Sweet and Sneaky Ways to Eat Your Veggies: Beets

aka “And The Beet Goes On…”

I saved the best for last!

 

I thought beets were weird. Sure, they looked sweet and innocent from far away, but as soon as I mixed them into my salad, they turned my feta cheese hot pink. Hot pink. Strangely, I don’t find neon-colored dairy products very appetizing…

 

So while my mom swore by them, I picked those pesky beets out of my food.  

 

 

Until I started reading about cutting-edge chefs adding them to baked goods. After coming across 27 recipes for chocolate and beet treats, I wondered why I hadn’t thought of something like that before…

 

 

I’ll tell you why: Because these brownies are SO addicting. They’re dense, moist, rich, and fudgy — everything a brownie should be! And with the hidden veggies inside, I felt absolutely no guilt eating two three five the day I pulled them out of the oven.

 

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

 

 

Fudgy Beet Brownies

modified from the Eggless Cooking recipe

makes 16 brownies

If you can wait, these turn fudgier and taste even better once they’re completely cooled — and twice as good the next day!

¾ oat flour (see note)

¾ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ c. dark chocolate chips

1 (15 oz) can sliced beets, drained and puréed

½ c. brown sugar, packed

¼ c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tbsp soft margarine or shortening

1½ tsp plain nonfat yogurt

¼ c. unsweetened applesauce (or 1½ tsp Ener-G + 2 tbsp water –OR– 1 egg white)

2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350° and lightly coat an 8” square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the chocolate chips to a separate microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 20-sec intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate melts (about 1 to 1½ min). Stir in the beet purée and next 6 ingredients (through vanilla), mixing thoroughly. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake at 350° for 35-40 min or until firm. Cool completely before slicing into squares.

 

*Note: Oat flour is easy to make! For this recipe, just add a heaping ¾ cup of old-fashioned oats into a food processor or blender, and pulse until they turn into a fine powder.

 

Other Sweet and Sneaky Veggie Treats:

carrot cake oatmeal

caramelized onion breakfast muffins

pumpkin custards