Golden beets: Great taste, less bitter.
I like to think of golden beets as “beet-lite”. And that’s really not a bad thing.
Red beets can feel like an earthy punch to the mouth—which I honestly love! While still earthy, golden beets come in gentler, with a bit of sweetness even. Roasting creates a nutty caramelization that makes them even more palatable.
Basically, they are a solid middle-ground for households (like mine) that are divided over beets. To seal the deal further, I like to serve them with an undeniable hit like risotto and sausage (a grown-up version of mac & cheese with hotdogs, the way I see it).
For this recipe they are roasted in olive oil with mushrooms, rosemary, and thyme. Once the risotto is creamy and loaded with Parmesan, the roasted veggies and sausage are mixed in, giving it a golden hue and robust flavor.
So, can this golden beet risotto really bring together beet-haters and beet-lovers? All I can say is, it worked in my house.
More like this golden beet risotto:
On a risotto kick? I’ve been on one since about 2012 I think. Check out my Butternut Squash Risotto, which also has mushrooms and sausage. Or, for a vegetarian version, try my Shiitake Mushroom Risotto with Kale.
For more recipes with beets or beet greens, check out my collection here.
Golden Beet Risotto with Sausage
Ingredients
- 8 oz (about 3 medium) golden beets peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 4 oz cremini mushrooms cut in quarters
- 1 tbsp rosemary chopped
- 1 tsp thyme leaves
- ½ tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 6 oz linguiça sausage (or other fully-cooked pork or chicken sausage) sliced into rounds
- 1 shallot chopped
- ¾ cup Arborio rice
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan
- ½ cup parsley leaves chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°. On a large sheet pan, combine beets, mushrooms, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp olive oil. Toss to combine. Bake for 30 minutes or until browned.
- Meanwhile add 4 cups broth to a saucepan and heat to a simmer over medium heat. Adjust heat as needed to maintain a low simmer.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2-3 minutes until browned. Remove to a plate.
- Add shallot to the pot and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 1-2 minutes. Add Arborio rice and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour wine into the pot and stir until it is mostly absorbed, scraping any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.
- Add broth to pot ½ cup at a time, still on medium heat and stirring frequently. Add more broth once most of the last addition has been absorbed. After about 15 minutes or when 3 cups broth have been added start checking to see if the rice is cooked. It should be al dente, if it's not continue to add broth as needed. With the final addition also add in beets, mushrooms, sausage, most of the parsley, and Parmesan cheese. The risotto should not hold form, add more broth if needed. Divide amongst bowls and top with remaining parsley.
