Foglie di barbabietola: proprietà e ricette Zero Sprechi

When we buy beets we often focus on the root, automatically discarding the leaves. In reality, beet leaves are edible, nutritious and surprisingly versatile in the kitchen.
Using them means making an informed choice: reducing waste, enhancing every part of the vegetable, and bringing tasty and sustainable dishes to the table.

Scopriamo insieme perché non dovrebbero mai finire nel cestino, come pulirle correttamente e 5 ricette Zero Sprechi per trasformarle in protagoniste.

Beet leaves: nutritional values above the root

Beet leaves are not only good, but also very rich nutritionally, in alcuni casi persino più della radice.

Contain:

• vitamins A, C and K, essential for the immune system, vision and bone health,

• mineral salts such as iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium,

• fibers, useful for intestinal well-being,

• natural antioxidants and chlorophyll.

Grazie al loro profilo nutrizionale, le foglie di barbabietola sono ideali in un’alimentazione equilibrata, leggera e attenta alla stagionalità. Usarle in cucina permette di sfruttare al massimo le proprietà dell’ortaggio, evitando sprechi inutili.

How to Clean Beet Leaves Properly

Prima di utilizzarle è importante pulirle nel modo giusto.

1. Separate the leaves from the root with a knife, leaving the stems intact.

2. Remove any damaged, stained, or too dry outer leaves.

3. Wash the leaves thoroughly under running water, rubbing gently to remove any soil residue.

4. Dry them well with a tea towel or salad spinner.

The stems, if very thick, can be separated from the leaves and cooked a few minutes longer, just like chard.

5 Zero Waste Recipes with Beet Leaves

Once cleaned, beet leaves lend themselves to many preparations. Here you go 5 simple, tasty and sustainable ideas.

1. Pan-fried beetroot leaves

A quick and tasty side dish.

Wash and roughly cut the leaves. In a pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil with a clove of garlic, add the leaves and sauté for 5–7 minutes. Adjust salt and finish with a sprinkling of pepper or chili pepper.
Perfette come contorno o per arricchire piatti di cereali e legumi.

2. Savory cake with beet leaves

An ideal one-pot meal for recovering leaves.

Blanch the leaves for a few minutes, drain them and squeeze them well. Chop them and mix them with ricotta or stracchino, an egg, grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture into a puff pastry base and bake at 180°C for 30–35 minutes.
Tasty, practical and also perfect for lunch outside the house.

3. Beet leaf pesto

Un’alternativa originale al classico pesto.

Blend the raw or lightly blanched leaves with extra virgin olive oil, dried fruit (almonds or walnuts), parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt.
Ottimo per condire la pasta, da spalmare su crostoni o per insaporire zuppe e cereali.

4. Soups and soups with beet leaves

Beet leaves are perfect for winter soups.

Add them roughly chopped to vegetable, legume or cereal minestrone soups in the last few minutes of cooking. They blend easily and add color, flavor, and extra nutritional value to the dish.

5. Beet leaf chips

A crunchy snack and Zero Waste.

Lava e asciuga bene le foglie, elimina la costa centrale più dura e spezzettale. Condiscile con olio, sale e spezie a piacere. Cuoci in forno a 180°C per circa 10–15 minuti, controllando che non brucino.
Perfect as a healthy snack or as a crunchy garnish.

How to store fresh beet leaves

If you don't use the leaves right away, you can store them in several ways:

• in the refrigerator: avvolte in un canovaccio leggermente umido o in un sacchetto di carta, durano 2–3 giorni

• blanched and frozen: dopo una breve cottura, asciugale bene e congelale in porzioni; si conservano fino a 3 mesi

Proper storage allows you to further reduce waste and always have a ready base for recipes.

Discover more ideas Zero wastes e tutte le nostre Bontà di Stagione: 

• Tasty ideas to avoid throwing away coastal chard: discover the our tips.
• The stems of black cabbage are excellent for making a pesto: discover the recipe.
• Discover all Zero Waste recipes di Bontà di Stagione.
• Conosci già le nostre Bontà: discover them all.