Beet Salad with Goat Cheese
A spectacular beet salad with crunchy candied walnuts and creamy goat cheese served on a bed of baby greens with a orange-balsamic dressing.
- 40 min
- Serves 6
- 8 ingredients
Steps
- Place beets into a saucepan; add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then cook for 20 to 30 minutes, until tender. Drain and cool, then cut into cubes.
- While beets are cooking, place walnuts in a skillet over medium-low heat. Heat until warm and starting to toast. Stir in maple syrup; cook and stir until evenly coated, then remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- To make the dressing: Whisk orange juice concentrate, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil together in a small bowl.
- Place a large helping of baby greens onto each of four salad plates, divide candied walnuts equally and sprinkle over greens. Place equal amounts of beets over greens and top with pieces of goat cheese. Drizzle dressing over each salad.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use pre-cooked beets instead of boiling them?
Yes, and it removes the longest part of the recipe. Vacuum-packed cooked beets can be cubed and used straight from the packet in place of the four boiled ones. Avoid beets stored in vinegar, which will fight the balsamic dressing.
How do I stop beets staining my hands?
Cut them after they have cooked and cooled, which is what the method does, and wear gloves if you have them. The skins slip off easily once boiled, so there is no need to peel them raw, and a squeeze of lemon takes the colour off your fingers afterwards.
What can I use instead of frozen orange juice concentrate?
Reduce ordinary orange juice in a pan until it is thick and syrupy, or use a couple of tablespoons of marmalade loosened with juice. Concentrate is used because it is intensely sweet and sharp; plain juice on its own leaves the dressing watery.
Can I make the candied walnuts ahead of time?
Yes, and it helps, since they need to cool anyway before they go near the greens. Cook the walnuts with the maple syrup, spread them out to set, then keep them in a sealed jar for a few days.
What can I use instead of goat cheese?
Feta is the closest in texture and saltiness, and a mild blue cheese works if you want something stronger against the sweet beets and walnuts. Use the same 2 ounces, crumbled over at the end.
Can I assemble this beet salad ahead of time?
Prepare the parts ahead but build it at the last minute. Cooked beets bleed into anything they touch, so leaves dressed and layered in advance turn pink and wilt under the weight.