Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

This Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette is made with fresh red leaf lettuce, kale, creamy goat cheese, easy roasted beets, and crunchy walnuts. It is tossed with a velvety homemade balsamic vinaigrette for an easy salad to pair alongside dinner or for a quick and fresh lunch.

This recipe is inspired by the produce we receive at our weekly farm share. It’s a great way to use what’s in season mid-summer, but it can be made year round. It’s hearty, fresh, and satisfying. The dressing, which is somewhat thicker than a typical vinaigrette, is sweetened with honey and really makes the dish.

For another roasted vegetable salad, try Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Maple Vinaigrette, a green leaf salad with farro added for heft.

🛒  Ingredients

Below are the ingredients needed to make this Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette.

• Beets: As I learned from our farm share, when storing beets, it is helpful to separate the beet roots from the greens and store them separately, as the greens will continue to drain moisture from the roots.
• Olive Oil: I recommend using extra virgin olive oil, particularly for the dressing, as it has a big impact on overall flavor. I tend to use a mild tasting Spanish extra virgin olive oil from Costco or Trader Joe’s.
• Red Lettuce and Kale: Red lettuce is crispy and adds color to the salad, and the kale adds heartiness and flavor. However, any salad greens would work.
• Goat Cheese: If possible, use a block of goat cheese that you crumble yourself onto the salad. It tends to be quite a bit creamier and tastes better than goat cheese crumbles.
• Walnuts: Add an earthy crunch. To take this over the top, you can candy the walnuts before adding them to the salad (heat on medium-low heat, toss with some brown sugar until melted and coated, then move to cool on wax paper.)
• Balsamic Vinaigrette:
  • Balsamic Vinegar: I like the Whole Foods brand Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, a location that is known for producing high-quality balsamic vinegar.
  • Olive Oil: Choose a high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
  • Honey: Any type/brand of honey will work.
  • Dijon Mustard: This acts as an emulsifier, which helps to prevent the olive oil and vinegar from separating for a thicker, creamier dressing. You dont really taste the mustard in the dressing.
  • Garlic: Removing the center stem of the garlic removes some of the intensity of the garlic for a milder taste in the dressing (this is particularly helpful since it calls for raw garlic, which is intense in flavor for a salad dressing).

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

📝 How to Make this Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Below are the step-by-step instructions and photos for how to make this Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Step 1. Roast the Beets: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Peel and dice the beets. Place them on a sheet pan. Drizzle them with olive oil and toss to coat. Season with salt. Bake at 400°F for 30-35 minutes or until fork tender.

Step 2. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic.

Step 3. Assemble the Salad: In a large salad bowl, add the chopped red leaf lettuce, kale, roasted beets, goat cheese, and walnuts. Drizzle with dressing to taste and toss to combine.

🍴Pairing Ideas

Here are a few ideas for main dishes that can be served alongside this Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad.

• Lemon Chicken Cutlets: Crispy panko-coated chicken cutlets with a lemon, white wine butter sauce. A lighter dinner that benefits from a salad on the side.
• Leek and Bacon Asparagus Frittata: For a super easy dinner or lunch, throw together this veggie and bacon frittata along with the salad.
• Flamenquines: Pork cutlets, breaded and rolled with ham and cheese, would pair perfectly with this easy salad.

💖 For More Salad and Vegetable Dish Ideas, You May Love These:

If you make this Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette or any other recipe on my site, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I'd love to hear from you!