Life tweaks. They’ve happened this week.
It’s weird how much better these little tweaks make you feel. First one: I’ve worked out every day this week. I’m not gonna make some unrealistic statement and say that this is how I’m living from here on out, but good gracious does it make me feel giddy.
Second tweak: I’ve cut out coffee. I know. I know. I can’t believe I just wrote that. It wasn’t planned. I woke up Monday morning and got some tea instead of coffee. And then I did the same thing the next day. And the next day. And now, it’s Friday and I feel like I have more energy than I’ve had in months. In months I’m guessing this won’t last for long–the taste of coffee is a long time love.
I decided to keep up with the health-ish, unusual track that I’m on and snack on some beets. (I honestly don’t even know who I am right now.) I hate beets. I think they taste–for the most part–like dirt. Like, the actual earth. People put a bunch of goat cheese on them and avocado and think they’re delicious. Datsss cool. I’m just not one of those people.
But I do love those Terra chips. You know those? They’re like $6 a bag from Whole Foods and they’re filled about a quarter of the way? Yeah. Well, the beet chips–surprisingly–are my favorite. It’s unexplainable.
Turns out slicing some beets and baking them is waaaay cheaper than buying a big bag of pre-sliced and pre-baked ones.
I made one batch last week and one batch yesterday. Pro-tips: Martha’s method with placing a baking sheet on top of the chips to keep them flat is a winner. She’s too smart.
Also, only take the beets out of the oven when they’re pale. Their color will turn from a deep beet red to a pale beet red. This is confusing in text, I’m sure, but if you take the dive and make these, you’ll see the difference when you do an oven peek.
So, join me on this strange journey. Grab a mandoline. Slice up some pretty golden beets and maybe a few red beets.
Toss them with very little olive oil. Sprinkle on a some sea salt. Baked them.
And boom. Healthy snacking. It’s happening.
Baked Beet Chips
4 medium beets
2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
Sea Salt
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Peel beets and slice 1/16 inch thick with a mandoline. In a large bowl, toss beets with extra-virgin olive oil. The beets should have a very thin coat.
2. On two rimmed baking sheets (or use one sheet and bake in two batches), arrange beets in a single layer. Sprinkle with a small amount of sea salt.
3. Stack another rimmed baking sheet on top of each. Bake until edges of beets begin to dry out, about 20 minutes. Uncover and rotate sheets. Bake 10 to 20 minutes, removing chips as they become lightened and pale in color. Note: Pretty much all of mine needed the full extra 20 minutes of baking time. Transfer to a wire rack; chips will crisp up as they cool.
Adapted from Martha Stewart
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this looks so delicious and perfect for those new years resolutions! totally trying and sharing!
http://www.dragonnfruit.com
These look awesome! I love those a $6 a bag terra chips and since I am el cheapo and won’t buy them, these are going to have to do. Now, if I can not slice off my thumb with my mandolin, I’ll be all set
Thanks for this post.
I probably shouldn’t say this, but I was just planning on baking the cinnamon sugar pull-apart bread you once said you were going to make soon.
Then I saw this. And I kind of still want to make the pull-apart thing, but I applaude your healthy behaviour.
I am a recovered coffee-lover myself and totally agree on the energy-level thing.
Since I miss the taste I now make myself organic decaf lattes. It helps. You should try it.
Love,
M
I’ve made that pull apart before and it’s incredible!
I love all your recipes, including this one! I think I will make these for my son who loves chips and hates veggies.
Happy Friday!
: ))
Jen
This is a great way to use up beets! In the fall every year I end up with a HUGE amount of beets and then have to find new ways to use them. This is a great way!
Shuuut up. I love making beet chips, but I’ve never kept another baking sheet on top to keep them flat! You keep it on the whole time?!
ilovethis.
Only 3/4 of the baking time. But yes, killer tip.
I just tried beets for the first time…. ummm now I want beet chips!
This is great, I actually hate beets growing up as a child, and then one day i got them on a salad and hadn’t noticed and my mom was like when did you start eating “beets”…I looked down and went. “oh” lol, and i kept eating them. Well anyway, I went through a beet juice phase last year but grew tired of cleaning my juicer every day. These look great, and I’ve never seen a golden beet in my grocery store, but this is a great way to get veggies in instead of regular chips. I’m definetely going to try these. Do you know how long they last?
They should last, in an air-tight container, for a week.
YES!!! Thank you for posting this. I love Terra Chips, but now I can make them at home!!!
The colors are beautiful! I love beets, they are one of my favorites! These would make a great snack!
Yum! I love those terra chips too, but these look way better.
I feel the same way about beetroot.. I really try to like it, but it’s just not for me. But I also like beet chips, I’ve thought about making these before, just didn’t realize it was that simple!
I’ve always loved coffee, probably since I was 5. When I “grew up,” I’d have several cups a day…until 3 years ago when I switched to tea. I’ve been drinking green or white tea every morning since, and can really tell a difference physically (feels much cleaner, ya know?). I’ll treat myself to a latte or coffee on the weekends, and the smell of coffee grounds is one of the best smells in the world, but tea has become its own animal now.
Oh! I got my first mandolin slicer for Christmas and have been itchin to use it. Gonna try to make zucchini chips and throw in your beets too. Thanks for sharing
YES! Do this.
Love the idea of making these at home! I heart those Terra chips too but…yeah $6? Not so much.
Totally with you on the life tweaks too. ‘Tis the season I guess. I’m still coffee addicted but the last few months I’ve been trying to stretch everyone morning when I wake up and drink warm lemon water before consuming anything else. It’s like a gentle body hug.
Happy Friday!
Ahhh I’ve done the lemon water thing before. It’s supposed to work wonders.
Ooooh, I love those Terra chips too. They are so pricey so I haven’t bought them in ages. Can’t wait to try making my own beet chips though – they look delicious!
Oh how I dislike beets too! I’ve tried to like them every year, but I just can’t get past that dirt taste. But your totally right about those chips! They are good, you’ve convinced me to go buy some beets!
I subscribe to a csa program and am always wondering what to do with all of those beets. I’ve never been a big fan of cookeded beets and there’s only so far shredding them on a salad can go. I will definitely be trying this the next time a box comes!
these chips looks amazing! I love beets but have never made them into chips…gotta get on this
Cool idea– thanks!
I’ve tried this, but not with a mandoline, and I was disappointed that they didn’t get very crisp.
Did these get crispy?
Yes these got crispy, but you definitely need the mandoline. It gets them super thin which is virtually impossible with a knife.
These are amazing! I will make this this week!
gorgeous! i love the colors! i’m really excited to give these a try!
happy to hear about your life tweaks. working on making some for me too
I love this idea more than words can say. Gorgeous snack!
Of course they’re pretty, you make some of the prettiest food posts on the whole internet. For real.
Also, I love beets and beet chips. I just hate paying $6 for 10 chips. Thanks for this. I’ve known for a long time that I could do this my darn self. You’ve inspired me to stop being lazy about it.
I’m totally ignoring the coffee thing.
HA! Awww. Nik! You’re so very sweet. Thank you.
I once went off coffee for 4 months. It was a strange and sleepy time in my life. Then I returned to that black magic, and remembered what it felt like to be awake, it was glorious.
I also once thought I hated beets too, until I had some really fresh beets that tasted sweet and not like dirt.
Does the baking of said fresh and pretty beets enhance their sweetness? If so, I’m so on board…eventually.
Not really, actually. They’re not sweeter, I don’t think?
OMG I love you. You have just saved my diet. I have two beets just waiting to be used so I’m off to the kitchen to make these. THANK YOU!
I am so going to make these! I might add some sweet potatoes in there too, just cuz I like ‘em that much. Skin on. Woohoo for healthy snacking! And working out everyday — I’ve been back at the gym for a few solid weeks now and — surprise, surprise — have rediscovered my waist
looks delicious! I will definitely be trying this recipe!
Yes! I love beets (a recent golden roasted beet salad post will attest to this) and I love those Terra chips but whole-heartedly agree that they are expensive and the bags are underfilled! I am so grateful for this recipe. I have a bag of beets in my fridge right now that are going to be chips by this evening!
YUM! Big fan. You can’t go wrong with beets – those look awesome.
Whoa. Slicing a beet that thin without losing a finger? Impressive!
Mandoline. It’s all about the mandoline.
I always thought those Terra Chips were fried, so I never tried making them myself. (I hate the fry mess.) I’m SO making these, rather than buying them at Whole Paycheck. Thanks!
They actually might be, but baking is way easier.
This is indeed a perfect healthy, cool snack for both adults and kids.
Wow these look fantastic. I really need to invest in a mandolin stat.
Adrianna, those beet chipslook damned good! I like that you used 2 colors – so pretty. And I too am feeling the healthy tip. Trying not to eat sugar or dairy over here:( …..at least for the moment.
Good luck with the no-coffee thang. I’m impressed!
xo
E
We are not getting a Whole Foods’ stores until the summer … but your chips made from scratch look much more appealing!
I love beets!! These look so appealing I can’t wait to try it. Thank you! And your pictures are so beautiful.
One question: what did you do with the greens? They are really good and don’t taste at all like dirt!
omg. I am pretty much dumbfounded at this thought. I have never had any desire whatsoever for beets. This is going to take a while for me to swollow
tea and coffee both have caffeine in them… if you want to get rid of the caffeine habit, just switch to decaf. imo it tastes exactly the same, and no shame!
Theses chips are gorgeous! I love that they are baked. I enjoy the terra chips too, but only the sweet potato and beet ones.
Wow!!! These look amazing!!! After deciding to follow Mark Bittman and be vegan before 6, I’m needing new things to make, I’m totally going to make them this week! Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE chips….no really it is an unhealthy addiction so these look like a perfect alternative!
I don’t make beet chips very often because I tend to go a little crazy when I have them around. But now you have me craving them again. Beautiful!
Beet chips are so surprisingly good and they sure look pretty! I’d love to find some of those golden beet – I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled! The chips taste good dipped in a little ranch dressing too, which kills the health factor, but just a heads up
Oh, I decided to cut out sweets, so I’ll definetely try to cook beet chips. I love beet!!! Thanks for the recipe!
LOVE the beets! I’m so glad beets are making a comeback!
And hello!…love the writing on the pics!
They look fabulous! So vibrant and healthy. I’ve tried these before in restaurants but never attempted making them – seems like they’re worth a shot. Thanks for sharing! Good luck on your tweaks – quite inspiring
http://www.spaghettiblogenese.com
I love baked beet chips, and I definitely agree with you to use a mandoline. It’s hard to get them thin enough when cutting by hand. Yum!
These are so pretty! Is it still healthy if I make a dip to go with?
Surrrrreee why not.
The beet chips are so pretty! They’d make a really good Valentine’s appetizer too.
I love beet chips SO much! I did not know that it worked to well in the oven. Thank you!!
You’re the best. I’m with you on all of this – except coffee. These beet chips are so pretty! I only just realized that beets are a vegetable I don’t particularly love, but these are a little too alluring.
ooo love the colors. it also looks delicious. i think beets are very underrated.
love kelly
http://www.paperdolltheory.com
I just had Root vegetable chips at a restaurant last weekend and beets was one of them- they were my favorite! I was trying to figure out how I could make them and bam- there you were on pinterest! Can’t wait to try these! Thanks! wondering if you could do the same with sweet potatoes?
Pretty sure it’ll work. As long as you have a mandoline and a couple baking sheets you should be good to go!
Yes! I actually did this with sweet potatoes last week and they made awesome, crunchy chips! I hadn’t read the 2-pans tip but I didn’t mind the sides ruffling up a bit. I’ll try beets next!
I have canned beets? Do you think they would work?
I kinda don’t think they will. Canned beets usually have way more moisture than fresh ones. If you did use them, I’m guessing you’d need to double the baking time.
these sound awesome! I keep talking about making veggie chips, but never quite get round to it! But today I shall buy a mandolin and some beets and have a go!
I’ve started my own blog too – check it out at http://www.citygirlgoescountry.tumblr.com
x
My first batch has flopped (oops too much oil. and I thought I’d try my food processor that slices about 1/8″ rather than doing it by hand – the result was more like thin roasted beets), but I did get a few uneven pieces that did get at least half-crispified are amazing! I looove beets and have never had beet chips before but even my mild failure has made me a convert. I will probably buy a mandoline just so I can make these again and have them crunchy, but I would probably even try cutting five pounds of these by hand, they’re so yummy. Thanks for the recipe! I manage to stick to reasonable amounts of black tea these days, except when I visit my parents and their Keurig machine. Then it’s all over. p.s. You’re beets are so cute and round! The beets from my CSA here in New England are huge, so I have lumpy half-moon slices.
I’m “one of those” that think cilantro tastes like soap. I made homemade salsa once and it tasted terrible. I couldn’t believe how bad it was. I started retasting my ingredients to find out what was bad….and finally narrowed it down to the cilantro. I can usually eat everything that restaurants fix because there is not much cilantro in their recipes. It’s weird I know!!
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