were turned off by the dirt undertones, this recipe is going to blow your mind. The pan-fried beets in this recipe develop a beautiful caramelization, creating a delicious semi-sweet chip that contrasts the savory and tangy creamy sauce (that gets a pop of brightness from mint). The flavors in this recipe are crave-worthy — it’s a stunning veggie dish that is perfect to serve alongside a roast or steaks, or you can serve it as a plant-based appetizer.

Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, 30 Minute Recipe) (2)

How to create a dairy-free cream sauce

For this recipe, I used Miyoko’s Dairy Free Cream Cheese for the sauce; I like the plain version. If you can’t find Miyoko’s where you live, then you can use my Dairy Free Cream recipe. I have a cashew base and a cauli base so you can make it nut free too.

If you do well with dairy, you can use regular cream cheese or sour cream if you please. The star of the sauce is really the mint, so whatever base you use, don’t skip the mint!

Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, 30 Minute Recipe) (3)

Why you should eat these Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce

Beets are loaded with vitamins and nutrients, and this easy beet recipe is the best way to enjoy them. Flavor and nutrient density, it’s a beautiful marriage.

Let’s look at the nutritional benefits of beets:

  • Fiber — may improve digestion and gut health
  • Folate — important for tissue growth and cell function
  • Vitamin C — an antioxidant, important for immune health and skin health
  • Manganese — an essential trace element, important for hormone health
  • Potassium — helps reduce blood pressure, an electrolyte that helps keep you hydrated
  • Iron — an essential mineral, important for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells

Beets are also a good source of inorganic nitrates, which have been found to significantly reduce resting blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, improve endothelial function, and reduce arterial stiffness (source).

Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, 30 Minute Recipe) (4)

Tips for pan frying in cast iron

I’m a diehard cast iron fan, and I do everything with my cast iron. The key to getting perfectly caramelized beet slices for this recipe is to follow my cast iron pan frying tips:

  1. The oil is ready when you dip a wooden spoon in and it sizzles
  2. Make sure each slice has full contact with the surface of the pan (lay flat, not crowded, cook in batches)
  3. Add more fat if you don’t see a sizzle — it’s okay, fat is our friend
  4. Rotate the pan every few minutes, especially if you notice one side cooks faster
  5. Don’t flip until you see a nice brown/sear
  6. Always cook on medium, and give it a while to heat up

These tips are a great guideline for any time you fry in cast iron. Don’t be afraid, the end result is worth the learning curve!

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Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, 30 Minute Recipe) (5)

Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, Keto, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, 30 Minute Recipe)

★★★★★5 from 1 review
  • Author: Cristina
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Vegetables
  • Method: Fry
  • Cuisine: Appetizer, Side

Print Recipe

Scale

Ingredients

For the Beets

For the Sauce:

  • 6 ounces dairy free cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup minced fresh mint
  • 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Instructions

  1. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat (I use a 15-inch).
  2. Use a potato peeler to peel the beets and slice them in to ¼ inch thick slices. Melt half of the ghee in the skillet. When hot, place one layer of sliced beets in the skillet so they all lay flat (you will have to do this in batches).
  3. Pan fry for 5 minutes then flip and cook another 5 minutes, drizzling 1 teaspoon of the aminos over them in the last 2 minutes. Transfer to plate and repeat with the remaining beet slices.
  4. While the beets cook, whisk together all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
  5. When you’re done cooking the beets and you have transferred them all to a plate, add the garlic slices to the skillet. Tilt the skillet up so all of the fat pools together and the garlic slices are fully submerged in the fat, hold it here, letting the garlic fry until golden brown.
  6. Spoon the garlic chips over the beets. Serve the mint cream on the side and sprinkle more garlic chips over that too! Enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

net carbs per serving: 9.9g

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 351.6
  • Fat: 30.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 15.3g
  • Fiber: 5.4g
  • Protein: 6g

Keywords: beet recipe, fried beets, dairy free cream sauce, low carb side dish, plant based meal, 30 minute meal

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About Cristina Curp, FNTP

Hey There! I'm Cristina and I believe that you can heal your body through food! After living with a painful autoimmune disease and obesity most of my life, I said enough! I jumped head first into the world of ancestral health, and learned how to optimize my diet to get the most out of life! Read More...

Find me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest

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2 Comments

  1. Bree says

    After making this recipe, I can’t imagine having beets prepared any other way!

    Reply

  2. Vanessa says

    This was divine!

    Reply

Pan Fried Beets with Creamy Mint Sauce (Dairy-Free, 30 Minute Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Why might you add vinegar to red beets before simmering them? ›

By adding vinegar to the boiling process, you can elevate the flavors of beets and give them a delightful tangy kick. The vinegar helps balance the sweetness of the beets and brings out their natural richness.

How do you cook beets for maximum benefits? ›

Roast Them

Roasting is an overall healthy cooking method with minimal vitamin loss, particularly vitamin C. Roasted beets are rich and sweet with slight mineral flavors. Remember to avoid long cooking times and high temperatures, as these can reduce nutrients. Try using smaller bulbs if you want to prepare them faster.

How do you cook beets without losing nutrients? ›

Steaming beets is a healthful cooking method because they retain most of their vitamins and minerals—they're not boiled out in water—and stay incredibly vibrant. Plus, steaming small beets or beet quarters is quick and easy for weeknights.

What brings out the flavor of beets? ›

Pair them with bright, fresh flavors- By adding vinegar, lemon juice, fresh herbs, tangy cheese or yogurt to your dish, you will help balance the flavor. This is why you commonly see roasted beets and goat cheese together.

Why add vinegar to beets? ›

Usually we boil them and toss them in a sweet sour vinaigrette and keep them in the refrigerator to eat all week. The vinegar in the dressing "pickles" the beets, helping them last longer in the fridge.

What do you add to water when cooking beets? ›

Place the beets in a large saucepan and add water to cover and the lemon juice or vinegar. This will help to keep the beets from bleeding. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Place pot under running cold water and let rinse until beets can be handled.

What is the best way to cook beets? ›

Fill with water to cover the beets completely and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer. Cook until fork tender, which will vary by size. Allow to cool and then remove the skin under running water.

How many times a day can you eat beets? ›

The oxalates found in beets can increase your uric acid level, meaning that too many beets can lead to gout. To avoid this, stick to no more than a single half-cup serving of beets per day.

Which is better roasting or boiling beets? ›

My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole. Incidentally, to get beet stains off your hands, wet them, rub them with coarse salt, then wash with soap.

How to make beets taste better? ›

The roasted beets are wonderful on their own, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, or dressed up more with citrus juice, herbs, or balsamic vinegar. Serve them with any weeknight dinner, or add them to a holiday meal. These oven roasted beets keep well for days in the fridge, so they're great for making ahead.

Do beets detox the body? ›

It helps in the detoxification process because of the betaine it contains, which helps prevent and/or reduce fatty deposits in the liver. On the same note, beetroot helps in whole body detoxification. It's a great purifier and does so by pulling toxins into the colon where they can then be evacuated.

What is the healthiest way to eat red beets? ›

Eating beets raw or juicing and roasting them may be more beneficial than boiling them. Beetroots, commonly known as beets, are a vibrant and versatile type of vegetable. They're known for their earthy flavor and aroma. Many people call them a superfood because of their rich nutritional profile.

Why is vinegar added in water for boiling beetroot? ›

Directions. Place the beets in a large saucepan and add water to cover and the lemon juice or vinegar. This will help to keep the beets from bleeding. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

What is the purpose of vinegar in cooking? ›

The acidity or sourness of vinegar brightens the flavor of food and adds balance to a rich dish. It is found in popular kitchen staples like salad dressings, marinades, sauces, mayonnaise, and ketchup.

What does adding vinegar to vegetables do? ›

Because of its unique ability to break down proteins, vinegar is also used as a marinade to help tenderize meats and veggies. It is also used to “quick pickle” veggies because it helps to speed up fermentation and creates good bacteria that makes food last longer.

What happens when beetroot juice is added to vinegar? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

After carrying out the experiment, u would see that the vessel with beetroot juice and vinegar will turn the whole solution red. This is because beetroot performs as an indicator of acids and bases. It turns all acidic solutions red.

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