Look! Cooked Beets at the French Market

Take a look at these beets we saw at the Sunday market in Lyon. Do they look a little strange to you? A little shiny? Well, that's because they're cooked — and apparently this is not uncommon at French markets.

While in Paris I was told that beets are not considered "chic" at the French table. They are cut up and used in salads, but not cooked and eaten on their own.

This may be different in other areas, or in other styles of cooking — but I only saw cooked beets in the greengrocer in Paris, as well as in the open air markets in Lyon and even in Bern, Switzerland. No raw beets to be seen! Just these cooked and partially peeled beets.

Have you noticed this at markets in Europe? Would you buy freshly-cooked beets instead of raw beets, if you had the chance?

(Image: Faith Durand)

Comments (9)

Trader Joe's has lovely little cooked and peeled beets from France. I usually keep a package or two in the fridge for salads or just warm with butter and salt.

Sometimes I'll cut them in slices and put them in a quick brine. Love pickled beets, hate that I can't find any commercial brands made without corn syrup.

Thanks for the ideas, miabica. I love those little beets, and I feel silly now for never thinking to do anything with them other than slice them into salads.

Miabica, it's really easy to pickle & can your own beets! It only takes an afternoon, just be prepared to have purple hands.

I've gotten them at Fairway in Harlem. Vacuum packed from France.

But they are so easy to cook at home. I love beets, just on their own. They are a regular on our table.

I live in Europe and there are fresh beets to be had, but you have to go to the outdoor markets for them. Sadly, though, most of the time the greens have already been removed, so you don't get a chance to eat those.

I don't like the already cooked ones. I always buy the fresh ones when they are in season. I roast them and then use them in a cold salad dressed with a simple vinaigrette.

Here in northern Italy, cooked beets can be found, vacuum-packed, year-round in the supermarkets. I buy them at this time of year from the farmers' market, raw or cooked.

My local grocer in London sells only cooked ones, but for some reason I feel weird buying them. Maybe it's the sliminess and the fact that they sit out, cooked and uncovered.

I'll buy the vacuum packed cooked ones from the supermarket to slice up for lunches, or I'll buy raw beets and roast them if I'm making something more exciting for a crowd.

Like alphaville said, here in Paris you can generally only find them fresh at the outdoor marchés. Occassionaly, the organic stands will have them still with their greens on.

As to their chicness - as with many things of humble origin lately, they seem to be coming back in vogue. They were part of a fantastic dinner I had recently at Le Chateaubriand and they were also featured at an awesome place in Belgium called In da Wulf. Fingers crossed for more creative uses of beets here b/c I really love them!