Some people have only ever had cooked beets. Typically, they come steamed or roasted, and it is during the cooking process that some of that earthy flavor disappears. You can be a fan of cooked beets, but so too can you be a fan of raw beets. You won’t be cubing beets and eating them raw or taking bites out of whole beetroot like an apple, though. By enjoying beets in their raw form, you reserve all of the nutrients, which can decrease during the cooking process.

Due to their firm texture, raw beets hold up impressively well in salads and slaws, especially when shredded or thinly sliced. This sweet and crunchy beet carrot slaw is highly addictive. Not only is this slaw packed with texture from the carrots and beets, but it is also naturally stunning and easy to prep. Make it ahead of time, and it will taste even better after marinating in the mint dressing. Due to its versatility, you can serve it as a salad, side dish, pile it on a grain bowl, or serve it inside a wrap.

The herbaceous dressing accentuates the earthy essence of beets and natural sweetness of carrots. We don’t want to sound like dressing snobs, but we will this time. This dressing is warming, slightly sweet, and a little tart. It has a touch of spice from the fresh ginger, raw garlic, and cumin, but the beets and carrots help create a pleasant balance.