Spring is Here!
It’s May now, which means that despite the ongoing rain and cool weather here in the UK, spring is really here! While we may have to wait a little while longer for the hot summer weather to enter the picture, we are already starting to feel inspired by the warmth of spring and summer. To us, warmer weather means lots of fresh veggies, colorful dishes, and bright flavors. We are hoping to bring you plenty of seasonal recipes over the next few months that you can try out, whether it’s just for a regular weeknight dinner or a dinner party with family or friends.
Today’s Recipe
As we began brainstorming recipes for warmer weather, one of the first things that came to mind was salad. I’m sure that others can relate, but summertime is really the only time of year I crave salads. There’s just something about a cold, crisp, and crunchy salad that alleviates the heat of the sun and actually makes you feel re-energized! Anyway, this recipe idea came from a combination of our salad craving and love for a very Scandinavian ingredient: beets. While I know that some people do not love beets, I truly believe that it is all in the preparation. Roast or pickle them with sufficient seasoning and they are deliciously sweet and flavorful. Pair them with greens, feta, onion, walnuts, herbs, and whatever dressing you like, and this salad is sure to be a hit!
Making Beet Salad
One of the best parts about this recipe is that it is so customizable and versatile. If you don’t like beets, roast other vegetables (sweet potato or butternut squash would work well!) and add them instead. If you don’t like feta, use a different type of cheese. If you would rather not add walnuts, use pistachios or even croutons instead. And we like a simple oil and vinegar dressing but if that doesn’t speak to you, use something else! We love that this recipe is adjustable to whatever you have, and doesn’t require a lot of preparation at all. Simply roast the beets and assemble the salad. We hope you try it out and if you do, don’t forget to leave us a comment down below!
Roasted Beet Salad with Feta and Walnuts
Ingredients
ROASTED BEETS
- 2-3 large beets
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
SALAD INGREDIENTS
- ~70 grams (~3 cups) arugula, spinach, or mixed greens *use greens of your choice! you can also adjust the amount based on your preference!
- 33 grams (~1/3 cup) chopped walnuts
- 40-45 grams feta *feel free to substitute for a different cheese, or leave out – we think a creamy and mild cheese like burrata would be great as well!
- 1 green onion
- Fresh herbs of your choice – dill, parsley, or basil would be great!
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper, if needed
- Balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F (204C).
- Prepare your beets by peeling and washing well, then chop into 1-1.5 inch chunks. Arrange on a lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Toss to evenly coat the beets.
- Roast the beets in the oven for about 40 minutes, or until tender – you should be able to pierce the beets easily with a fork!
- Let the beets cool slightly before adding the the salad – while they are cooling, prepare the remaining ingredients!
- Prepare the greens by washing them if needed. Chop walnuts, and slice the green onion; wash and chop your herb/herbs of choice.
- Assemble the salad on a plate/platter by layering the greens on the bottom; then arrange the beets on top. We like this "layered" salad because it distributes all the ingredients evenly for the perfect bite, but you can definitely mix this in a bowl and toss together as well!
- Crumble on feta (or other cheese of choice).
- Sprinkle on chopped walnuts, green onions, and herbs.
- Add any additional salt and pepper you would like, keeping in mind that the beets are already seasoned, and feta is very salty!
- Drizzle the whole plate/platter with olive oil and balsamic vinegar – we do not measure this; feel free to use a premade dressing if you would like!
- Serve as a side dish to your favorite proteins, such as grilled chicken or salmon; a steak would also be amazing with this! Enjoy and customize as you see fit!
