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Add a pop of color and fresh flavors with this Citrus Beet Salad with a Champagne Vinaigrette Dressing.
One summer in high school, I worked for this catering company and they had this citrus salad on the menu that majority of customers ordered. One busy weekend, there a bunch of catering events scheduled and I was working the prep station, segmenting hundreds of citrus. I became pretty speedy at the process. By segmenting citrus away from the connective membrane makes it more tender and visually appealing, especially for a salad.
Beets have a very distinct earthy flavor. By adding something acidic, like citrus fruit, it offsets it by giving the beets a sweeter note.
Beets contain two important nutrients that can help lower blood pressure: potassium and nitrate. Potassium works with sodium to maintain the volume of blood in circulation steady. More sodium in the body means more water, more blood volume and higher blood pressure. Consuming more potassium helps flush sodium out of our system, lowering blood pressure.
I just love the bright colors the ingredients in this salad bring. More colors, more nutrients!
Citrus Beet Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette Dressing
- Yield: 4
Ingredients
- 3 beets, greens and stems removed
- 1 grapefruit, cut into segments
- 1 orange, cut into segments, reserving 1 tablespoon of juice and the zest
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 2 cups arugula
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Scrub beets clean under cold water. Wrap each beet in tin foil. Place on a baking sheet; bake until beets are slightly soft to the touch, 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on their size. Cool beets in packets, then rub off skins (use a paring knife for tough spots). Quarter each beet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, champagne vinegar, honey, orange juice, salt, and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine the beets and arugula. Drizzle half the vinaigrette over the beet arugula mixture and toss to combine.
- Top with grapefruit segments, orange segments, and walnuts. Drizzle the remaining vinaigrette on top. Garnish with orange zest.
Notes
Time-saving tip: Use Love Beets (See Supermarket RD’s Picks), which are already cooked and steamed.