Beet Salad Recipe – Easy To Make & Delicious!

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Beet Salad Recipe – This beet salad is easy to make. You can make a homemade vinaigrette (recipe included) or use bottled dressing. It’s delicious!

The beets can be cooked the same day or the day before (which cuts down overall time). It is easy to cook the beets (in water in a pot), cool them cut them up, and mix them with a vinaigrette dressing.

Beet Salad

One of our most popular recipes here and on Pinterest is this Beet Salad With Cucumbers and Tomatoes. This is a low-ingredient easy, and version of this recipe that also has cucumbers and tomatoes.

You can even prep the beets the night before making the beet salad. This makes it quick to make and serve!

I’m not going to lie. When I was a kid I wasn’t fond of eating beets. My grandma served them warm with a cream sauce.

But, as I discovered beet salad cold I was hooked! Bonus, they are so healthy for you! If you are on the fence try them in salads like these.

Beet Salad Recipe

How To Make Beet Salad

Ingredients

• Beets (3-4 large beets)
• Water

Ingredients For Beet Salad Dressing

• Red Wine Vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper
• Lemon Juice (optional) or Real Lemon Juice
• Garnish with Fresh Basil or Italian Parsley

Supplies – A chef knife and cutting board. For boiling the water in a medium-sized pot. Remove the beets from the water tongs. Or if draining them with a colander. A salad bowl with salad servers.

Instructions

How To Make Beet Salad

1. Prep the beets for cooking. First, cut off any greens (and cut them close to the ends of the beets and the root vegetable thoroughly.
2. If you want them to cook quickly you can cut them into quarters. Note the tips below for keeping their vibrant color.
3. Use a medium-sized pot with water. Add the prepared beets and cook them until they can be forked (in the center).
4. Cool the beets. Remove them from the cooled water. Peel them and cut them into chunks or slices.
5. Add the vinaigrette salad dressing and garnish right before serving. Or your favorite beet salad dressing or bottled dressing.

Image Credits ©2024 Theresa Huse

Instructions For The Beet Salad Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

1. 1/3 cup of Olive Oil
2. 1/3 cup of Red Wine Vinegar
3. 1/4 of a Lemon Freshly Squeezed
4. Salt and Pepper
5. Garnish With Fresh Basil or Italian Parsley (chopped).

How To Make Vinaigrette Dressing

1. Mix the ingredients in a bowl with a whisk or fork.
   (or use a salad dressing mixing bottle).
2. Adjust the flavors to your taste preference.
3. Pour over the salad right before serving.
4. Add the garnish, stir and enjoy!

Beet Salad Dressing Notes

• The measurements are 1:1 oil to vinegar. You can adapt this to your needs. This makes about 3/4 cup.
• Optional salad ideas, 1 freshly minced or crushed garlic. Chopped shallot.
• You can omit the lemon if you don’t have it or prefer it without lemon. The lemon was cut into 4 pieces and only one was used.
• Balsamic Vinegar, Sherry Vinegar… is also a good choice if you don’t have red wine vinegar. Some vinegars are stronger than others. Start with less and add more to your taste preference.
• Taste the homemade beet salad dressing and adapt it to suit your taste.

The Cook Time Will Vary Depending on the Beet Size!

• Whole Beets Take Longer To Cook Than Wedges or Halves.
• Smaller Beets Cook Faster.
• Check For Tenderness With A Fork During The Cooking Process!
• Only cook them until you can get a fork into the center.

Tips For Cooling Beets And Keeping Their Color

Simple Tricks To Keep Beets Looking Vibrant And Help To Keep Their Color

Beets will lose their color when cut and cooked.

1. Adding a splash of vinegar or lemon juice to the water will help beets keep their color. With this method, the acidity helps lock in the color.
2. Remove the beets from the water after they have cooled (in the water). Leaving them in the cooked water (off the heated stove burner) to sit after cooking will help keep their vibrant color. This is a method that I use.
3. Ice Bath Method – Transfer them to a bowl of ice water (using a slotted spoon or tongs). This will help them keep their color.
4. Peel beets only after they have cooled. This helps keep the color.
5. You can roast beets in the oven on a sheet pan. This can help keep flavor and color.

Keep The Beet Water

Crafters keep the beet water and use beet water for dying things. Use Pinterest and Instagram to find dye crafts using beets. You can also use beet water for soups, stews, and cocktails.

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More Salad Recipes

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Yield: 4

Beet Salad

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Beet Salad Recipe - This beet salad has a homemade vinaigrette. Or use your favorite beet salad dressing or store-bought dressing. Get the tips for cooking the beets, the vinaigrette dressing, and enjoy a delicious beet salad!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

• Beets (3-4 large beets)
• Water

Vinaigrette Dressing

• Red Wine Vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Lemon
• Salt and Pepper
• Basil or Italian Parsley

Instructions

How To Cook Beets For Beet Salad

1. Prep the beets for cooking. First, cut off any greens (and cut them close to the ends of the beets and the root vegetable thoroughly.
2. If you want them to cook quickly you can cut them into quarters. Note the tips below for keeping their vibrant color.
3. Use a medium-sized pot with water. Add the prepared beets and cook them until they can be forked (in the center).
4. Cool the beets (See Tips on Cooling Beets). Remove them from the cooled water. Peel them and cut them into chunks or slices.
5. Add the vinaigrette salad dressing and garnish right before serving. Or your favorite beet salad dressing or bottled dressing.

How To Make Vinaigrette Dressing

1. Mix the ingredients in a bowl with a whisk or fork.
2. Adjust the flavors to your taste preference.
3. Pour over the salad right before serving.
4. Add the garnish, stir and enjoy!

Notes

Cook Time Will Vary Depending on the Beet Size!

• Whole Beets Take Longer To Cook Than Wedges or Halves.
• Smaller Beets Cook Faster.
• Check For Tenderness With A Fork During The Cooking Process!
• Only cook them until you can get a fork into the center.

Beet Salad Dressing Notes:

• The measurements are 1:1 oil to vinegar. You can adapt this to your needs.
• Optional salad ideas, 1 freshly minced or crushed garlic. Chopped shallot.
• You can omit the lemon if you don’t have it or prefer it without lemon.
• Balsamic Vinegar, Sherry Vinegar, or Rice Vinegar… is also a good choice if you don’t have red wine vinegar. Some vinegars are stronger than others. Start with less and add more to your taste preference.
• Taste the homemade beet salad dressing and adapt it to suit your taste.

Tips for Cooking Beets and Keeping Their Color

Simple Tricks To Keep Beets Looking Vibrant And Help To Keep Their Color

Beets will lose their color when cut and cooked.

1. Adding a splash of vinegar or lemon juice to the water will help beets keep their color. With this method, the acidity helps lock in the color.
2. Remove the beets from the water after they have cooled (in the water). Leaving them in the cooked water (off the heated stove burner) to sit after cooking will help keep their vibrant color. This is a method that I use.
3. Ice Bath Method – Transfer them to a bowl of ice water (using a slotted spoon or tongs). This will help them keep their color.
4. Peel beets only after they have cooled. This helps keep the color.
5. You can roast beets in the oven on a sheet pan. This can help keep flavor and color.

Recommended Products

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  OXO Good Grips Little Salad Dressing Shaker - Black, Small
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  Axiom Creations Smart Cutting Board and Knife Set - Self Cleaning Cutting Board Set with 4 Color Coded Cutting Boards, 4 Stainless Steel Knives - Drying Holder Organizer for Kitchen
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  Cuisinart 6194-20 Chef's Classic 4-Quart Nonstick-Hard-Anodized, Saucepan w/Cover
• 
  Cuisinart 650-26CP Chef's Classic 5-Quart Chili Pot with Cover Nonstick-Hard-Anodized, Black

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 43Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 0mgSodium 87mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 0g

Not all nutritional information is always 100% accurate.

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