Beetroot Salad

It not only looks gorgeous but tastes a treat too. This colourful and fresh Beetroot Salad is simple, nutritious and exceptionally delicious!

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this salad
• Ingredients for Beetroot Salad
• Making Beetroot Salad with fresh beetroot
• Assembling Beetroot Salad
• Serving and enjoying
• Want more salad recipes?
• Beetroot Salad

Why you'll love this salad

This salad is such a winner. Here's why:

• the flavour combination is out of this world and the complementary flavours are made even better with the contrasting textures you'll discover in each mouthful
• it's packed with nutrition - nuts, cheese, beets, herbs, healthy oils and more
• it's so pretty, perfect to serve someone you want to impress
• it's a meal on its own or can be served as a side
• it can be varied to suit your own tastes – more on this below.

Ingredients for Beetroot Salad

First, to make this stunning salad you'll need:

• beetroot (see more below on selecting and preparing beetroot)
• mixed salad leaves (washed and dried)
• goat cheese (broken into small pieces) (I prefer goat cheese with its unique, slightly tangy and earthy flavour and soft and creamy texture. Others might prefer to use fetta with its briny, salty taste and crumbly texture).
• walnuts – walnuts and beets are a classic pairing, but you could swap the walnuts for almonds or pistachios.
• a few sprigs of parsley and mint (to garnish).

The other ingredients pictured above go intothe tangy and rich lemon and mustard dressing that elevates this salad into something more.

Note that the ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Making Beetroot Salad with fresh beetroot

Okay, if you're going to call something a beetroot salad I say you need to use fresh beetroot. Technically, I guess you could substitute in the canned stuff and still call it a "beetroot salad".

But if you have access to fresh beetroot – and beetroot is generally available year-round in supermarkets – use fresh beetroot to make this wonderful salad.

I know canned beetroot is super convenient and has all the same outstanding health benefits as fresh beetroot, but when it comes to taste I believe fresh beetroot has the edge. And we all want a beetroot salad with edge, right?

How to select beetroot

To find the best fresh beetroot for your salad:

• buy local or organic, if available
• choose medium-sized or smaller beetroots – these are generally sweeter and more tender
• look for smooth-skinned beetroots that are free from blemishes
• if the fresh greens are attached, these should be fresh, crisp, and vibrant rather than wilted or yellowed
• look for the key sign of quality and freshness – a deep, intense red-purple colour. 

If you have more beetroots than you need for your salad, you might like to pickle the rest of your beets.

How to cook beetroot

Wash the beetroots and, if they still have stems attached, trim the stems, leaving a few centimetres attached to the beetroot.

Place beetroots into a saucepan and cover with water. Boil for about 30 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. Smaller beetroots might take about 20 minutes and large beetroots might take about 40 minutes or more.

Let beetroots cool to a warm temperature and then rub off the skins with your hands.

Cut beetroot into chunks and allow to cool completely before assembling the salad. Place them in the fridge to speed up the process.

Assembling Beetroot Salad

Place all of the garden leaves in the bottom of a salad bowl. Layer beetroot chunks, walnuts and pieces of cheese on top of leaves.

Whisk all dressing ingredients together until the dressing emulsifies, and then drizzle over salad.

Garnish with parsley and mint before covering and placing in the fridge until you're ready to serve.

Serving and enjoying

This Beetroot Salad is enough to serve two people for a light lunch or four people as a side salad.

Once prepared, it's best served within 24 hours.

It pairs well with crusty bread or damper, grilled steak, chicken or pork, chicken tenders and zucchini slice.

Want more salad recipes?

Other popular salads include:

Made this recipe and love it? Please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. (And it really makes my day to hear how Nana Ling's recipes are being made, shared and loved all around the world! - Libby x)

For more fun and deliciousness in the kitchen, follow along on Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest, and subscribe for new posts via email.