Beet and Goat Cheese Salad (Printable)

Fresh mixed greens topped with roasted beets, goat cheese, walnuts, and a tangy balsamic dressing.

# 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, or spring mix)

→ Dressing

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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Individually wrap each beet in aluminum foil and arrange on a baking sheet. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes until tender when pierced. Allow to cool, then peel and cut into wedges or cubes.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until thoroughly emulsified.
04 - Place mixed greens in a large bowl or serving platter. Layer roasted beet pieces, crumbled goat cheese, and chopped walnuts evenly atop the greens.
05 - Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad just prior to serving. Toss gently to combine or serve as arranged for a composed presentation.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet earthiness of roasted beets plays against tangy goat cheese in a way that feels almost decadent for a weeknight dinner.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, yet it looks and tastes like something you'd order at a restaurant.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so you're not sacrificing anything for those preferences—this is just good food.
02 -
  • Don't skip wrapping the beets individually in foil—I learned this the messy way when beet juice ran all over my oven and made cleanup a nightmare.
  • If you dress the salad too far ahead, the beets will bleed into the greens and everything turns purple—which looks cool for about five minutes, then just looks wilted.
  • Toast your walnuts separately if you have time; it transforms them from pleasant to revelatory.
03 -
  • If you're short on time, you can buy pre-cooked beets from the grocery store—just roast them for 15 minutes to warm them up and intensify the flavor.
  • The goat cheese softens slightly when it touches warm beets, which is actually lovely; keep it cold until the last moment if you prefer it firm.
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