These creamy mashed beets, with their stunning crimson color and earthy sweetness, are a delicious addition to any meal. Fresh beets and a small amount of potato are boiled and mashed, then seasoned with thyme, butter, and cream.
😍 Why You'll Love These Mashed Beets
- They're an easy side dish. It's not much more than boiling and mashing.
- They're unique. Despite being easy and tasty, there aren't too many recipes for mashed beets.
- They make an attractive complement to a variety of meals. The bright pinkish-red color will brighten up any plate.
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Hey, beet lovers! I've got you covered. Next up, try my beet and broccoli salad, beetroot and feta tartlets, simple borscht soup, and red flannel tempeh hash.
🌿 Ingredients
Here's everything you need to make these easy mashed beets.
- Beets: You'll need three pounds of any variety of beet. Larger beets are quicker and easier to peel.
- Potato: Yes, this is a mashed beet recipe. But including a small percentage of potatoes here helps to make the beets creamier.
- Thyme: Fresh or dried thyme adds a little woody herb flavor. Rosemary is another good alternative.
- Butter and cream
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
🥔 Variations
- Potato (more or less): Use more potato for a creamier consistency or less to enjoy the pure beet flavor all on its own.
- Sweet potato: In place of the potato, you can use sweet potato for an equally creamy but richer flavor. And if that combo sounds good to you, you might want to try my beet and sweet potato salad.
- Pureed beets: If you want your mashed beets to be extra creamy, use an immersion blender or food processor to puree them after giving them a quick mash.
🔪 Instructions
Here's how to make mashed beets.
- Step 1: peel and dice the beets and potato.
- Step 2: Add them to a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil.
- Step 3: Cook the beets and potato at a steady boil for 25 - 30 minutes or until tender.
- Step 4: Mash the beet and potato.
- Step 5: Stir in the cream, most of the butter, the thyme, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Step 6: Serve topped with additional butter, a sprinkle of salt, and a few grinds of black pepper.
✨ Top Tip
Be sure to cook the beets until they are completely tender and are easy to stab with a fork. This will make them easier to mash.
🍴 Equipment
Potato masher: The best way to mash the beets and potatoes after boiling them. In a pinch, you could use another heavy blunt kitchen tool to do the job. Maybe a large clean glass or bottle.
🥡 Leftovers
Store any leftover mashed beets in a sealed container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat with a splash of cream or water to help restore creaminess.
🤔 FAQ
Try seasoning them with fresh or dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, or dill. Salt and butter also help enhance their flavor. You can use a mix of vegetables with the beets if you're not sure you like their flavor.
Mashed beets are good for you. They're mostly pure vegetable with minimal ingredients added for flavor and texture. In this recipe, you can reduce or omit the butter and cream if you want to make them even healthier.
Boiling and steaming are two of the healthiest ways to cook beets because you can do so without having to use fat.
It depends how you cook them. If cooking them whole you can try leaving the peels on and rubbing them off after. But if cutting them up and then cooking, you should peel them first. Also, when you peel them raw, it's easy to use a peeler.
🍝 Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
📖 Recipe
Mashed Beets
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These creamy mashed beets, with their stunning crimson color and earthy sweetness, are a delicious addition to any meal. Fresh beets and a small amount of potato are boiled and mashed, then seasoned with thyme, butter, and cream.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of beets
- ½ pound of potatoes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4-5 sprigs fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients. Peel the beets and potatoes and cut them into roughly one-inch pieces. Place the beets and potatoes in a pot and cover with water.
- Cook. Bring to a boil and cook until both are fork-tender, about 20–25 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
- Mash. Mash the vegetables with a potato masher until broken down as much as possible. Add 2 tablespoons of butter, thyme, cream, and salt to the warm beets and potatoes. Stir to combine.
- Serve. Top the beets with the remaining butter and freshly ground pepper to taste and serve.
Notes
Be sure to cook the beets until they are completely tender and are easy to stab with a fork. This will make them easier to mash.
For creamier mashed beets use an immersion blender to puree them until smooth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Sides
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
🍠 Related Recipes
Looking for other easy vegetable side dish recipes like this one? Try these:
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