Valentine Beet Goat Cheese Salad (Printable version)

Roasted beets with creamy goat cheese, walnuts, and a honey balsamic dressing in a fresh mixed greens salad.

# List of ingredients:

→ For the Salad

01 - 3 medium red beets, trimmed and scrubbed
02 - 3 medium golden beets, trimmed and scrubbed
03 - 3.5 oz baby arugula or mixed greens
04 - 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
05 - 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
06 - 1 small shallot, thinly sliced

→ For the Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1.5 tbsp balsamic vinegar
09 - 1 tsp honey
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Wrap each beet individually in foil and place on a baking sheet. Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
02 - Allow beets to cool slightly. Peel and slice into 1/4-inch rounds or cut into heart shapes using a cookie cutter for a Valentine's touch.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - Arrange arugula or mixed greens on a serving platter. Top with sliced beets, crumbled goat cheese, walnuts, and sliced shallot.
05 - Drizzle the salad with the dressing just before serving. Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way sweet roasted beets and tangy goat cheese melt together feels like magic on your tongue
  • It looks stunning on the plate but comes together with almost zero stress
  • You can roast the beets ahead and assemble in five minutes when youre ready
02 -
  • Wear gloves when peeling red beets unless you want pink hands for days
  • The beets keep roasting even after they come out of the oven, so pull them when slightly underdone
  • Never dress the salad ahead of time or the arugula will collapse into sadness
03 -
  • Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter on the beet slices for extra Valentine's charm
  • Scatter pomegranate seeds over the top like little ruby jewels
  • Try adding fresh mint or basil leaves for an unexpected fresh note

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