Name: Smashed and Seared Beets with Chimichurri and Goat Cheese Crema
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: ½ cup (4 oz) goat cheese (, at room temperature); ¾ cup heavy (whipping) cream; Fine sea salt; 1½ cups small to medium beets; 1¼ cups apple cider vinegar; 2 garlic cloves (, halved ); 1 bay leaf; 3 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil; Freshly ground black pepper; 4 cups baby arugula; ¼ cup red wine vinegar; 1 garlic clove (, peeled); ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes; ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil; ½ cup flat-leaf parsley leaves; ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves (, thick stems removed); ¼ cup fresh basil leaves; ¼ cup ground cumin; Red Blend

Smashed and Seared Beets with Chimichurri and Goat Cheese Crema

Servings

4servings

Servings

4servings

Ingredients

½cup (4 oz) goat cheese, at room temperature
¾cup heavy (whipping) cream
Fine sea salt
1½cups small to medium beets
1¼cups apple cider vinegar
2 garlic cloves, halved
1 bay leaf
3tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
4cups baby arugula

CHIMICHURRI

¼cup red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, peeled
¼tsp crushed red pepper flakes
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
½cup fresh cilantro leaves, thick stems removed
¼cup fresh basil leaves
¼cup ground cumin

WINE PAIRING

Red Blend

Instructions

COMBINE the vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, oil, parsley, cilantro, basil, and cumin in a food processor or blender and puree until they are fully incorporated. Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and chill until ready to serve, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
WHISK together the goat cheese, cream, and a pinch of salt in a medium-size bowl. Cover the crema with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 3 days.
PLACE the beets, 5 cups of water, the cider vinegar, garlic, bay leaf, and 1 tsp of salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a steady simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the beets are tender at their center when pierced with a paring knife, 35 to 50 minutes, depending on their size.
REMOVE the beets from the poaching liquid and let them cool to the touch. Discard the bay leaf. Use a paring knife to trim extra-long tails. If you wish, cut off the tops just under the stem. One at a time, place the beets between 2 salad plates and press down just enough to smash and slightly flatten but not break the beets. (Don’t worry if they do break apart or if some skin peels off as you handle them.)
HEAT the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to glisten. Add the beets and let them cook undisturbed, flipping just once, until the skin is crispy and caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
SPREAD the goat cheese crema in the center of a serving bowl or divide it among individual plates. Pile the beets on the goat cheese crema and spoon the chimichurri generously over them. Top with the arugula and another drizzle of chimichurri.
NOTE: This smashing technique works wonders on boiled unpeeled new potatoes and small Yukon Gold and fingerling potatoes, too. Serve them on their own or with Horseradish Cream and chives.

Recipe Notes

The Vegetable Butcher by Cara Mangini • Workman Publishing • Photography by Matthew Benson