Beet Goat Cheese Salad (Print Version)

Sweet roasted beets, creamy cheese, walnuts, and fresh greens with balsamic vinaigrette.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 3 medium beets, trimmed and scrubbed
02 - 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
03 - ½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
04 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, spring mix)

→ Dressing

05 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
08 - 1 tsp honey
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap each beet individually in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet.
02 - Roast beets for 35 to 40 minutes until tender when pierced. Allow to cool slightly, then peel and cut into wedges or cubes.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - Place mixed greens in a large bowl or platter. Top evenly with roasted beet pieces, crumbled goat cheese, and walnuts.
05 - Drizzle dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently or serve as a composed salad.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The beets turn almost jammy in the oven, their earthiness balanced by tangy goat cheese and that balsamic punch.
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, and somehow feels restaurant-quality despite minimal fuss.
  • One salad works as a light lunch, a dinner starter, or the thing you bring to a potluck that people actually ask about.
02 -
  • Don't peel the beets until they've cooled—you'll burn your fingers and waste time wrestling with hot, slippery skin.
  • If you toast the walnuts, watch them like a hawk; they go from golden to bitter in about 30 seconds flat.
  • The dressing can be made hours ahead, but the salad itself should be assembled fresh so nothing gets soggy.
03 -
  • Make the dressing in a jar, shake it well, and it keeps for days—one less bowl to wash and you can adjust it on the fly at the table.
  • If your beets stain your fingers, rub them on a cut lemon; the acid helps lift the color faster than scrubbing ever could.
Go Back