Theory into Practice: Golden Beets & Brussels Sprouts

Remember two days ago when I told you about 5 foods that support liver function? Well consider this recipe the practical application of that knowledge: it contains beets AND brussels sprouts (a cruciferous vegetable), so you're doubling up on liver-boosters in one simple dish.

Want to take it up another notch? Replace the shallots in the recipe with garlic for an even more powerful liver-detoxifying recipe!

 

Ingredients

• 2 medium sized golden beets
• 10 brussels sprouts, trimmed of rough outer leaves and cut in half
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 shallot, peeled and sliced (or 4 
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
• 2 Tbsp almond slivers, toasted
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

 

Directions

The beets take the longest to cook so start them first. Either boil them in water in a small saucepan for 45 minutes (or how ever long it takes to get them tender), or wrap them in foil and roast them in the oven at 350°F for an hour fifteen minutes or until done. Roasting will give you better flavor, but takes longer and uses a lot more energy (unless you are already cooking something in the oven). When done, set the beets aside to cool for 10 minutes, then peel and chop them into 1 x 1/2 inch chunks.

While beets are cooking toast your almond slivers if you are starting with raw almonds. Just heat a skillet to medium high heat and put in the almonds. Stir frequently with a spatula. When the almonds begin to brown, remove from pan into a small bowl. Let cool, set aside.

Also while the beets are cooking, prepare the brussels sprouts. Bring 1 1/2 quarts of salted water (2 teaspoons salt) in a medium saucepan to a boil. Add the brussels sprouts to the water and blanch them for 2-3 minutes. They should be almost all the way cooked through. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.

In a medium sized skillet heat 1 Tbsp olive oil on medium heat. Add the shallot slices and cook until translucent, a few minutes. Add another tablespoon of olive oil and raise the heat to medium high. Add the sprouts and beets to the pan, along with the thyme and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 minute more, stirring. Remove from heat and serve. Can serve warm or at room temperature.

From www.simplyrecipes.com