The secret behind beetroot's earthy flavors - Foodpairing (2024)

Beetroot has enjoyed a deserved comeback in recent years. This sweet root vegetable has a vibrant purple color and a typical sweet, rich and earthy flavor. Wonder where this earthy flavor comes from?

The science behind beetroot’s earthy flavors

The molecule Geosmin

Seen from a molecular level, the most prominent aroma molecule responsible for the earthy flavor is ‘geosmin’. Its name is derived from the Greek γεω- “earth” and ὀσμή “smell”, because this aroma compound has a real distinct ‘earthy’ flavor.

The human nose is extremely sensitive to geosmin and is able to detect it at concentrations as low as 5 parts per trillion.

‘One teaspoon of geosmin, dissolved into an amount of water equal to 200 Olympic swimming pools, would be sufficient for the human sense of smell to detect it.’

Geosmin contributes to the specific strong earthy scent that occurs in the air during a summer rain fall. It is also noticeable in the characteristic smell of soil, or the muddy smell of freshwater ground fish, such as carp or catfish.

High concentrations of this very same geosmin with its distinct early flavor we find back in our beloved beetroot.

Search for beetroot pairings

With the Foodpairing Inspiration Tool you can search for different pairings with beetroot. We see that other root vegetables share their earthy aromas with the beetroot. Also ingredients like dark chocolate, nuts, coffee or roasted onions have earthy flavors and pair well with beetroot.

This could be explained by the presence of ‘pyrazines’, which are aromatic structures formed during the process of roasting ingredients. These pyrazines also contain an earthy smell.

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Discover interesting Beetroot recipes made by Foodpairing®

Beetroot lends itself to a variety of both sweet and savoury dishes. The Foodpairing® Kitchen created two appetizers and a dessert using Les vergers Boiron Beetroot puree, an ideal puree to make different beetroot preparations.

Earthy flavored ingredients combine well with one another, however it is good to keep your dish balanced, too much earthiness can be overpowering.

Les vergers Boiron Beetroot – Mussel – Walnut – Vin Jaune – Vanilla

The secret behind beetroot's earthy flavors - Foodpairing (2)

Les vergers Boiron Beetroot – Scallop Saint Jacques – Caviar

The secret behind beetroot's earthy flavors - Foodpairing (3)

Les vergers Boiron Beetroot – Yoghurt – Raspberry

The secret behind beetroot's earthy flavors - Foodpairing (4)

beetroot co*cktail with yoghurt – coffee – sambuca

The secret behind beetroot's earthy flavors - Foodpairing (5)

The secret behind beetroot's earthy flavors - Foodpairing (2024)

FAQs

The secret behind beetroot's earthy flavors - Foodpairing? ›

The science behind beetroot's earthy flavors

How to get the earthy taste out of beets? ›

Ginger. Warming ginger's subtle heat nicely offsets the dirt-like taste of beets for a more balanced flavor.

Why do beets taste earthy? ›

Geosmin makes beetroots earthy

The molecule geosmin. This is an incredibly potent molecule, even a small amount can be detected by us humans and it's to a large extent responsible for the earthy tones of beetroots. Geosmin isn't unique to beets. You can also find it in forest soil, after a period of rainfall.

What brings out the flavour of beetroot? ›

Warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cardamom all pair well with the earthy flavor of beets and can help enhance their natural sweetness. One example that takes advantage of this pairing is the cranberries with beets and cardamom recipe.

What makes beets taste better? ›

Slow-roasting beets in a foil packet or covered baking dish takes away much of the earthy taste and intensifies the flavor, but you will still have a bit of bleeding and nutrient loss. Grilling beets over wood or charcoal will add a layer of smokiness.

What can you add to beetroot to make it taste better? ›

This all helps to increase your immunity, stamina but many people don't like It's sweet and earthy taste, it's hard to digest because for people who have low stomach acid which abosorbs nutrients. To enhance the taste of beet juice you can add some slices of apple, carrot, ginger and little black salt.

What are the side effects of eating raw beets? ›

Beet is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts. Beet can make urine or stools appear pink or red. But this is not harmful. There is concern that beets might cause low calcium levels and kidney damage.

Is it okay to eat beets every day? ›

Can you eat beets everyday? It's always best to follow a varied diet. Eating a small amount of beetroot every day is unlikely to do any harm, but a high intake could lead to low blood pressure, red or black urine and feces, and digestive problems for anyone with a sensitivity to the nutrients.

How to make beets taste like meat? ›

Cure your vegetables as you would a piece of meat for a couple of days. This can be achieved by rubbing the vegetable or mushroom with salt at a concentration of 1.75% of the vegetable's weight, wrapping it tightly in plastic or vacuum sealing it, and letting it sit in the fridge for 2-3 days.

How to make beets taste yummy? ›

The roasted beets are wonderful on their own, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, or dressed up more with citrus juice, herbs, or balsamic vinegar. Serve them with any weeknight dinner, or add them to a holiday meal. These oven roasted beets keep well for days in the fridge, so they're great for making ahead.

Why do I feel better after eating beets? ›

Beets are naturally high in nitrates, which are turned into nitric oxide in the body. This compound lowers blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to relax and widen.

How do you counteract earthy Flavour? ›

Is there a flavor that balances out "earthiness"?
  1. Lemon thyme.
  2. White wine.
  3. Fresh cut green onion, or Leeks.
  4. Radish (recommend daikon, not red, but red will work too)
  5. Fennel root.
  6. Dill.
Apr 26, 2020

How do you cover the taste of beets? ›

One of the best ways to mask the dirt taste of beets is to pair it with a sweeter flavor. Try adding some honey, maple syrup, or agave to the beets when cooking them. You can also pair the cooked beets with other savory ingredients like bacon, onion, or garlic to balance out the sweetness.

How do you mask the taste of beetroot? ›

Yes, beets taste earthy and a little bitter. While this isn't a bad thing, Martinez says they're best when paired with bright, sweet, and fresh flavors. If you're boiling them, add plenty of salt (as if you were boiling pasta) and about a quarter-cup of red wine vinegar to the water.

How do you make beets more palatable? ›

My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole.

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