My Favorite Beet Salad

The deep, satisfying flavor of roasted beets adds sweetness to a pretty salad of baby spinach, tomato, and avocado, drizzled with homemade balsamic dressing.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 413 Calories

Ingredients

• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (8 ounce) package baby spinach leaves
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, or more to taste
• 1 (4 ounce) container crumbled feta cheese
• 6 large beets, trimmed
• 2 tomatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 0.5 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 0.5 cup balsamic vinegar
• 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 0.5 red onion, chopped, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 2

Place the beets into a large bowl, and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Lay out 2 large squares of aluminum foil on a work surface, and place 3 beets onto the center of each sheet. Fold the aluminum foil into 2 envelopes, sealing the beets into the packets; place the packets into a baking dish.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven until tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Check for tenderness after 1 hour by piercing a beet with a fork. Open the foil, and allow the beets to cool until they can be handled; peel, and slice.

Step 4

Lay out the spinach leaves on an attractive oblong-shaped serving platter. Sprinkle pieces of tomato and avocado over the spinach leaves, and top with chopped red onion. Lay the sliced warm beets over the salad, and top with crumbled feta cheese.

Step 5

Whisk together balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup of olive oil, and Dijon mustard until smooth; pour over the salad to serve.