Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Spring, the season where comfort meets freshness! This dish bridges the gap between the warm, hearty meals of winter and the light, crisp offerings of spring. The humble beet salad.

This salad starts with beets, an earthy root vegetable that, when roasted, transforms into a tender, almost sweet vegetable. Roasting beets intensify their flavor, bringing out a rich, caramelized profile that is both robust and comforting. Paired with the fresh, crisp slices of apple, the beets find their perfect counterpart. The apples are not just a contrast in texture but in flavor as well; their natural sweetness and slight acidity cut through the earthiness of the beets, adding a refreshing bite to every forkful.

No beet salad would be complete without the creamy tang of goat cheese. When it’s mixed into the salad, it envelops everything in a cloak of creamy, tanginess. The goat cheese's richness is an excellent match for the mellow sweetness of the beets and apples. Then come the toasted pecans or walnuts. Added to the salad, these nuts bring a delicous crunch that’s so satisfying. Toasting them enhances their natural oils and flavor, offering a nutty, toasted depth that complements the softer textures in the salad.

To tie this salad together, a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette is essential. Its acidic sweetness and slight sharpness elevate the salad. The vinaigrette works its way into the layers, marrying the fresh ingredients with each savory, tangy drop. It balances the sweetness of the beets and apples with the savory depth of the goat cheese and the pecans.

Whether you're a fan of beets or just looking for a satisfying salad beyond the usual lettuce and tomato, this beet salad with goat cheese, all brought together with a balsamic vinaigrette, offers a salad that’s rich in flavors, textures, and colors, perfect for a quick lunch or side salad with dinner.

Beet salad, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, healthy, easy, simple, fast

dinner, lunch

Yield: 2

Author: Erika Barnett

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Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 10 Min

This beet salad is a delicious medley of flavors and textures, featuring tender, earthy red beets paired with crisp, sweet apple slices. The salad is sprinkled with creamy crumbles of goat cheese and crunchy, toasted pecans, all dressed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. The combination offers a perfect balance of savory and sweet, making it a refreshing and satisfying salad.

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Ingredients

Beet Salad

• 4 cooked beets
• 2 cups salad greens, arugula or spring mix
• ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
• ½ apple, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup toasted pecans or walnuts
• 2 tbsp goat cheese

Balsamic Vinaigrette

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
• ¼ tsp honey
• ½ tsp dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, grated
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the salad ingredients together.
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinaigrette ingredients until completely combined.
3. Before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is evenly coated in. Enjoy!

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