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Sautéed Sesame Beet Leaves
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
A simple yet tasty way to prepare this vegan, egg-free, dairy-free, nut-free and possibly gluten-free vegetable side dish, using beet leaves to yield a fragrant, slightly sweet and salty dish.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 82 kcal
Author: @dietitian_mom
  • 9 cups chopped beet leaves and stems [354 g] (from 3 beets - separate out the stems from the leaves)
  • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (or use 1 teaspoon of soy sauce or tamari sauce)
  • 2-3 tablespoons water (can use vegetable broth instead)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds on top as garnish (optional)
  1. Fry the chopped garlic in some olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned.
  2. Add in the chopped stems and stir-fry them for 2-3 minutes. Then add in 1-2 tablespoons of water, stir and cover the pot to help the stems soften as they cook. Turn the heat burner down to low-medium heat and let the stems cook for about 5-6 minutes.
  3. Taste test the stems occasionally to check if they are cooked through. Then turn the heat burner back up to a medium heat setting, and add in the tablespoon of sesame oil.

  4. Mix the stems with the garlic and sesame oil together, then add the chopped beet leaves on top. Stir to mix in the beet leaves with the sesame oil, then cover the pot and let cook for 2-3 minutes.
  5. Top with sesame seeds and serve!
Recipe Notes

Wait unto right before you cook to chop up the beet leaves. This is because the beet leaves seem to act like spinach and spoil quickly when damaged or cut. During cooking, the stems tend to soak up a lot of water so keep checking and adding more water to cook the stems down as needed. The stems also take much longer to cook compared to the leaves, so it is beneficial to chop the stems more finely to reduce the cooking time.

Nutrition Facts
Sautéed Sesame Beet Leaves
Amount Per Serving
Calories 82 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 339mg15%
Potassium 651mg19%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 3g13%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 5410IU108%
Vitamin C 26.2mg32%
Calcium 103mg10%
Iron 2.2mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.