Vegetable Dessert Recipe - Beet Parfait

Among root vegetables, the beet is like the middle child who never receives enough love or acknowledgement. Think about some other veggies of the same or related families. Potato, yam and carrot are virtually enjoyed around the world, while burdock and genseng are highly renowned for their medicinal uses. Yet, when it comes to beets, not many people seem to care much about its taste or health benefits. So I decided to give this middle child some love and use it as a main component of my dessert. Some people add beets to cakes and muffins, but I'm not feeling like baking today. Instead, I'm going to make a beet parfait, which is easier, healthier and lower in calories. Plus, it's a very dainty-looking dessert with beautiful contrasts of textures and colors. I know the idea of vegetable desserts might sound off-putting to some of you, but if you give this healthy parfait recipe a try, you'd be surprised how candy-like beets can be.

For Candied Beet

• 1 medium beet root (cut into small cubes)
• 2 tbsps. sugar
• 2 tbsps. honey
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• dash of ground cinnamon
• about 1/2 - 1 cup water

For Beet Parfait

• 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 6 - 8 tbsps. granola
• low-fat whipped cream
• candied beet

• Put little beet cubes into a small saucepan. Add just enough water (about 1/2 - 1 cup) to cover them.
• Bring to a gentle boil.
• Add honey and sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Add vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. These 2 ingredients really help conceal the earthy scent of the beet. Rum, rose and mint extracts are some other interesting choices you might also want to consider.
• Turn the heat down and let simmer for about 8 - 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Remove from stove and discard excess liquid.
• Let your candied beet cool at room temperature for a while, then cover and refrigerate it for at least an hour before making the parfait.

Making a partfait is all about layering. If you want to use less or more yogurt and granola than this recipe, please feel free to do so. You may also switch the layers if you like. It's supposed to be a fun and stress-free dessert, so don't be afraid to experiment and add your own spin to it! What I did was layering about 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt, 2 tablespoons granola and 1/4 of the candied beet I made earlier, then repeating layers and topping it with a dollop of low-fat whipped cream. This beet parfait recipe should yield 2 small servings.

Ward Off Cancer - Rich with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules, beets can help lower the risk of many cancer types, especially colon cancer. A possible cause of colon cancer is excessive consumption of nitrates, a chemical used in processed meat as a preservative, which can lead to the production of dangerous nitrosamines compounds in the body. Several studies reveal that betacyanins in beets can prevent or slow down the cell mutations caused by these compounds.

Keep Your Heart Hearty- Chronic inflammation in the cardiovascular system often leads to heart disease. The anti-inflammatory molecules in beets can help reduce this unwanted inflammation and keep your heart healthy in the long run. Plus, beet fiber can also reduce cholesterol and triglycerides that slowly build up in your arteries, so one beet a day might really keep many heart problems away.

Aid in Detoxification- The betaines in beets have been shown to stimulate the liver function and the flow of bile, which ultimately results in a faster and more effective detoxification process. If you have been exposed to a toxic environment and believe that your body needs as much detox support as possible, it might be wise to add beets to your regular diet.