A colorful sweet beet salad!

Beets are not very popular in the United States. I never used to like them growing up, until I had them at a friends house from their garden. It was so sweet, almost like candy. Now I love them! They are a super healthy food and have such gorgeous color. They have a very earthy flavor and can be tricky to prepare for the home cook. In culinary school, beets were a must learn. We cooked them in multiple classes and used them in a variety of dishes. I really learned to appreciate the beet and how delicious they truly can be. If you are not a fan, I encourage you to give them another try. If you already appreciate beets, this salad is for you!

Beet and Walnut Salad

Serves: 4-6         Cook Time: 1 hr 10 min         Prep Time: 15 min

• 2 lbs. red beets, roasted and sliced thinly
• 2 bunches, golden beets, roasted and sliced thinly
• 1 orange, juiced
• 1/2 orange, zested
• 1/4 cup, white wine vinegar
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 teaspoon, dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup evoo
• 1/4 cup roasted walnut oil
• 1 5 oz. container spring mix
• 1/2 cup candied walnuts - How To
• 4 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

To roast beets, clean and trim. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil or canola oil. Wrap in aluminium foil. Place in a 400 degree oven for 1 hour or until easily pierced with a knife. Let cool. Peel and slice beets. Make sure to keep the red beets separate from the golden beets, because the color will bleed and ruin the presentation. Combine orange juice, zest, vinegar, shallot, mustard. Slowly drizzle in both oils and whisk until emulsified. Set aside. Drizzle each beet with enough dressing to coat. In another bowl, drizzle the lettuce with dressing to coat. Alternate the red and golden beets around the plate. In the middle, place the dressed spring mix and top with walnuts and goat cheese. Enjoy. Feel free to present this salad however you want. Use your creativity and let your culinary free spirit out. There is endless options for plating this salad.

Orange walnut dressing

Candied walnuts

Creative presentation

Tip- Beets are a super food. It is low in calories and high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It is high in potassium and magnesium, which plays in a huge role in the function of the heart and an important role in muscle function. Lastly, it provides a large amount of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can help prevent free radicals from forming in the body. Another benefit of this vitamin is that removes plaque from arteries. This allows for the lowering of blood pressure. These are just a couple benefits of eating beets. So try to incorporate them more in your diet. They do wonders for the body and are full of many vitamins and minerals! Remember, the more colorful a fruit or vegetable is the better it is for you!