Beet and Citrus Salad With Pine Nut Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

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This pretty and colorful salad combines grapefruit, orange, roasted beets, and arugula for some peppery kick.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Beet and Citrus Salad With Pine Nut Vinaigrette Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated August 04, 2023

Why It Works

  • Roasting the beets in an airtight foil pouch allows them to cook faster with minimal moisture loss.
  • The foil pouch is also a great way to add aromatics to flavor the beets while they cook.
  • The sherry vinegar-based dressing is lightly sweetened with agave nectar.

Beets get their fair share of criticism from children and adults alike, and it's easy to see why if you, like me, were exposed to the canned variety as a kid. Those things arenoteasy to like. A freshly roasted beet, on the other hand, is something quite different. Sweet as candy, rich and earthy, with a great sorta-soft-sorta-crisp texture, they're one of my favorite vegetables to work with. I make some variation of this salad a few times a year and it's one of my wife's favorites. Just like her, it's pretty, colorful, and best served at room temperature.

Beet and Citrus Salad With Pine Nut Vinaigrette Recipe (2)

You can boil beets if you'd like, but the process will rob them of flavor (notice how pink that water gets? That's flavor going right down the drain). I've found that the best way to cook them is in the oven, in an airtight foil pouch. They steam as they cook, heating up the air in the pouch, and allowing them to cook faster with minimal moisture loss. Because you're using a dry cooking method, they barely lose any juices or flavor, and the foil pouch is a great way to add aromatics; A few sprigs of thyme or rosemary, some black pepper and olive oil, and perhaps some citrus peel.

Beets and citrus are a classic combination, and luckily, we're right in the middle of citrus season. This salad combines grapefruit, orange, roasted beets, and bits of arugula for some peppery kick (you can use whatever herb or salad green you'd like instead). I like to serve nuts with my beets, which usually means hazelnuts, but in this case, I've gone with pine. A vinaigrette made with sherry vinegar, shallots, walnut oil, and a touch of agave nectar sweetens the whole thing.

February 2012

Recipe Details

Beet and Citrus Salad With Pine Nut Vinaigrette Recipe

Active30 mins

Total2 hrs

Serves4to 6 servings

  • 2 pounds (900g) raw beets, greens and stems removed, scrubbed under cold running water

  • 5 tablespoons (75ml)extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 4sprigs rosemary or thyme

  • 2 tablespoons (30ml)sherry vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) agave nectar (or honey, for a non-vegan version)

  • 1/4 cup (about 70g) toasted pine nuts, divided

  • 1 small shallot, finely minced (about 1 tablespoon)

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml)walnut oil

  • 1 grapefruit, cut intosegments

  • 1 orange, cut into segments

  • 1 cup (1 ounce) loosely packed arugula leaves

  • Orange zest, for garnish

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Fold two 12- by 18-inch squares of heavy-duty aluminum foil in half cross-wise. Crimp the left and right edges to form a tight seal (leave the top open). Toss beets with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Divide evenly between both foil pouches. Add 2 sprigs rosemary or thyme to each pouch, then tightly crimp top of pouch to seal.

  2. Place pouches on a rimmed baking sheet and place in oven. Cook until beets are completely tender and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into a beet through the foil pouch shows no resistance, about 1 hour. Open pouches and allow beets to cool for 30 minutes. Peel under cold running water (the skin should slip right off). Cut beets into rough 1 1/2-inch chunks.

  3. Combine vinegar, agave nectar, half of pinenuts, and shallots in a medium bowl. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil followed by walnut oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

  4. Toss beets with half of dressing in a large bowl, then transfer to a serving plate. Add grapefruit, orange, and arugula leaves to bowl along with 1 more tablespoon dressing. Toss and season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving plate with beets. Drizzle remaining dressing around beets, sprinkle with remaining pinenuts, top with orange zest, and serve.

Special Equipment

Rimmed baking sheet, aluminum foil, citrus zester

Read More

  • How to Roast Fall and Winter Vegetables | The Food Lab
  • How to Roast Beets
  • How to Cut Citrus Fruit Into Wedges, Sliced, and Suprèmes
  • Dairy-free Salads
  • Gluten-free Salads
  • Vegan Salads
  • Vegetarian Salads
  • Roasted Vegetables
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
321Calories
22g Fat
30g Carbs
5g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories321
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g28%
Saturated Fat 2g12%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 458mg20%
Total Carbohydrate 30g11%
Dietary Fiber 6g21%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 43mg215%
Calcium 56mg4%
Iron 2mg12%
Potassium 708mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Beet and Citrus Salad With Pine Nut Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make beet root salad? ›

Unwrap the beets and let them cool. Meanwhile, whisk oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and pepper in a small bowl to make dressing. When the beets are cool enough to handle, slip off the skins. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes and place in a large bowl.

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

The softest texture will be the boiled beets, the roasted beets will be tender, but will still have a little “bite” to them. The steamed beets will be somewhere in the middle. If using the beets in a salad, or serving them as a side dish, I prefer the roasted or steamed beets.

How long does beet salad last in fridge? ›

How to Store Beet Salad. Cooked beets will last for three to five days in the refrigerator. Store them in an airtight container or heavy-duty aluminum foil for best results. To freeze beets for salad, store them (cubed or whole) in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to eight months.

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.

What makes beets taste better? ›

Slow-roasting beets in a foil packet or covered baking dish takes away much of the earthy taste and intensifies the flavor, but you will still have a bit of bleeding and nutrient loss. Grilling beets over wood or charcoal will add a layer of smokiness.

Why do you put vinegar on beets when boiling them? ›

Place the beets in a large saucepan and add water to cover and the lemon juice or vinegar. This will help to keep the beets from bleeding. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Place pot under running cold water and let rinse until beets can be handled.

How do you make beets more flavorful? ›

Roasting brings out their natural sweetness, which is enhanced by a drizzle honey and balsamic vinegar. Roasting beets also give them the best texture (not mushy like boiled beets). Roasted beets taste like vegetable candy, and are so delicious my kids love them too!

What is the best way to eat beetroot raw or cooked? ›

Here are five of our favorite ways to eat beets.
  1. Raw! – Yes, beets are quite good raw. ...
  2. Roasted with goat cheese. – The classic, all-time favorite preparation. ...
  3. In a salad. – Beets make a good complement to other salad staples. ...
  4. Pickled! – Pickled beets are just marvelous. ...
  5. As dessert.

Is beetroot salad good for you? ›

Health benefits of beets include more stamina during exercise, heart disease and stroke prevention, and lower blood pressure. You can roast, grate, or put them into soups and salads. If you're prone to kidney stones or gout, avoid beets or limit how much you eat.

Is beet root better raw or boiled? ›

You can even enjoy them raw, either sliced thinly or grated. Choose beets that feel heavy for their size with fresh, unwilted green leafy tops still attached, if possible. Because dietary nitrates are water-soluble, it's best to avoid boiling beets if you'd like to maximize their nitrate content.

Can beetroot be eaten as salad? ›

Beetroot salad, a delicious and protein packed salad made with beets, lentils, fresh coconut, coriander leaves and lemon juice. This easy to make salad is so quick to make, that you just need to toss all of the ingredients in a bowl and you are done.

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