Roasted Beet Salad with Feta & Walnuts
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A healthy roasted beet salad with feta and roasted walnuts, drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette. The beets are the star of the show!
If you want another easy salad for the week, add Apple Walnut Salad to your list.
Aaah, salad. Is it dinner? Is it a side? Yes. Yes, to both.
This particular beet salad is one of my favorites. The flavor combination alone is something I really enjoy, and I look forward to making any time I see beets in the store. Beets are available all year round, but at their best June through October. I like to use the smaller, baby beets, but all beets are good when roasted!!
Beets turn sweet when you roast them, so combined with the salty feta, and the bite of the vinaigrette, we have ourselves a heck of a treat!
Looking for more salad? Try this yummy Grilled Vegetable Salad. Prep this one ahead too!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Simple ingredients. Nothing you can’t pronounce, and absolutely nothing you can’t find at the grocery store.
- Make ahead. Prep the beets on the weekend, and assemble the salad on a manic Monday night!
What do roasted beets taste like?
Well, before they’re roasted, they have an earthy, bitter flavor. After cooking? Sweet and almost like candy!
Kylee’s Notes
You can use a mix of red and golden beets. They will add slightly different flavors, but very pretty colors!
You could use goat cheese instead of feta if you prefer.
Make a balsamic vinaigrette instead. Replace the white wine vinegar with balsamic vinegar. Add a little maple syrup or honey if you like your dressing sweet.
You can roast the beets whole. Wrap the beets in foil, and cook as directed and maybe add 15 minutes to cooking time. Remove from the oven and when they’re cool enough to handle, slice them (and chill them).
Candied walnuts are a GREAT addition to this salad. Try this Candied Nuts Recipe
What to do with leftovers
Store the components for the salad separately in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Assemble before serving.
Key Recipe Ingredients
Remember: this is just an overview and the why of the ingredients I choose here. The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
How to make this recipe
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
JumpCook the Beets
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Preheat the oven to 450°F and line a small baking dish or baking sheet with heavy aluminum foil. This will make cleanup easier!
Place beet rounds into prepared baking pan and toss with olive oil and salt and pepper.
Place in oven and bake until cooked through, about 30 to 45 minutes.
When beets are done, remove from oven and cool completely, before setting in the fridge to chill.
Make the vinaigrette
Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. While constantly whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil, so the dressing emulsifies.
Taste dressing and add more salt, pepper, garlic etc until you LOVE it.
Assembly
In a large bowl, add the salad mix and tomatoes. Drizzle the dressing over it and toss to combine.
Arrange on a platter or bowl, put the beets on top, and sprinkle with feta cheese and walnuts.
More Salad Recipes:
- Kale Salad. Simple ingredients and simple instructions (including how to massage kale) make this Kale Salad Recipe an absolute keeper!
- Arugula Salad. Peppery arugula mixed with bright tomatoes, parmesan, and dressed with fresh lemon vinaigrette. Perfection!
- Southwest Chicken Salad. With enough protein to make this a wonderful main dish, this is a salad you’ll make over and over!
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Roasted Beet Salad with Feta and Walnuts
Ingredients
- 4-6 small fresh beets peeled and sliced into 1/4 – 1/3in rounds
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 5 ounces baby arugula
- 1/2 cup feta crumbled
- 1/4 cup roasted walnuts chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes yellow and red
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme minced or 1/2 tsp dried
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F and line a small baking dish or baking sheet (with a lip) with heavy foil – this will make cleanup easier!
- Place 4-6 small fresh beets rounds into prepared baking pan and toss with 1 teaspoon olive oil and salt and pepper
- Place in oven and bake until cooked through, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper and whisk to combine – while continually whisking, slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil to combine and emulsify.
- Taste dressing and adjust seasoning to your liking.
- When beets are done, remove from oven and cool completely before placing in the fridge to chill.
- In a large bowl, combine the 5 ounces baby arugula and 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes. Drizzle the dressing over it and toss.
- Once beets are cooled, arrange the salad mix on the platter, put the beets on top, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup feta and 1/4 cup roasted walnuts.
Notes
- You can use a mix of red and golden beets. They will add slightly different flavors, but very pretty colors!
- You could use goat cheese instead of feta if you prefer.
- Make a balsamic vinaigrette instead. Replace the white wine vinegar with balsamic vinegar. Add a little maple syrup or honey if you like your dressing sweet.
- You can roast the beets whole. Wrap the beets in foil, and cook as directed and maybe add 15 minutes to cooking time. Remove from the oven and when they’re cool enough to handle, slice them (and chill them).
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
Make sure to follow @kyleecooks on Instagram for more and tag me #kyleecooks so I can see!Update: This was originally posted in August of 2014, and has been updated to improve reader experience with new photos.
About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
This was yummy! I added some grilled salmon.
We have made this several times because it is amazing! I try to use gold and red beets. The dressing, toasted walnuts and thyme in the dressing make thus a summertime treat! I just picked up beerts at the local farmers market just to make this for the holiday! Thank you for sharing a salad my carnivore diet son even likes!
Oh this was excellent! Roasting the beets was so fun and purple! The flavors meld together so well. I added chicken to make it a meal and forgot the tomatoes. Scrumptious
Absolutely amazing. I had to put it on spring mix because I didn’t have arugula. Otherwise exact. I will make regularly now! Thanks for a perfect salad. So pretty and great way to use fresh beets from the farmers market!
My kinda salad all day but I have never thought of adding the walnuts. I will have to make this as soon as – oh my goodness! I cannot wait now. Food from heaven! Thanks so much for sharing!