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Raw red beetroots with root tails and a cut half showing dark red flesh.

Red beetroot

Red beetroot is the edible root of Beta vulgaris, with round and elongated red varieties and edible leaves.

Plant
Beta vulgaris
What you eat
Root and leaves

Types and forms

Wodan

Characteristics
Bright red, round roots

Forono

Characteristics
Elongated, dark-red roots
WodanForono
CharacteristicsBright red, round rootsElongated, dark-red roots

Try it in the kitchen

Our suggestion: roast red beetroot and serve it with lentils, walnuts and a spoonful of yogurt. For the leaves, the RHS describes using them like spinach; cook them separately if you want to bring both parts to the same meal.

South Tyrol’s official tourism recipe gives cooked beetroot a role in red canederli. The beetroot is blended with eggs and combined with bread, onion and cheese; the dumplings are served with butter and grated cheese.

Cook with it

Red does not mean one shape

Ask for red beetroot and choose round or elongated roots to suit your cut. The broader beetroot family also includes pale and striped varieties; those colours are not the focus of this red-root record.

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