Let’s talk about the waste we incur when working with our CSA haul. Beets for example. How many times have you taken your beets, cut the shoots off and thrown them right in the trash? I’m guilty, which is why I am assuming you are too. Here’s the thing though, those greens are good! Today, I’ve made a dish that uses more than just the beet bulb in the hopes that it will inspire you to start looking at your ingredients as a whole instead of just a part.
While I’ve cut the greens off of the stalks and used those and the bulb today, you could save those shoots and make a vegetable stock with them, perfect for a veggie risotto or the base of a great soup. The whole point is here to look at your vegetable, and think about how you can incorporate each part into your dishes. By doing this, you’ll get the most out of your CSA, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it becomes once you’ve done it a few times!
If you’re local and interested in seeing this concept come to fruition, you should consider joining me at Grant Family Farms first Farm Dinner of the season! On Saturday, July 28th from 5-10, you can join me in Wellington to tour the farm and be dazzled by Chef Kevin Grossi from Jax Fish House in a dinner featuring the bounty and livestock of Grant Family Farms. Tickets are $85 a person, and you can purchase them here.
Without further ado: Root to Leaf Beet Gnocchi.
Root to Leaf Beet Gnocchi
Ingredients:
- beets - 3 large
- salt and pepper - to taste
- olive oil - 1 tablespoon
- flour - 1 cup
- egg - 1
- corn starch - 2 tablespoons
- beet greens - of 3 beets
- butter - 3 tablespoons
- sage - 1 tablespoon
- white wine - 1/4 cup
- heavy cream - 1 splash
- garlic - 1 clove
- blackberries - 1/4 cup
- shaved pecorino - for garnish
Instructions:
Love,
Whit
I’m glad I’m not the only one who either tossed the beet greens in the trash or gave them to the chickens. I will try this gnocchi not because I don’t want to be wasteful but because it looks fantastic!
I cannot even tell you how thrilled I was to find this recipe because I just love the flavor of beets. I am fascinated with your ingenuity! Who would have thought to take beets and make a nice gnocchi?! Great idea!