Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Walnuts & Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette
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Perfect for dinner parties or jazzing up a weeknight meal (try topping it with steak, salmon, or chicken for a complete dish), my roasted beet salad looks as amazing as it tastes.
This beet salad with goat cheese and walnuts is my go-to dinner party salad. I don’t think I’ve ever served it without sending a few people home with the recipe. Years ago, I would roast my own beets, but high-quality vacuum-packed roasted beets, such as Love Beets, are now available in the produce section of most supermarkets, which makes the salad a breeze to prepare. Be sure to dress the greens at the last minute so they don’t get soggy, and top the salad with the beets as opposed to mixing them in, as tossing the beets with the salad will turn everything pink! Want to make the salad a complete meal? Try topping it with steak, grilled chicken or pan-seared salmon.
Table of Contents
“Absolutely delicious 💯 The dressing is superb. I follow the recipe to the T, I’ve made this 3x already this week. YUM!”
What You’ll Need to Make Roasted Beet Salad with Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette
- Honey: Adds subtle sweetness to the dressing and balances the acidity of the vinegar.
- Dijon Mustard: Provides a tangy flavor and helps emulsify the dressing.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Adds acidity and depth of flavor.
- Shallots: Infuses a subtle onion flavor into the vinaigrette.
- Salt and Pepper: Enhances the overall taste of the dressing.
- Vegetable Oil: Provides a smooth texture and helps bind the ingredients together.
- Mixed Greens: Serve as the base of the salad, providing freshness and color.
- Vacuum-Packed Roasted Beets: Offer earthy sweetness and vibrant color to the salad. I use store-bought but if you’d like to roast them yourself, see the note at the bottom of the recipe.
- Walnuts: Add a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
- Goat Cheese: Adds creaminess and tanginess, complementing the sweetness of the beets and the crunchiness of the walnuts.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a small bowl, combine the honey, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, shallots, salt and pepper.
Whisk to combine. Then, whisking constantly, slowly add the oil in a steady stream. (Alternatively, add all the ingredients to a jar, cover with the lid, and shake vigorously to blend.)
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Place the greens in a large bowl, drizzle with about half of the vinaigrette, and toss to combine. Add as much of the remaining vinaigrette as desired and toss again. Arrange the greens on a large platter or divide onto plates, then top with beets, walnuts, and goat cheese. Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! The dressing can be prepared up to 5 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Just give it a good shake before using it on the salad.
This salad is really flexible so you can tailor it to your preferences or to what you have on hand. Swap out the beets for strawberries or sliced apples, use crumbled feta instead of goat cheese, and pecans, almonds, or pistachios in place of the walnuts. Each tweak will bring its own unique flavor and texture to the salad.
Yes, you can definitely make the beets ahead of time. Roasted beets keep nicely in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. And if you’d like to freeze leftover beets, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw them in the refrigerator before using. If you’re a big beet fan and looking for other ways to use them, you’ll love (and maybe even obsess over) my balsamic-glazed roasted beets.
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Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese & Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette
Perfect for dinner parties or jazzing up a weeknight meal (try topping it with steak, salmon, or chicken for a complete dish), my roasted beet salad looks as amazing as it tastes.
Ingredients
For the Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons minced shallots
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the Salad
- 10 ounces mixed greens
- About ½ lb vacuum-packed roasted beets, cut into wedges (see note)
- ½ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
- 3 ounces goat cheese
Instructions
For the Vinaigrette
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, shallots, salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, slowly add the oil in a steady stream. (Alternatively, add all the ingredients to a jar, cover with the lid, and shake vigorously to blend.) Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
For the Salad
- Place the greens in a large bowl, drizzle with about half of the vinaigrette and toss to combine. Add as much of the remaining vinaigrette as desired and toss again. Arrange the greens on a large platter or divide onto plates, then top with beets, walnuts and goat cheese. Serve immediately.
- Note: If you'd like to roast your own beets, you'll need 1 bunch of medium beets (about 3). Preheat oven to 425°F and set an oven rack to the middle position. Wipe or scrub the beets clean, then trim stems down to one-inch (leave "tails" on). Place the beets on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then wrap foil around the beets to form a neat packet. Roast directly on a rack in the middle of the oven until tender, about 1 hour. Test for doneness by piercing the largest beet with a knife. If it enters easily, it's done. Unwrap the beets and let sit until cool enough to handle. Use your hands or a paring knife to peel the skin, then cut into wedges.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The vinaigrette can be made up to 4 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Before serving, let sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes, and then shake to re-emulsify.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 242
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Sugar: 9g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Sodium: 322mg
- Cholesterol: 7mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Comments
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Excellent beet salad, Jenn! I make this all the time, it’s our ‘go to’ whenever we have beets on hand. Quick question: how long do you think the vinaigrette will keep in the fridge? Thanks!!
Glad you like it! The dressing will keep nicely in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
how long are the beets good for after roasting them?
Hi Jonathan, I think they’d last nicely in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Excellent recipe! I can’t get enough of the dressing! So glad I made a double batch for later 🙂
Hi Jenn,
I love your recipes! I always check your website first when making a new dish 🙂
I am planning to make this salad for Christmas Eve, but a few of the guests are not fans of goat cheese. What would be a good substitute? I know feta is a common one, but wondering how a crumble blue cheese or gorgonzola would be?
Thanks!
Hi Caitlin, Blue cheese or gorgonzola would be fabulous options.
Such an awesome salad and love love LOVE the dressing (we’re beekeepers, so always looking for ways to incorporate our honey into recipes). The perfect touch of sweetness that pairs with the tart goat cheese, nuts and earthy beets.
Absolutely love this recipe! Great combination of flavours and looks lovely. Because I’m lazy I used jarred pickled beets and it still turned out fantastic. Thank you Jenn!
I made this salad last night as a test run for Thanksgiving. I am a lazy cook who does not cook much. I used what I had on hand, shortcutting where possible. A homemade balsamic reduction was substituted for your dressing. I toasted almonds and used them to replace the walnuts. I also added tangerine segments.
It might not be as good as yours, but I loved it and will serve it again tonight. Thank you for inspiring me to use my kitchen!!
Loved the vinaigrette, however the beets themselves were totally lacking in flavor making the salad taste rather bland. What would your suggestion be to give the beets some flavor…maybe marinating them in the vinaigrette several hours before serving?
Sorry you found them bland! Sure, you could using the dressing as a marinade to infuse the beets with more flavor. 🙂
My wife and I first enjoyed a warm beet salad on a summer evening at a restaurant near the water. It was delicious. This recipe captured that night and frankly was even better. I always make the recipes as written, at least the first time, and I find that there is no need to change this recipe in the future. It was perfect as written and is super simple to make! Thanks again for making me look good in front of the family!
This is a really lovely salad. Very different from more traditional salad and very light. Makes a great started for a summer dinner party.
This is a Family Favorite salad . That’s saying a lot since my daughter is not a fan of beets. The dressing is a perfect combo of flavors . Requests to share this salad recipe with many friends I know confirms my review is 👍
Hi Jenn would white wine vinegar work for this dressing?
Thanks so much your recipes are amazing!
Glad you like the recipes! Yes, I think you could get away with white wine vinegar in the dressing.
Loved this great salad! And the dressing is amazing!!