Total time: 40 min • Prep: 10 min • Cook: 30 min • Serves: 8 • Difficulty: Easy

Don’t use packaged cooked beets or canned beets for this recipe or the puree will be too runny. When working with beets, coat your hands with a bit of cooking oil to keep them from getting stained by the juices. Beets are a dense root, so don't fret if they take a bit longer to cook than estimated. Simply add 10 minutes to the cooking time and check them again. If the pureed mixture is watery, transfer it to a fine-mesh strainer to drain off excess juice before assembling the canapés.