
Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
A vibrant, satisfying salad built on tender roasted beets, creamy crumbled goat cheese, candied walnuts, and peppery arugula, all tied together with a bright balsamic vinaigrette. It works beautifully as a starter or a light lunch, and the components can be prepped ahead so assembly takes minutes.
4 servings · Prep 15 min · Cook 45 min · Total 60 min
American · French · Salad · Lunch
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Main
4 medium beets trimmed, scrubbed- a mix of red and golden
1 tbsp olive oil for roasting beets
5 oz baby arugula or mixed spring greens- mixed spring greens
4 oz goat cheese cold, crumbled
0.5 cup walnuts roughly chopped; toasted or candied- candied
0.25 small red onion very thinly sliced
0.25 tsp kosher salt plus more
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
Vinaigrette
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar good quality
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp honey
1 clove garlic minced or pressed
Equipment
Oven
Aluminum Foil
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper
Mixing Bowl
Baking Pan
Paper Towel
Whisk
Knife
Jelly Roll (10x15)
Cutting Board
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Instructions
- Preheat your #[Oven] to ![400°F]. Drizzle the scrubbed @[Beets] with ~[1 tablespoon] of @[Olive Oil] and wrap each one individually in #[Aluminum Foil]. Place them on a #[Baking Sheet] and roast for ~[40–50 minutes], until a knife slides in easily. Unwrap and let cool for ~[10 minutes], then rub off the skins with a paper towel. Cut into ½-inch wedges or cubes.
- In a small #[Mixing Bowl], whisk together the @[Balsamic Vinegar], @[Dijon Mustard], @[Honey], and minced @[Garlic]. Slowly drizzle in the ~[3 tablespoons] of @[Extra-Virgin Olive Oil] while whisking constantly until the dressing is emulsified. Season with @[Salt] and @[Black Pepper] to taste.
- While the @[Beets] roast, spread the @[Walnuts] in a single layer on a dry corner of the #[Baking Sheet] (or a separate small #[Baking Pan]) and toast in the #[Oven] for ~[5–7 minutes], until fragrant and lightly golden. Watch closely — they go from toasted to burnt quickly. Let cool.
- Add the @[Arugula] to a large salad #[Mixing Bowl] and drizzle with about two-thirds of the vinaigrette. Toss gently to coat. Arrange the roasted @[Beet] pieces over the greens, then scatter the crumbled @[Goat Cheese], toasted @[Walnuts], and sliced @[Red Onion] on top. Drizzle the remaining dressing over everything and serve immediately.




