Australians and Beetroot

A traditional hamburger:

One hamburger in a hamburger bun, some grated onion, chopped parsley, maybe a slice of cheese and, of course, sliced tomatoes and some shredded Iceberg lettuce leaves.

Perfect!

But if you live in Australia, there’s one more ingredient to be added.

Beetroot!

Yes, Australians love their beetroot, I was reminded of this the other day when I was out and about and popped in to the bakers to buy a chicken salad roll. In most countries I’m sure this role would have comprised of chicken, lettuce, sliced tomatoes and maybe some onions.

Here in Australia…

chicken salad roll Can you see the beetroot? Hold on, I’ll take another bite…

With beetrootYes, here in Australia if you buy a hamburger, a steak sandwich, or any kind of sandwich or roll that includes salad, expect part of that salad to be beetroot.

This isn’t altogether a bad thing; beetroot is very good for you. Here’s what Wikipedia says…

“Beetroot is a rich source of potent antioxidants and nutrients, including magnesium, sodium, potassium and vitamin C, and betaine, which is important for cardiovascular health. It functions by acting with other nutrients to reduce the concentration of homocysteine, a homologue of the naturally occurring amino acid cysteine, which can be harmful to blood vessels and thus contribute to the development of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Betaine functions in conjunction with S-adenosylmethionine, folic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12 to carry out this function.”

Couldn’t have put it better myself.

Beetroot also apparently helps protect against liver disease, it can lower blood pressure as well and therefore help in the prevention of cardiovascular problems.

With beetroot, you can make beetroot soup, beetroot chutney, apple, beetroot and avocado salad, beetroot hummus, chilled beetroot soup, garlicky beetroot salad, potato and beetroot salad, baked beetroot, balsamic beetroot with toasted pecans, beef and beetroot coleslaw rolls…

Oh, enough already!

Obviously I didn’t think of all these recipes, I couldn’t boil an egg. For those of you who are interested though, I found 74 beetroot recipes over at allrecipes.com.au.

Yes, Australians do love their beetroot. I don’t mind it either.

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{ 6 comments… add one }
  • Joel January 22, 2013, 6:18 am |

    I visited Australia in November and went out a few times for some street food.

    One day I was in the mood for a hamburger and so I looked up in the menu for one with fried egg – my favorite. I found the one called “The Lot” but as I read further I spotted Beetroot in its ingredients and thought, what the hell? That’s not gonna blend in! Either way I gave it a shot and guess what? I liked it a lot. Now every time we go out for a hamburger, I quickly look into the menu for “The Lot”.

    • BobinOz January 25, 2013, 2:46 pm |

      Yes, very strange isn’t it, but it appears to work. It shouldn’t really, but it just does.

  • Rosangela January 16, 2013, 9:13 am |

    I feel like that with avocado. Same indifference. It’s not that I don’t like avocado. But in Brazil we normally eat it with honey and lime. I was a bit surprised to find it in sandwiches here. And even more surprised to find it in sushis… Anyways, that’s the beauty of living in another country, right? Like you said, chuck it in! 😉

    • BobinOz January 17, 2013, 12:03 am |

      That’s right Rosangela, chuck it in, but only if it’s good for you. I think avocados are, so avocado and beetroot sandwiches (on wholemeal bread) are in!

      All washed down with beer 🙂

  • Rosangela January 15, 2013, 9:43 pm |

    Oh beetroot! I love it! So, on the opposite to onion rings and Vegemite, it was a very good surprise in the Australian culinary for me 🙂

    • BobinOz January 16, 2013, 12:19 am |

      I have to say I’m a bit indifferent to the taste of beetroot, it somehow seems out of place to me in a sandwich or hamburger. But who cares, it’s good for my liver. Chuck it in, I’ll have it!

      I even found myself at a salad bar the other month, before I knew what I was doing I had put three whole beetroots in my dish, but then I found myself eating them as if taking medicine 🙂

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