My first taste of this salad was at my mom’s house. How long it takes: 5 minutes Equipment you’ll need: small jar or bowl, whisk Servings: 1 (but it’s easy to make as many as you like) The almonds she used? My olive oil roasted almonds. The beets she used? She used my method of roasting beets. The dressing was a twist on the dressing I used on my asparagus ribbon salad. Now, I’m certainly not taking credit for this salad! It’s the ultimate compliment that my mom makes my recipes and I am definitely giving her credit for this delicious salad. I love the combination of the earthy greens and beets with the salty feta and crunchy almonds. It’s dreamy. Maybe someday E will move past sticking Veggie Straws in her blueberries and into more complicated recipe development. I love the creativity she already shows, and I really hope she develops the love of cooking that my mom and I share.
About This Salad
This salad may seem complicated at first glance but the beauty of it is that most of it can be made in advance. I’ve been trying to do more meal prep on the weekends (I always go in spurts with that), and one of the things I’ve been doing is roasting beets. They take forever to cook but they’re very hands-off. I love these beet bruschetta with orange tarragon goat cheese. Lately, I’ve been making air fryer beets. Cube the beets (you don’t even have to peel them), toss them in a bit of oil, salt, and pepper, and air fry them. They take about 25 minutes, depending on how large you cubed them. They are chewy and totally delicious. They are great on this salad. The almonds roast really quickly and will keep for weeks in the fridge. I’ve also been known to keep a jar of homemade salad dressing, like this white wine vinaigrette, in the refrigerator but even if you don’t do that, this salad is crazy easy to throw together.
What You’ll Need
Beets: Figure on one roasted beet per serving. Beets vary widely in size so use your own judgment. Golden beets are really good on this salad, too. If beets really aren’t your thing, try substituting roasted radishes or roasted carrots. Different, but still delicious. If you really want to speed things up, use canned beets (regular, not pickled). Mixed Greens: Pretty much anything goes when it comes to greens. Use your favorite. I like spring greens but baby spinach is super good, too. Roasted Almonds: Again, use whatever kind of nuts or seeds you prefer or happen to have in the house. I love the almonds as a snack so I almost always have them in the house. Feta Cheese: Use full fat for best flavor. Looking for alternatives? Try goat cheese, blue cheese, or gorgonzola. Vinaigrette Dressing: The dressing is a simple recipe with Olive Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar, Dijon Mustard, Honey, Salt and Pepper. I like to make a big batch in a jar and keep it in the fridge for more salads.
Make-Ahead Ideas
Roast the beets and refrigerate in a tightly covered container for three to five days. They can be frozen for up to a year. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using. Roasted almonds will keep in the fridge for up to a month in a jar or airtight container. The vinaigrette can be made a couple of days in advance. If the olive oil congeals, let the dressing sit on the counter for ten minutes or so to warm up. Shake well before using.
More Salad Recipes
Don’t you just love a salad for lunch? Here are a few more goodies for you:
Mediterranean Green Bean Salad Panzanella Salad Recipe – perfect summer salad! Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Blackberries & Candied Pepitas Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Arugula & Sweet Potato Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Grapes & Parmesan Shrimp Salad with Mango and Avocado Grilled Vegetable Salad with Goat Cheese Steak Salad with Orange-Honey Dressing
