Delightful Beet Salad Recipe

Imagine delighting your taste buds with a refreshing and flavorful salad made with beets. This delightful beet salad recipe is simple yet incredibly delicious. With just a handful of ingredients, you can create a side dish that showcases the sweet, earthy, and aromatic flavors of roasted beets. The salad is dressed with a tangy mixture of olive oil, sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. The addition of celery and shallots adds a satisfying crunch and depth of flavor. Whether served at room temperature or chilled, this beet salad is sure to impress and satisfy.

Beet Salad Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious side dish, look no further than this beet salad recipe. Made with just a handful of ingredients, this salad is both simple and flavorful. The star of the salad is the roasted beets, which add a sweet, earthy, and aromatic flavor that truly shines in this dish. Whether you’re serving it for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, this beet salad is sure to impress.

Ingredients

To make this beet salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 2 pounds beets (5-6 medium)
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or white-wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped

Instructions

To prepare this beet salad, follow these simple instructions:

1. Preheating the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F.
2. Roasting the Beets: Next, divide the beets between two pieces of foil and bring the edges together to make packets. Place the packets on a baking sheet and roast the beets in the oven until they are just tender when pierced with the point of a knife. This should take about 1 1/4 hours. Once the beets are roasted, unwrap them and let them cool.
3. Preparing the Dressing: While the beets are cooling, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl to make the dressing.
4. Preparing the Beets: Once the beets have cooled enough to handle, slip off the skins. Cut the beets into 1/2-inch cubes and place them in a large bowl.
5. Mixing the Salad: Add the finely chopped celery and shallot to the bowl with the beets. Pour the dressing over the beets, celery, and shallot, and toss everything together to coat well.
6. Serving the Salad: You can enjoy the salad at either room temperature or chilled. Serve it as a side dish with your favorite main course.

How to Prepare Beets for Roasting

Before you can make the delicious beet salad, you need to prepare the beets for roasting. Here’s how you can do it:

Choosing the Right Beets

When shopping for beets, look for ones that are firm to the touch without cuts or dents in the skin. If the beet greens are still attached, look for leaves that are bright in color and crisp. It’s best to choose beets of similar size so they cook evenly.

Cleaning and Trimming the Beets

To clean the beets, cut off the beet greens, leaving at least 1 inch of stem attached. Gently scrub the beets with a vegetable brush under cold water to remove any dirt and debris. Dry the beets with a towel to remove excess moisture. Trim off the taproot, which is the long, thin root hanging from the bottom of the beet. Once the beets are cleaned and trimmed, they are ready to be roasted.

How to Remove Beet Stains

Beets are known for their vibrant color, but that color can also stain surfaces such as cutting boards, kitchen linens, and even your hands. To handle beets properly and remove any beet stains, follow these tips:

Handling Beets Properly

After the beets are roasted, you can wear gloves to protect your skin from staining when cutting them on a cutting board. If your hands do come into contact with beets and become stained, don’t worry. The stains won’t be permanent as long as you act quickly.

Removing Beet Stains from Different Surfaces

To remove beet stains from your cutting board, sprinkle coarse salt over the board and use a halved lemon to scrub the stains. Allow the cutting board to sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off and running it through the dishwasher. For kitchen linens, be sure to treat the stains as soon as possible. Soak the stained fabric in cold water for a few minutes and then launder it as usual. If you have beet stains on your hands, you can try rubbing them with lemon juice or using a mixture of salt and vinegar to scrub the stains away.

What to Serve with Beet Salad

This delicious beet salad can be served alongside a variety of main dishes. Here are some suggestions for main dish pairings and vegetarian pairings:

Main Dish Pairings

• Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
• Pork Chops with Balsamic Sweet Onions
• Skillet Lemon-Pepper Salmon
• Montreal-Style Hanger Steak & Sweet Potato Frites

Vegetarian Pairings

• Cheesy Polenta with Roasted Eggplant & Red Pepper Sauce
• Sheet-Pan Spiced Chickpeas & Sweet Potatoes with Herby Yogurt
• Farro Risotto with Mushrooms & Greens
• Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Whether you’re serving this beet salad as a side dish for a meat-based meal or as part of a vegetarian spread, it’s sure to be a hit.

Make Ahead

If you want to save time on the day you plan to serve the beet salad, you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate it. Simply store the salad in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. This is a great option if you want to have the salad prepared and ready to go for a busy weeknight dinner or a gathering with friends and family.

Nutrition Facts

If you’re watching your calorie intake or interested in the nutrition content of this beet salad, here are the nutrition facts:

Calorie Content

Each serving of this beet salad contains approximately 120 calories.

Macronutrients

The salad is low in carbohydrates, with 13g per serving, making it suitable for those following a low-carbohydrate diet. It also provides 7g of fat and 2g of protein per serving.

Vitamins and Minerals

Beets are a great source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C, iron, and potassium. This salad is a nutritious way to incorporate these beneficial nutrients into your diet.

In conclusion, this beet salad recipe is a fantastic way to enjoy the flavors and health benefits of beets. With its simple preparation and delicious taste, it’s a side dish that will impress your family and friends. Whether you’re serving it alongside a main course or as part of a vegetarian meal, this salad is sure to be a hit. So go ahead and give this beet salad a try – your taste buds will thank you!

Looking for a delicious and nutritious side dish? Try this delightful beet salad recipe! Made with roasted beets and a tangy dressing, it’s sure to impress.