Beet Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Vinaigrette – Very Easy!

Beet Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Vinaigrette is bright and savory. Tangy citrus pairs well with peppery arugula and warm savory roasted beets. A bit of goat cheese adds creaminess and some heft, and if you have them on hand, some nuts like pecans or walnuts add a great texture.

Salads are a favorite meal of mine, especially when they are hearty. This salad is super filling with beets, cheese, and nuts. It’s a great side, but we almost always have it as a main because it’s so filling. If you don’t feel like making the dressing, any vinaigrette will work well, but the extra bit of effort to make the included dressing is worth it. Plus, the dressing only has 4 ingredients! 

Ingredients for Beet Salad with Arugula

• Dressing for Roasted Vegetables: This rich and tangy sauce is amazing on roasted vegetables. It works perfectly here with the beets and citrus.
• Beets: Earthy and savory roasted beets make this salad super filling.
• Oranges: Citrus works so well with beets. The bright flavors really balance and bring out the earthiness of the beets. Beet and orange salads are delicous!
• Baby Arugula: Baby arugula is tender and peppery. I love using it in this salad, but you can also use baby spinach or baby kale in this warm beet salad.
• Goat Cheese: I love making beet salads with goat cheese. Goat cheese is sharp and creamy, so it tastes delicious with the beets.
• Chopped Pecans: Chopped pecans are my favorite in this roasted beet salad, but walnuts and almonds also taste great here.
• Olive Oil: For roasting the beets.
• Kosher Salt & Freshly Cracked Pepper: Simple seasonings let the beets, oranges, and goat cheese shine.

How to make Beet Salad with Arugula and Balamic Vinaigrette

1. Roast Beets: On a parchment-lined baking sheet, toss the beets with the olive oil. Lightly season the beets with salt and pepper. Roast the beets until the beets are tender.
2. Dressing: While the beets are roasting, prepare the Dressing for Roasted Vegetables according to the recipe.
3. To serve: Place a handful of baby arugula on a plate. Arrange the beets across the plate. Top the salad with the orange segments, goat cheese, and the chopped pecans. Drizzle with dressing.

Techniques for a delicious Beet Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Caramelize the beets. Roasting the beets until they are lightly browned gives them a deep savory flavor. 
• Try different beets. Red beets, gold beets, and Chioggia beets all roast in about 20 to 30 minutes, so you can mix them together. I like the different flavors of all of them together.
• Bring in the citrus. Citrus works great in this dish. I used a mix of Cara Cara and Navel oranges because they were available, but grapefruits and blood oranges work wonderfully as well.
• Creamy goat cheese does a beautiful job of balancing out the tanginess of the dressing and the citrus. 

More Delicious Salads

• Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing
• Caprese Pasta Salad with Balsamic Drizzle
• Peach Panzanella Salad
• Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Shallot Dressing

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