Inspiration: The Single Beet Lunch

In last week's email, Sara Kate wrote about eating less as a simple move toward eating light. This is just one single, roasted beet (not even a huge one) and some good goat cheese, but enough for a satisfying lunch.

You can take or leave our stacked napoleon presentation. We think it made the experience feel a little decadent in the middle of the day, and it turned a medium-sized beet into a meal the size of a baked potato.

Definitely add a splash of balsamic vinegar, some salt and pepper, and maybe a wedge of good bread on the side. So few ingredients—more than the sum of its parts.

What did you eat for lunch today? Would this fill you up?

Related: How to Roast and Peel Beets (the best way for doing them whole)

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)

Comments (12)

That's a lot of beet! Beware beeturia! ;)

My lunch was considerably less healthy--a rare lunch out of the office at a local and favorite Indian joint.

posted by OneWallKitchen on January 14th 2009 at 4:39pm
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I'm thinking of the health halo effect---since its a beet it must be good for me---there is a ton of goat cheese on there which is high in saturated fat which translates into not good for you.

posted by sally599 on January 14th 2009 at 5:00pm
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Sally599: Hmm, maybe the close-up photo is making it seem more stuffed than it is. There's actually only a little over an ounce of cheese in there.

posted by Elizabeth P on January 14th 2009 at 5:07pm
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Oh, that's OK then I couldn't gauge the size and was going by your baked potato description maybe I go for the bigger spuds?

posted by sally599 on January 14th 2009 at 6:06pm
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I think if I only ate that for lunch, I'd be snacking an hour later. It needs a side of salmon or whole wheat crackers or something.

posted by tequilastrapple on January 14th 2009 at 10:04pm
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i will definitely be eating this in the summer when i get all my yummy beats and fresh goat cheese from the CSA.

posted by HelloChloe on January 15th 2009 at 8:54am
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There is nothing, and I mean nothing that can be done with a beet that I wouldn't love, and beets plus goat cheese is one of my absolute favorite things. i have both stashed in my fridge for just this kind of lunch!

My favorite is raw beets sliced paper thin, dressed in a bit of vinagrette with some greens and garnished with rounds of goat cheese. Quick and elegant.

posted by splatgirl on January 15th 2009 at 11:31am
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I must be a pig because one beat and 1 oz. of goat cheese is not enough food for me. Still, looks tasty.

posted by Nikita on January 15th 2009 at 12:09pm
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is there any other type of cheese that goes well with beets? (love beets, love cheese, but i'm pregnant, so goat cheese is out for the next few months)

posted by ee on January 15th 2009 at 2:58pm
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Wow, I can't imagine that passing for a meal. That seems very unhealthy to me, unless you're eating several of these "lunches" throughout the day.

posted by jamiealyse on January 15th 2009 at 4:08pm
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That looks absolutely delicious and exquisitely beautiful.

posted by TheGoodBiGirl on January 18th 2009 at 5:16pm
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Tried this yesterday, and it was *excellent.* I had a little trouble roasting the beet, but since it was rather large (enough to serve two, as I intended,) it wasn't unexpected. But, again, so very, very delicious.

posted by thygatromedea on January 19th 2009 at 12:35pm
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