Description
This vibrant and elegant dish features tender roasted beets paired with sweet mandarin oranges and creamy whipped goat cheese, accentuated with fresh herbs and a touch of honey. A perfect balance of earthy, tangy, and sweet flavors, garnished with crunchy roasted pumpkin seeds for texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Roasted Beets
- 1 ½ pounds beets (about 7–8 medium beets)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons olive oil (additional)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Whipped Goat Cheese
- 1 (8-ounce) goat cheese log (broken into 1-ounce chunks)
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme (plus more for serving)
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary (plus more for serving)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
Garnish
- 2 mandarin oranges (peeled and segmented)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped roasted pumpkin seeds
- Honey (optional, for drizzling)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F to prepare for roasting the beets.
- Prepare and roast the beets: Rinse and trim the ends of the beets. Rub them with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and sprinkle the cut sides with ¼ teaspoon salt. Wrap the beets in two separate foil packets and place them on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 40–50 minutes, or until they become fork-tender.
- Peel and cut beets: Once they are cool enough to handle, peel off the skins and cut the roasted beets into 1-inch wedges.
- Toss beets with honey and seasoning: Transfer the cut beets to a large bowl. Toss them with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Prepare whipped goat cheese: In a small food processor or blender, combine goat cheese chunks, Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey, freshly chopped thyme and rosemary, and lemon juice.
- Whip the goat cheese: Pulse the mixture 5–10 times, then blend for 10–20 seconds until smooth and creamy. Take care not to overblend to avoid a runny texture.
- Assemble and serve: Spread the whipped goat cheese evenly on a serving platter. Arrange the roasted beet wedges and mandarin orange segments on top, keeping the oranges separate to prevent color bleeding. Sprinkle with the chopped roasted pumpkin seeds and additional fresh thyme. Finish with an optional drizzle of honey for added sweetness.
Notes
- Be sure not to toss the mandarin oranges with the beets to avoid red beet juice coloring the oranges.
- If roasting fresh pumpkin seeds at home, roast them lightly with a pinch of salt for extra crunch.
- Use fresh herbs for the brightest flavor; dry herbs can be used if fresh are unavailable but reduce quantity.
- Allow the beets to fully cool before peeling to make the process easier and to avoid burning your hands.
- Chilling the beets after tossing helps the flavors meld and prepares them for a refreshing salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: roasted beets salad, whipped goat cheese, mandarin oranges, Mediterranean salad, healthy vegetarian recipe
