Nutrition Notes

Are Beets Good for You?

Beets are loaded with fiber, folate and potassium, which may help reduce your blood pressure. You'll also get some plant protein and cancer-fighting antioxidants called betalains, which also help reduce inflammation. With that said beets might not be for everyone. If you're prone to gout, beets may trigger a flare-up due to their oxalates, which increase uric acid levels in the body.

Is This Recipe Vegan?

If you're a strict vegan, no, this recipe is not vegan due to the honey. But if you're a vegan who includes honey in their diet—and you like beets—then this is a great recipe for you.

Tips from the Test Kitchen

How Do I Prepare Beets for Roasting?

When shopping for beets, look for ones that are firm to the touch, without cuts or dents in the skin. If the beet greens are still attached, look for leaves that are bright in color and crisp. Cut off beet greens to prepare the beets for roasting, leaving at least 1 inch of stem attached. Gently scrub them with a vegetable brush under cold water to remove dirt and debris. Dry the beets with a towel to remove excess moisture. Trim off the taproot, the long, thin root hanging from the bottom of the beet.

colorful beets on a wooden cutting board — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Can I Make Beet Salad Ahead of Time?

Absolutely. After cooking the beets, let them cool. Then, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to two days.

two hands holding a roasted golden beet in a paper towel — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

What Should I Serve with Beet Salad?

This simple salad can be prepared for a weeknight dinner and pairs well with many main dishes, including Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Pork Chops with Balsamic Sweet Onions, Skillet Lemon-Pepper Salmon and Montreal-Style Hanger Steak & Sweet Potato Frites.

Serve beet salad alongside vegetarian main dishes like Cheesy Polenta with Roasted Eggplant & Red Pepper Sauce, Sheet-Pan Spiced Chickpeas & Sweet Potatoes with Herby Yogurt, Farro Risotto with Mushrooms & Greens and Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Remove Beet Stains?

Beets are sources of natural dyes and will stain anything they touch, including your cutting boards, kitchen linens and hands. Handle them appropriately. After the beets are roasted, you can wear gloves to protect your skin from staining when cutting them on a cutting board. If you experience beet stains, they won't be permanent as long as you work quickly. To remove beet stains from your cutting board, sprinkle coarse salt over the board and use a halved lemon to scrub the board. Allow the cutting board to sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

What's the Difference Between Sherry Vinegar vs. White-Wine Vinegar?

Sherry vinegar is a culinary staple of Spain and France, where it's used in everything from salad dressings to soups. It's made with fortified white wine from an area in Spain known as the sherry triangle in the province of Cádiz. The flavor is similar to white wine vinegar made from fermented and oxidized white wine. Sherry vinegar is less acidic and has a warm, fruity taste, whereas white-wine vinegar is a little sweet and more acidic. However, they're similar enough that you can easily swap out the sherry vinegar in this recipe for white-wine vinegar, and you probably won't notice the difference. If you open a bottle of sherry vinegar, it has a shelf life of anywhere between two and five years if stored in its original container in a dark, cool pantry or cupboard. When white-wine vinegar is stored in the same manner, it lasts two to three years.

Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S., Jan Valdez and Linda Frahm

beets and celery resting on a wooden cutting board — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Ingredients

2 pounds beets, (5-6 medium)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, or white-wine vinegar
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
1 large shallot, finely chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 400˚F. Divide beets between 2 pieces of foil; bring edges together and crimp to make packets. Roast until the beets are just tender when pierced with the point of a knife, about 1 1/4 hours. Unwrap the beets and let them cool.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Meanwhile, whisk oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and pepper in a small bowl to make the dressing.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
When the beets are cool enough to handle, slip off the skins. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Add celery, shallot and the dressing; toss to coat well. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, Fall 2003

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

120	Calories
7g	Fat
13g	Carbs
2g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1/2 cup
Calories 120
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 13g	5%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 2g	4%
Total Fat 7g	9%
Saturated Fat 1g	5%
Vitamin A 139IU	3%
Vitamin C 6mg	7%
Folate 128mcg	32%
Sodium 243mg	11%
Calcium 23mg	2%
Iron 1mg	6%
Magnesium 28mg	7%
Potassium 404mg	9%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.