This Beets Salad With Shallot Mandarin Vinaigrette is a simple and easy recipe that is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy beets’ taste and nutritional benefits.
Type of Cuisine:
Mediterranean
Prep Time: 10 minutes.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
How Many Servings?
5 servings
Table of Contents
This Beet Salad With Shallot Mandarin Vinaigrette showcases roasted beets and caramelized shallots and uses flavorful beet greens, ensuring minimal food waste. Topped with a sweet and tangy mandarin vinaigrette dressing, this healthy and delicious salad will undoubtedly become a staple in your recipe collection. Beets, one of my favorite vegetables, are delicious and incredibly nutritious. They are rich in fiber and water, promoting healthy digestion and potentially lowering blood pressure. Additionally, beets pack essential nutrients like protein, beta-carotene, and calcium.
Ingredients for Beet Salad Recipe
- Beets: Earthy and sweet, beets bring a vibrant and distinct flavor to the salad, enhanced by roasting. Their natural sweetness contrasts beautifully with the other savory elements.
- Olive Oil: A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil adds a luscious richness to the salad, complementing the earthiness of the beets and balancing the overall flavor profile.
- Shallots: Sliced thinly, shallots contribute a mild onion flavor that blends seamlessly with the other ingredients, offering a delicate and aromatic touch.
- Garlic: Minced garlic provides a subtle but impactful layer of savory depth, enhancing the overall complexity of the salad.
- Red Pepper Flakes: For a hint of heat and a touch of excitement, red pepper flakes add a subtle kick, elevating the flavor profile with a mild spiciness.
- Goat Cheese: Creamy and tangy goat cheese introduces a luxurious creaminess, balancing the earthy beets and adding a delightful richness to each bite.
- Salt: A pinch of salt ties all the flavors together, enhancing the natural sweetness of the beets and harmonizing the diverse elements in this vibrant salad.
For the Mandarin Dressing, simply combine all the listed ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth and emulsified. Blend together the champagne vinegar, honey, diced mandarin with zest, finely chopped mint, avocado oil (or grapeseed oil), Dijon mustard, and a dash of salt and pepper until you achieve a smooth, well-combined dressing. Adjust the seasoning to taste, and enjoy this flavorful dressing on your salad!
Preparing the Beets
When preparing beets for your delightful Beet Salad Recipe, there are several techniques to choose from. Each method brings unique flavors and textures, ensuring a satisfying culinary experience. Here are some different ways to prepare beets:
- Roasting: Roasting beets in the oven is a popular choice. It enhances their natural sweetness and intensifies their flavor. The roasting time depends on the size of the beets, and you can check their doneness by poking them with a fork. To expedite cooking, consider cutting larger beets in half.
- Boiling: Boiling beets is quicker than roasting, though it may result in slightly less flavor. Simply place the beets in water and boil until they become tender. You can check for doneness by poking them with a fork.
- Steaming: Steaming beets is a healthy and efficient cooking method. Use a steamer basket to cook the beets for about 30 minutes or until tender. This approach helps retain more of the beets’ valuable nutrients than other methods.
- Raw: Beets can also be enjoyed in their raw form. They have a crispy texture and a slightly earthy flavor. Grate raw beets and add them to salads or create a delightful slaw.
For the best results in your Beet Salad Recipe, roasting is recommended. If you’re using different colors of beets, consider roasting them separately to prevent color bleeding.
Pairing Suggestions for Beet Salad Recipe
This delectable Beet Salad Recipe offers various delightful pairing options to elevate your culinary experience. Here are some fantastic suggestions to complement this beet and shallot salad:
Protein Companions: Beet salad is an excellent side dish for various proteins. Consider pairing it with oven-roasted chicken breasts, succulent drumsticks, flavorful lamb chops, or grilled fish. The sweetness of the roasted beets and the savory caramelized shallots harmonize with the meat’s richness, creating a delightful combination.
If you’re a beet enthusiast, I don’t miss the opportunity to try our Roasted Beet and Burrata Salad. This creamy, tangy, and sweet salad perfectly complements the earthy flavors of beets. The luscious texture of burrata cheese and the satisfying crunch of walnuts enhance the overall dining experience. Whether you serve this salad as a side or make it the star of the show, you’re in for a delicious and healthy meal.
Preparation
Cut the beets and separate them from their greens. Peel the beets and cut them into halves.
Toss the beets in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast them in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes.
That way, the mandarins will blend properly with the rest of the ingredients. Once the salad dressing is created, you can store the dressing in a mason jar, until ready to use.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced shallots and sauté them for about a minute.
Add the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
Toss the roasted beets and the sautéed greens in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of mandarin vinaigrette salad dressing and toss the ingredients together.
Top with a tablespoon of crumbled goat cheese. Enjoy!
Enjoy this Beets Salad With Shallot Mandarin Vinaigrette for a healthy and delicious meal. This salad is a well-rounded dish perfect for any occasion, featuring roasted beets, caramelized shallots, and flavorful beet greens. Top it off with a sweet and tangy mandarin vinaigrette dressing for a burst of flavor in every bite.
Type of Cuisine:
Mediterranean
Prep Time: 10 minutes.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
How Many Servings?
5 servings
Ingredients:
Adjust Servings
| 8 medium-size beets with their greens | |
| 2 tablespoons olive oil | |
| 2 shallots (sliced thin) | |
| 2 garlic cloves (minced) | |
| 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes | |
| 2 tablespoons goat cheese ( about 1 oz ) | |
| salt and pepper to taste |
Mandarin Vinaigrette
| ½ cup champagne vinegar | |
| 2 tablespoons honey | |
| ¼ cup mandarin diced and the zest pits removed | |
| 2 tablespoons finely chopped mint | |
| ¾ cup of avocado oil or grapeseed oil | |
| 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard | |
| Salt and pepper to taste |
Preparation
Recipe Tips & Suggestions
Storing tip for beet salad
Nutrition Information
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.
See our full nutrition disclosure here.
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