Beet Sandwiches

Can You Eat Raw Beets?

Roasted beets are definitely a popular way to serve nature’s candy (find more about how to roast beets here), but they’re just as delicious raw. They have a unique, earthy flavor and crisp texture when raw, making them a refreshing addition to salads, slaws, as well as sandwiches, which is what you’ll find in this recipe.

Any raw beet recipe will retain even more of the nutritional benefits, including high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than a cooked beet recipe.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when making a raw beet recipe. First, make sure you wash the beets thoroughly, as the skin may hold onto dirt. For this reason, and the fact that the skin can be tough, you may want to peel the beets before eating them raw.

You will also want to either cut the beets thinly, or grate them, as we do in our beet sandwich recipe. Again, raw beets can be tough, and thinly slicing or grating them can eliminate any unpleasant textures.

How to Prepare Raw Beets

Our beetroot sandwich calls for raw beets, which should be washed thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris.

When handling beets for a beet dish, we suggest that you peel them for this beet recipe; wearing gloves can prevent staining your hands.

After washing, the beets can be grated using a grater, making sure to place it on a paper towel or a dedicated cutting board to avoid staining other surfaces. Beet stains come from betalains, a natural pigment, which will color almost anything they touch. Fortunately, they're water-soluble and can be washed off your skin if you forget your gloves. When you are finished handling the beets, just make sure to wash your hands immediately with plenty of hot, soapy water.

Aside from grating, other raw options for preparing beets include mincing them finely for a different texture, juicing them for a vibrant and nutritious beverage, or thinly slicing them using a kitchen mandoline, which works great for adding beets to salads or as a decorative touch to dishes. Each method offers a unique way to enjoy the natural flavors and nutritional benefits of raw beets.

Ingredients for Our Raw Beet Sandwich

Sometimes the best sandwiches are the simplest, and in this beetroot recipe, we are definitely keeping it simple.

Beets: Of course, grated, raw beets are the star of the show. Feel free to use either red or yellow beets in this beet recipe.

Mayo: A quick and easy mayonnaise is made from mayo, garlic, and lemon juice. This tasty topping adds moisture and loads of flavor.

Slather desired amount onto slices of multigrain bread. While this bread is a natural choice for our beet sandwich, we also like to use multigrain sandwich rolls or sourdough bread, but feel free to use your favorite.

Cheese: The nuttiness of Gruyèere cheese works well with the other ingredients in this sandwich, but it can be a pricy. For a more budget friendly option, we recommend Swiss cheese—an equally delicious choice.

Avocado: Adds a lovely creaminess, and arugula gives this yummy beet sandwich a peppery bite.

What Else Can I Make With Beets?

Sometimes you can find beets sold individually, without their stems, at the grocery store. Most of the time they are sold in bunches of three or four, which means you may have one or two left over after making your beet sandwich.

But first, let’s talk about all those leftover beet greens. While you don’t need them for this raw beet recipe, you might not want to throw them away. They’re a great addition to salads and soups.

For leftover beets, we’ve got you covered with loads of great recipe ideas you can try next like Vegetarian Beet Soup with Goat Cheese or our simple and tasty Clementine and Roasted Beet Salad. For a change in the normal pizza routine we have a Roasted Beet and White Cheddar Pizza or add some flavor to your hard boiled eggs with Beet-Pickled Eggs.