Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden each have their own distinct home cooking styles, which Darra Goldstein uncovers in Fire and Ice.
There’s no typo here! This ruby beet tartare is a vegetarian take on the classic råbiff introduced to Sweden from France in the nineteenth century. Like many salads, it’s most dazzling in summer, when beets are sweet and garden fresh. Winter beets will yield a darker garnet dish, not quite so brilliant, and you may want to add a little sugar to perk it up. Spread these beets on bread or crackers, plate them with cured fish or meat, or scoop them onto a bed of lettuce. The flavor is beautiful at any time of year.
Directions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the beets and cook until tender, 30 to 45 minutes, depending on their size and age. Drain, peel, and chop coarsely.
- In a mini food processor or spice grinder, whir the horseradish with the cider vinegar until it is grated.
- Place the beets in the bowl of a food processor. Add the grated horseradish mixture along with the shallot and pickle and process until finely chopped. Be careful not to make a puree— the tartare should be minced, with some texture.
- Transfer the beets to a bowl and stir in the mayonnaise, dill, and salt. Season with pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Reprinted with permission from Fire + Ice: Classic Nordic Cooking, by Darra Goldstein, copyright © 2015, published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
