Sweet, tender and earthy, the humble beet is elevated to a level of creamy deliciousness in this dish of Ruby Cream Baked Beets. Layer the ingredients in a baking dish and tuck it into the oven for easy, unattended baking and serve it as a stunning, jewel-toned side dish. An extra special winter warmer. (Skip to recipe.)
Our tropical paradise is over - the little hiatus of above-seasonal temperatures we've been enjoying for the last few weeks has vanished and true Alberta winter has settled in. The thermometer has been dropping to -20°C the last couple nights, the chickens have been shut into their coop, and Pippa only manages to sit at the back door begging for treats for a few minutes before she heads back to curl up in her cozy, heatlamp-warmed, hay-lined nest in the front room of the chicken shed. As for me, I'm staying happily indoors except for brief stints to feed the animals and collect the eggs. I'm sipping many cups of hot tea, wearing my wooly slippers, and catching up on my online courses (with a little procrasti-baking thrown in for good measure).
On the menu are warm curries, comforting stews, and long slow braises and roasts. To complete the meal and cut down on last minute prep, I love popping a delicious side dish into the oven alongside a roasting piece of meat.
This hearty, flavour-loaded dish of creamy baked beets is just the thing to hit all the winter comfort highlights. It's got that rich caramelized flavour of roasted root vegetables, amplified by a touch of sweet caraway seeds, mild onions, and sharp garlic. A drizzle of cream adds rich juiciness and ties it all together in a silky jumble of glistening ruby shreds. These beets are an absolute hit alongside a pork or beef roast, a meatloaf, or a roast chicken. Their bright colour and sweet earthiness add warm winter comfort to your meal.


The poor, humble beet is often overlooked - not invited to the popular veggies' dinner parties. It really deserves to be pulled out of hiding and turned into the star of the show every now and then, where it can impress with its rich magenta colour, its sweet earthy flavour, and its amped-up nutritional profile. These babies are really good for you, they contain a bit of almost all the nutrients you need daily, and are low in calories but high in fiber and antioxidants that help reduce high blood pressure and inflammation, plus they help support brain health and digestive health - all in a deliciously sweet veggie package.
Look at that gorgeous colour! I can't wait to dig in.
Beets are my heroes.
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Kitchen Frau Notes: Beets have a natural affinity with caraway seeds (which are not only tasty, with a faint anise flavour, but are a natural digestive aid, too). However, you can substitute the caraway with dried tarragon, which has some similar flavour notes, or omit it altogether.
If you're looking for a little crunch on top of the baked beets, toss on a handful of chopped, toasted walnuts, or add a sprinkle of chopped parsley for colour and freshness. But really, the beets are absolutely delicious just as they are.
Ruby Cream Baked Beets
- 4 medium-large red beets (1¼ lbs/565 g), about 4 cups peeled & shredded
- ½ small red or yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds (or dried tarragon)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- a sprinkling of pepper
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream/whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- a handful of chopped, toasted walnuts and /or chopped parsley - optional
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
Peel the beets with a vegetable peeler or paring knife, but leave the root end attached (it provides a handhold for shredding the beets). Shred the beets on the large hole of a box grater (or trim the root ends off and use a food processor to shred them). You should have about 4 cups in total.
Spread half of the shredded beets into an ungreased casserole dish, deep dish pie plate, or 10-inch pie plate. Evenly sprinkle over the diced onion, minced garlic, caraway seeds (or tarragon), salt, and pepper. Spread the remaining shredded beets over the onions and seasonings, smoothing them to lay in an even layer.
Slowly drizzle the heavy cream over the shredded beets, trying to moisten the whole top. Dot with the butter in little ¼ teaspoon bits.
Cover the dish with a lid or tin foil pressed firmly around the edges to make a close seal.
Bake for 45 minutes. Remove the lid or foil, and bake for 15 more minutes uncovered.
Serves 4-5.
Guten Appetit!
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Deborah+Ross
This sounds awwwmazing! I can't wait to try this. I love beets and you've described them perfectly "sweet earthy flavour." I have always thought that I will never be closer to the earth than when I'm eating hot beets and greens with butter, cider vinegar, salt & pepper. I pickle them, relish them but I've never made a dish like this and I can not WAIT to make this!
Note to self: add beets to online grocery order! Ontario is still a hot mess, as regards to Covid, and I have to tell you that I NEED to hold my grandbabies soon,(March will mark a year!!)
Wishing you and yours well, Cheers! Deborah
Margaret
Your enthusiastic comment made me smile - a bright spot in my day. I am right with you on the beet front - they're one of my most favourite vegetables, and all our kids love them, too (probably because I cooked them so often). I could eat them any which way - even plain boiled. But I have to admit, they are really tasty in this recipe - I can gobble down half the pan myself!
I think Alberta and Ontario keep vying for first place in this horrible Covid race - and nobody wants to be first, for sure. We're a pretty big mess here, too. I am getting soooooo exhausted with it all, as the whole world is, and it's not looking like we're out of the worst of it yet. How hard not to be able to hug your grandbabies! There's going to be so much hugging going on once this is all over!
Meanwhile, we'll just eat beets and try to enjoy the simple pleasures! 🙂
Meredith Adams
This recipe looks great Margaret! Can hardly wait to try this. I sometimes add a little orange juice and thyme to chunks of beets that have been baked (often partially done in the microwave so it doesn't take so long!) but that is the extent of my creativity with beets. Your recipe will be a wonderful addition when I am wondering what to do with beets! Thanks for sharing 😊
Margaret
Another beet lover! I think this poor vegetable is often overlooked, but it's so delicious. Orange juice and thyme do both go well with beets. I think you might like this version, too. The shreds of beet keep their texture, but get this luscious silkiness from the cream, and are flavour-boosted from the onion, garlic, and caraway. We gobble it up! Thanks for stopping by to comment. Happy beeting! And wishing you a fun weekend in our sunshine and snow.