Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad (2024)

Jill

November 25, 2011

{ 28 comments }

I love beets. Any color. Any time. The musky deep essence created by roasting adds another dimension and complexity to the beets — so much so they do not require any other flavoring. Of course, it is always wise to eat some fat with your vegetables to aid in mineral absorption, so a light dressing of extra virgin olive oil would complement the taste.

Cooked beets are high in Vitamin A and folate with a little choline as well. They are loaded with potassium and there is also calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium. The color of red/purple beetroot is due to a variety of betalain pigments. The composition of different betalain pigments can vary, giving breeds of beetroot which are yellow or other colors in addition to the familiar deep red. These pigments are also powerful antioxidants.

Beetroot or garden beets are different than sugar beets. Sugar beets are a commodity crop used to make sugar and unfortunately some of that crop is now genetically modified. Just to be sure, I only eat organic beets.

Beets are used traditionally in Jewish culture as a soup called borscht. I remember my mother eating this with a dollop of sour cream. At some time in the future I will attempt to make borscht.

Beet kvass is a fermented beet drink which I love, full of nutrition and very cleansing to the liver. However, beets are high in oxalates which may cause problems for people who form oxalate kidney stones and for those who are sensitive to oxalates in general.

Most people find that the red color of beets are passed through to the urine and stools — easily mistaken for blood! Just remember that you ate beets the day before!

Ingredients

Three to four large red or yellow organic beets

Instructions

  • Clean and cut off stems and cut the beets in half
  • Place the beets in a baking pan with a little water
  • In a 350 degree F oven bake the beets for 1 – 2 hours or until a knife goes through easily
  • Remove from oven and cool
  • Peel the beets (this is a lot easier after they are cooked)
  • Cut up into small cubes
  • Serve with extra virgin olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar or any good salad dressing (here is my walnut balsamic dressing)

This post is shared at: Sunday School, Sugar-Free Sunday, Monday Mania, Barnyard Hop, Homemaker Monday, Real Food 101, Meatless Monday, My Meatlesss Monday, Melt in Mouth Monday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Traditional Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday Tidbits, Hearth & Soul Hop, Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, What’s Cooking Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Sustainable Ways, Day 2Day, Gluten-Free Wednesday, Mommy Club, What’s Cooking Wednesday, These Chicks Cooked, Turning the Table Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Creative Juice Thursday, Fresh Bites Friday, Freaky Friday, Fight Back Friday, Friday Food

Made From Scratch Tuesday

Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad (2)

Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to roast or boil beets for salad? ›

My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole.

What cheeses pair well with beets? ›

Soft goat cheese – A perfect partner for roasted beets! Its funky flavor and creamy texture pair wonderfully with the sweet, earthy root veggies.

What is the most delicious way to eat beets? ›

You can use cooked beets in salads, to make hummus or to blend into smoothies. They can be diced for slaw, quartered for a grain bowl or mashed to make a dip or spread. Their thick and chewy texture is even great in a galette or quesadilla.

Is it better to peel beets before or after roasting? ›

As much as I adore Beet Salad, I rarely made it at home, because by the time I finished the beets, my hands, cutting board, and counter all were stained with telltale red juices. Then, I picked up a transformative piece of information: you do not need to peel beets when roasting.

What makes beets taste better? ›

From roasting and grilling to adding spices and glazes, there are many ways to elevate the flavor of beets. Pairing them with acidic, sweet, and salty ingredients, as well as various spices, can alter your perception of the humble vegetable for the better.

Are roasted beets still healthy? ›

Retain the good-for-you nutrients in beets by roasting them or sautéing them instead. Or lightly steam them for just a few minutes, suggests Doyle.

What is the best companion for beets? ›

Some of the best companion plants for beets are members of the cabbage family. Plant beets near cruciferous vegetables like kohlrabi, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts to help enrich the soil and improve the quality and growth of your Brassicas. 5. Radishes.

What drink pairs well with beets? ›

The sweet, earthy taste of a beet is the perfect complement to warming spirits like bourbon and Scotch, but takes on a more fresh, vegetal character when paired with gin. Plus, thanks to their naturally blood-red color, beet co*cktails are a sophisticated answer to the Halloween drink conundrum.

What flavors complement beets? ›

How to Serve Roasted Beets
  • Drizzles of sherry or balsamic vinegar.
  • A splash of fresh lemon juice or orange juice.
  • Lemon or orange zest.
  • Chopped fresh herbs like fresh thyme, parsley, or chives.
  • Toasted nuts like walnuts or pistachios.
  • Crumbled feta or goat cheese.

Why do I feel better after eating beets? ›

Beets are naturally high in nitrates, which are turned into nitric oxide in the body. This compound lowers blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to relax and widen.

What meat goes with beets for dinner? ›

When making oven-roasted beets, give them a good scrub with a brush, then go ahead and roast them whole—the skins will magically slip right off when they're done. Then cut them into quarters, dress them with a little olive oil and salt, and you have a side that pairs well with pork, chicken, or steak.

Is it okay to eat beets every day? ›

Can you eat beets everyday? It's always best to follow a varied diet. Eating a small amount of beetroot every day is unlikely to do any harm, but a high intake could lead to low blood pressure, red or black urine and feces, and digestive problems for anyone with a sensitivity to the nutrients.

How do you roast beets without making a mess? ›

Time to get wrapping! Place each trimmed beet on a piece of foil that's big enough to wrap the beet up. Then, rub the beet lightly with a little olive or avocado oil; you don't need much, just a small coating. This will help the skins to slip off, ultimately, after roasting.

What is the best cooking method for beets? ›

Steaming in the oven rather than baking helps preserve more of the healthy vitamins and minerals in beets. This method also helps beets better retain their beautiful, vibrant color.

What goes well with beets? ›

Looking for a quick answer? The best side dishes to serve with beets are steamed vegetables, green beans, salad Nicoise, goat cheese dip, radish chips, potato rosti, zucchini noodles, roasted asparagus, quinoa salad, crispy kale chips, hummus, sautéed spinach, feta and watermelon salad, and corn on the cob.

Do you have to peel beets for salad? ›

Forget what you thought you knew about food prep: You don't HAVE to peel your vegetables (well, most of them, anyway).

Do beets lose nutrients when boiled? ›

Betalains are highly concentrated in the peel and flesh of the beet, however, beets do undergo a steady loss of nutritional value with heat, so to get the most betalain benefit, beets should be steamed for no more than 15 minutes, if at all.

How to cut beets for salad? ›

How to Cut Beets
  1. Cut off the root end and the stem end using a Hardy Slicer.
  2. Peel the skin using a Vegetable Peeler or Paring Knife.
  3. Place the beet flat side down on the cutting board and cut into slices of desired thickness.
  4. Stack the slices to cut into planks.
  5. Cut the planks crosswise to dice.
Jul 17, 2018

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