Let’s talk about beets, shall we? A hearty root vegetable, they’re available pretty much all year round, but they’re best June through October. I picked up some gorgeous ones at our farmers market last week and decided they would go perfectly with some ripening pears that were sitting on my countertop in this roasted beet salad recipe. To balance all of the sweetness, I added some tangy feta and toasty walnuts.
Beet Salad Recipe Tips
This sweet & savory fall salad is a delicious starter or meal, but if you’ve never worked with beets before, there are a few things you should know before diving in.
First, if you find a bunch of beets with their tops still on, save the beet greens! When you get home from the market or store, clip the greens immediately and store the roots separately from the tops so that the greens don’t pull moisture from the roots. Sauté the greens as a simple side dish, or toss them into pasta with feta & walnuts. Don’t peel before you roast. Once cooked and cooled, beets are incredibly easy to peel – their skins will slide right off! I like to slip them off under running water. Let them cool completely. There are some cases when you might want a hot roasted beet, but in the case of this salad, cold beets are best. If they’re still warm when you assemble everything, they’ll wilt the greens, and the salad won’t keep well if you’re saving leftovers for Day 2.
Roasted Beet Salad Serving Suggestions
This roasted beet salad would be great as a starter for a fall dinner party. I like it with stuffed squash, sweet potato lasagna, baked sweet potatoes, or pasta with greens or cauliflower. I also make salads like this to have on hand for my weekday lunches (see this post for my best lunch-packing tips). This one will keep for a couple of days in the fridge, and it’s one of those salads that actually tastes a little bit better the second day. If you want to make it a heartier meal on its own, try adding a half cup quinoa, farro, or roasted chickpeas.
If you love this beet salad recipe…
Check out this creamy polenta with roasted and raw beets or these simple roasted beets with citrus for more beet recipes! Or, make another hearty fall salad like this one with farro or this one with kale.
