Beets and Herbs Salad Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Amanda Hesser

July12,2010

4.5

4 Ratings

  • Serves 4 to 6

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Isn't it time to take a break from roasted beets with goat cheese? I thought so. This past weekend, I tossed beets, still warm, with sherry vinegar, Dijon and olive oil. The vinegar makes their sweetness sing; the mustard gives them grit. And a spray of chopped herbs -- basil, tarragon, chives and mint -- beckons the doubters. —Amanda Hesser

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 poundsbaby beets (weighed after trimming)
  • 4 tablespoonsolive oil
  • 2 teaspoonseach chopped basil, tarragon, chives and mint
  • 1 teaspoonDijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoonsherry vinegar
  • Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Lay a large sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet. Scrub the beets and lay them on one end of the foil. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt. Fold the foil over the beets to make a packet and roll the edges to seal. Bake until the beets are tender, about 30 minutes. Let sit on the baking sheet until warm but not hot.
  2. While the beets are still warm, peel them (I find that pressing against the sides of the beets with your thumb loosens the skins) and slice into 1/2-inch wedges. Add the wedges to a serving bowl as you go.
  3. Whisk together the mustard, vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, until the dressing is emulsified. (You can also just throw everything into a jar, screw on the lid tightly and shake until emulsified.)
  4. Pour about half the dressing over the beets. Sprinkle in the herbs. Season generously with pepper. Toss well, then taste and adjust seasoning, adding more dressing or salt as needed. Let sit for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Tags:

  • Salad
  • Vegetable
  • Beet
  • Mustard
  • Vinegar
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Make Ahead
  • Serves a Crowd
  • Gluten-Free
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Alex Bates

  • Claire de la Lune

  • Adelucchi

  • Marquis

  • ChefJune

Recipe by: Amanda Hesser

Before starting Food52 with Merrill, I was a food writer and editor at the New York Times. I've written several books, including "Cooking for Mr. Latte" and "The Essential New York Times Cookbook." I played myself in "Julie & Julia" -- hope you didn't blink, or you may have missed the scene! I live in Brooklyn with my husband, Tad, and twins, Walker and Addison.

Popular on Food52

28 Reviews

Amanda W. August 1, 2018

Can I make this the night before? Should I dress immediately and save herbs for next day, or leave naked and dress completely the next day?

Amanda H. August 1, 2018

Hi Amanda, you can make this the night before -- the herbs may darken a bit but it should taste just fine. If you don't want the herbs to darken, then dress it the night before without the herbs and fold in the herbs a few minutes before serving.

Alex B. January 2, 2017

Thank you ! happy to break out of my beet-coma. just ordered some beets from my CSA, looking forward to making this tomorrow.

Claire D. December 30, 2016

Would this taste good warm, do you think? Looking for a good warm beets dish to serve underneath burrata

Amanda H. December 30, 2016

Yes! Add the herbs just a few minutes before serving so they stay bright and fresh.

Adelucchi November 3, 2014

Thanks for this recipe. The beets from my CSA box turned out great!
Didn't have any fresh herbs except mint from my garden. Substituted Herbs De Provence for the rest and Scribner Bend Zinfandel Orange mustard. Delicious!!

Amanda H. November 3, 2014

Glad you liked it!

Nora February 17, 2014

What are the nutritional stats on this recipe please?

Hi Nora, we don't have nutritional stats on our recipes -- since this is just beets, oil, and herbs, it's definitely a healthy one. Hope you like it!

Marquis July 16, 2013

This is so simple but seems so delicious. Thanks for sharing! My hubby loves beets, I'm sure he will love this!

Amanda H. July 16, 2013

Hope he does!

ChefJune June 12, 2013

so glad you pulled this up today! This looks like a no-brainer for when the new crop of young beets show up this summer while fresh herbs are running rampant in everyone's gardens (especially mine...)

AnnP January 13, 2012

Love!!! It's a good thing my husband doesn't like beets because I would have had to fight him off for the seconds. Thanks!

Amanda H. January 13, 2012

Forks do work as a handy defense. Glad you liked it!

thebreukelenlife February 22, 2011

My friends and I made these on Sunday for our supper club. Amazing! Happy to say that it converted a few wary beet eaters into possibly enthusiastic beet eaters.

Amanda H. February 22, 2011

Converting people with food is the best part of cooking.

gingerroot November 26, 2010

I found some lovely Chioggia beets at the farmer's market and included this on my Thanksgiving table last night. It was a wonderful addition. I will be making this again and again. Thanks.

Amanda H. November 26, 2010

So glad to know!

marygilmore June 29, 2021

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msnyc November 21, 2010

Amanda, out of curiosity, why do we salt the beets before roasting when they will be peeled later?

Amanda H. November 26, 2010

The seasoning seems to work its way into the beets.

TheWimpyVegetarian July 29, 2010

Made this tonight. Loved it!! It's a keeper for me!

Denise July 14, 2010

I'd like to make this today and I'd like to use all of the requisite herbs, but then I'll have 4 bunches of beautiful herbs minus two teaspoons each. We are a household of 2. What to do with all of these herbs... Any suggestions?

Amanda H. November 26, 2010

Sorry just saw this. You could make a vinaigrette or use the herbs to infuse an oil.

dymnyno July 12, 2010

I love the simplicity of this...roasted beets with a classic vinaigrette on steroids (actually herbs)

athoughtforfood July 12, 2010

I couldn't agree more! Roasted beets and goat cheese is overdone. There are so many other things you can do with them! A lovely recipe... you really can't go wrong with these ingredients.

marygilmore June 29, 2021

Often, beginners start learning by already knowing something about https://fullsync.co.uk/best-it-hardware-and-software-deals/ programming. Everything goes well at first, but as you study, problems begin. Why? Beginners quickly go through the introductory part, thinking that they already know everything, but in reality this is rarely the case. They know some of the material, but not enough to grasp the basics well.

Beets and Herbs Salad Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What can you add to beets to make them taste better? ›

The roasted beets are wonderful on their own, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, or dressed up more with citrus juice, herbs, or balsamic vinegar. Serve them with any weeknight dinner, or add them to a holiday meal. These oven roasted beets keep well for days in the fridge, so they're great for making ahead.

What flavors go best with beets? ›

Also ingredients like dark chocolate, nuts, coffee or roasted onions have earthy flavors and pair well with beetroot. This could be explained by the presence of 'pyrazines', which are aromatic structures formed during the process of roasting ingredients. These pyrazines also contain an earthy smell.

Do you have to peel beets for salad? ›

They can be roasted, boiled or steamed, and even eaten raw — thinly sliced or shredded beets add an interesting crunch to salads. Sometimes beets are peeled before cooking. They may also be scrubbed and cooked until tender with their skins on; the skins slip off fairly easily after cooling.

Why do you put vinegar in beets? ›

Beets are a weekly ritual around here. Usually we boil them and toss them in a sweet sour vinaigrette and keep them in the refrigerator to eat all week. The vinegar in the dressing "pickles" the beets, helping them last longer in the fridge.

Why do I feel better after eating beets? ›

Beets are high in nitrates which research suggests improve cardiovascular health in several ways. Some studies show beetroot juice supplementation may lower blood pressure and increase blood flow. It increases oxygen uptake, lengthening the time it takes to become fatigued, which allows people to stay active longer.

How do you take the bitterness out of beets? ›

Beetroots can taste bitter due to compounds like geosmin and saponins. To reduce bitterness when eating them as a vegetable, choose young beetroots, peel and cook them, combine with other flavors, blanch them, or remove the skin before cooking. 2nd method you can boil beetroot to reduce bitterness before cooking.

What fruit goes with beets? ›

Certain fruits pair beautifully with beets to create balanced, delicious juices. Oranges, berries, melons, apples, pineapple, grapes, and kiwi all combine exceptionally with beet juice. The sweet and tart notes from these fruits complement the earthy vegetable flavor.

Can dogs eat beets? ›

Yes! Beets are safe for your dog to eat in moderation and are a healthy source of vitamin C, fiber, folate, manganese, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals are good for your dog's digestion and immune system as well as a healthy skin and coat. While it's rare, some dogs can be allergic.

How are beets best served? ›

They can be eaten raw or cooked. If you bake or roast beets in their skins, you can enjoy that flavor at its most intense. You can boil beets then peel and slice them and serve with a little oil and lemon. If you have any leftovers, put them in the refrigerator to add to a salad the next day.

Is it better to roast or boil beets for salad? ›

My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole.

How do you cut beets for salad? ›

How to Cut Beets
  1. Cut off the root end and the stem end using a Hardy Slicer.
  2. Peel the skin using a Vegetable Peeler or Paring Knife.
  3. Place the beet flat side down on the cutting board and cut into slices of desired thickness.
  4. Stack the slices to cut into planks.
  5. Cut the planks crosswise to dice.
Jul 17, 2018

How do you keep beets from bleeding in salad? ›

Add lemon or vinegar for vibrant beets

A simple trick to prevent your beets from bleeding color, according to The Spruce Eats, is to add a tablespoon of lemon or vinegar to the boiling water.

How do beets cleanse the body? ›

It helps in the detoxification process because of the betaine it contains, which helps prevent and/or reduce fatty deposits in the liver. On the same note, beetroot helps in whole body detoxification. It's a great purifier and does so by pulling toxins into the colon where they can then be evacuated.

How do you make beets taste like meat? ›

Cure your vegetables as you would a piece of meat for a couple of days. This can be achieved by rubbing the vegetable or mushroom with salt at a concentration of 1.75% of the vegetable's weight, wrapping it tightly in plastic or vacuum sealing it, and letting it sit in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Are Aunt Nellie's pickled beets healthy? ›

Aunt Nellie's Pickled Beets contain no fat, saturated fat or cholesterol; they are kosher and gluten-free.

What is the most delicious way to eat beets? ›

Beets are delicious roasted, grilled, microwaved, steamed, boiled or air-fried. The key is to experiment with various cooking techniques to find one that gives you the desired flavor.

How do you mask the flavor of beets? ›

While a bit of honey, maple syrup, or stevia can help mask earthy undertones, add these sweeteners conservatively to avoid overwhelming the natural flavors of the beets. Start with 1-2 teaspoons of your preferred sweetener per 16 oz serving and add more if needed.

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