Can you guess what a Greek would add to his beetroot salad? I'm sure you couldn't possibly have guessed the garlic right? 😜 This Simple Beetroot Salad is the classic Greek version. We do make another version with Greek yogurt as well. Here's my recipe for the yogurt beetroot salad.
This salad is a super simple beet salad! It's made with fresh red beetroots, mixed with garlic, fresh herbs, red wine vinegar, and olive oil.
My personal touch to this easy beet recipe is the addition of beet leaves. They add a nice crunch and nutritional boost. And if you haven't added them to a salad yet, you should!
Beets And Feta
This recipe for Greek beetroot salad you can also serve with crumbled feta cheese on top. Beets and feta are a great pair. Beetroots are naturally pretty sweet, whereas feta cheese is pretty salty, this sweet-salty flavor contrast is what makes a beet feta salad taste so good. It tastes even as good as beetroot and goat's cheese salad, the latter being the most popular cheese to pair with beetroots.
You're Going To Love This Salad Because It's... ↓
- light & fresh,
- very appetizing
- easy to make
- it can't get any healthier than this!
How To Make Beet Salad
Like I said this salad is very simple to make. Just boil the beets (or roast them in the oven if you prefer), next cool and cut them into cubes, and finally mix them with the remaining ingredients.
How To Cook Beets For A Salad: To cook beets for a salad, separate them from the stems and leaves add them to a small cooking pot or saucepan, and cover them with water. No need to peel the beets. Cut off only the long root at the bottom (if there is one). Boil them whole so they won't lose their color.
Boil beets until they feel tender when you insert a knife through them but not as soft as a cooked potato. We want beets to remain firm to the bite.
Another way to cook beets for a salad is to roast them. If you prefer this method see here how to roast beets.
Cooling And Cutting Beets: Transfer the beets to a bowl with cold water to cool. Then cut off a thin slice from the top and bottom and the skin will come off simply by rubbing it with your fingers. Cut them into 2cm/3/4-inch cubes and add them to a mixing bowl.
Using Beetroot Leaves: Add only the smallest tender beetroot leaves to the salad without the stems. We want to add crunch so avoid the bigger leaves. To use the leaves, wash them well, dry them on paper towels then chop and add to the bowl. Don't use too many of them just a few.
The Quick Dressing: Combine extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and minced garlic then pour it over the salad. Add also the chopped fresh herbs (dill, mint, parsley).
Marinate The Salad: To make this Greek beet salad recipe taste even better, marinate it in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours. This will give time for the beets to combine and absorb all the delicious flavors.
Can I Use Other Beets?
This red beet salad recipe can be made with other types of beets. Like golden beets, or baby beets. Or make it a mixed-color beet salad using red beets and golden beets. However, cook them separately so they won't color each other.
You can even use store-bought cooked beets from the grocery store. I prefer using fresh beets for salad and cooking them myself. Because I like beets to have a bite and crispness, unlike the cooked ones you get from the grocery store. Plus, you get to use the leaves as well.
Other Beetroot Salad Recipes You May Like...
Additional Ingredients
There are a few other ingredients to add to this delicious and quick beet salad. Such as...
Additional Greens:
- Rocket
- Collard greens sauteed
- Baby spinach leaves
- Dandelion greens steamed or boiled
To Make It A Meal Salad:
- Potatoes boiled
- Eggs boiled
- Chicken boiled
- Avocado
Storing
You can keep this beet salad with vinegar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Seve With
What goes well with beets salad is a lightly cooked fish or seafood such as a Grilled Sea Bream, Grilled Sardines, or Grilled Squid. A greens pie, like traditional Hortopita or a Spanakopita, goes well with beet salad. Or even a Feta Cheese Pie.
Recipe
Simple Beetroot Salad With Garlic & Herbs
Ingredients
- 400 grams (14.1 ounces) fresh red beetroots or use storebought cooked beets
- a handful of beetroot leaves only the smallest and crispest ones
- 1 large garlic clove minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley minced
- ½ teaspoon spearmint or mint minced
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- OPTIONAL: 60 grams (2.1 ounces) feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
Prepare The Beetroots:
- Cook. Add beetroots to a small cooking pot or saucepan and coat with water. Boil over moderate heat until beets are tender but not too soft when you run a knife through them.
- Cool. Transfer the beetroots to a bowl with cold water and allow to cool.
- Skin. Slice off the top and bottom of a beetroot and then rub with your hands the skin should easily come off. If necessary use a knife.
- Cut. Dice beetroots into 2cm (¾-inch) chunky pieces. Add to a mixing bowl.
- The beetroot leaves: rinse and then drain them on paper towels.
Make The Salad:
- Make the dressing. In a small mixing bowl combine the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and salt. Pour over the beets.
- Add the fresh herbs (parsley, dill, mint) to the bowl as well.
- Mix. Lastly, chop the beetroot leaves and add to the bowl. Mix the salad well to combine.
- Marinate. Place the salad in the fridge to marinate for at least 2-3 hours.
- Serve. You can serve this salad with crumbled feta cheese on top or plainly as is!
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