This easy and healthy Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Apricots, and Pistachios is perfect for Easter brunch or dinner and as a salad course or as a vegetarian side dish. Leftovers are wonderful for lunch too!
I love beets. I love them any way I can get them. Raw, cooked, roasted, grilled, fried, poached, steamed, marinated, pickled, savory, sweet, as patties, as soup, with meat, without meat…literally any way possible, but my favorite is in a delicious salad.
I have friends who greatly dislike beets and refuse to eat them. I’m pretty sure they’ve never had a great beet salad, such as this Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Apricots, and Pistachios. I’ll make quite the bold statement by saying that this salad can convert even the most hardcore beet hater. You know what they say, once you have you’ve had a great beet salad you never go back ?
Since summer is right around the corner, it’s been time to get my behind into shape, so I joined a local Pilates and Barre studio. I’ve gone 3 times a week for the past 2 weeks and have actually gained 2 pounds instead of losing. What the funk?
These are not easy classes. They are all one hour fusion cardio combo classes where I huff and puff and get all sweaty. I mean, if I’m going to exert that much energy, then I need to see some results and fast! I realize it’s only been 2 weeks, but come on…obviously I’m not a patient person.
I’ve heard that weight loss is 75 percent diet and 25 percent exercise so I’m also trying to eat healthier. That is not an easy task for someone who loves all kinds of food and finds it so damn difficult to say “no” to yummy eats. And then I do things like make this Blueberry Granola Soda Bread or this Spanish Pan Pizza, neither of which are diet food.
Then there’s lunchtime. I’m terrible at picking healthy food for lunch because all I want to do is eat potato chips. I always start off well and with good intentions by opening a can of tuna or eating a leftover chicken breast, but then my mind wanders to the tasty Salt & Vinegar bag of chips in the pantry. Before I know it, the bag’s open and I’ve chowed down on half of it ?
Calling beets to the rescue. This salad is perfectly hearty enough for lunch and is chock-full of yummy dried apricots, roasted pistachios, and topped with a herb goat cheese. Leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for several days and it’s a great convenience to have them as a quick weekday lunch…plus it keeps my tater chips cravings at bay.
Originally, I was thinking a honey balsamic vinaigrette would pair nicely with these flavors, but my beets were really sweet on their own, so I left it simple. Feel free to add honey or even Dijon mustard to the dressing to give it some sass, if it’s needed.
Embrace healthy eating with this Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Apricots, and Pistachios for lunch or dinner as a side or main entrée.
- 4 medium organic golden and/or red beets
- 3-4 ounces herb goat cheese, crumbled
- ⅓ cup dried apricots, chopped
- ⅓ cup roasted pistachio pieces (I used Trader Joe's dry roasted & unsalted)
- 3 Tb good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tb balsamic vinegar
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Scrub beets well, dry, and coat with a little olive oil. Place beets in an ovenproof pan, cover with foil, and roast at 350 for 40-45 minutes, or until knife tender.
- When beets are cool enough to handle, remove the skin, and cut into slices. Place beets on a serving platter, sprinkle with goat cheese, chopped apricots, and pistachios.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil and balsamic vinegar and mix well. Drizzle over beets. Serve immediately.
I’m right there with ya – beet salads are the best, and this one is so gorgeous! Love all the pretty colors 😀
Thank you Rachel. I don’t think there’s any veggie prettier than beets 🙂
This is such a beautiful salad! I have everything in my pantry except for the beets, so I may find myself making this soon. Pinned!
Thanks so much Bhiravi! If you make it, please let me know how you like it 😉
SWOOOON! I love everything about this. Beets + pistachios + apricots??! Inspired!!
How frustrating about the weight gain after all of that working out! But bear in mind that it’s pretty near physically impossible to have gained 2 pounds of actual fat in such a short period of time, so some (if not all) of it is likely water! Also, whenever I start running again after stopping for several months, my legs SWELL UP. For days. I guess the muscle gets very excited? haha. Very scientific explanation right there, but maybe that’s what’s going on too? I haven’t weighed myself in probably five years because I used to find it so discouraging and confusing… Now I go by the waist of my (stretchy) pants. hehehe.
Appreciate it Sophie and thanks for saying I didn’t gain 2 pounds of fat! Hahahaha! Actually I am noticing myself toning up a little but it’s definitely frustrating that I haven’t seen it reflected in the scale. I need to stop weighing myself! 🙂
OMG..I had a very similar salad at a restqurant in Boston and I’m still thinking about it…I am so happy now I can have it at home too! I remember thinking there is not way all of this would go together…but man oh man was I wrong! And love how you roast the beets so smart..no icky colored hands 🙂
Oooo Heather! What Boston restaurant was it? I’ve got to go into the city soon for some good eats, although I’m terrible at going anywhere except Chinatown for dim sum and The North End for Italian (Pomodoro is my favorite). I’m a creature of habit, I guess 🙂
I love adding beetroot to salads, especially when there is goats cheese involved too. This is such a beautiful salad.
Thanks Dannii and goat cheese makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it? I could put goat cheese on everything! 😉
Oh, Karrie, this looks so tasty and pretty! The colours!! I love beets too, especially when paired with goat cheese, apricots and pistachios! Good luck with the class! I’m sure once you have been at it a little longer, you’ll see the results you want. I wish we could just eat whatever we want, whenever we want without having to worry about calories. Seriously. Ugh. I enjoy working out, but, seriously, half the time I think I do it just so I can feel guilt free for when I do indulge. This recipe is super healthy, but also sounds a little extravagant. I bet this would be nice for supper with some chicken (and wine, of course…hehehe). Have a lovely weekend! xo
Thanks Dawn. I definitely work out because I eat so much food. Some roast chicken, this beet salad, and a nice bottle of red wine sounds absolutely fantastic! Wish we lived closer to one another so we could partake in that together 🙂
I feel like you snuck into my house and found all the odds and ends in my fridge and pantry that I need to use up and then created this salad just for me! I adore beets, too, and I’m with you – this salad looks like it could convert anyone! I’ve got a few beets in my veggie drawer that I haven’t had a chance to roast but I’m seriously off to do that right now so I can make this magic happen.
P.S. You probably have gained muscle from those classes so give it another two weeks and I bet you’ll see the weight come off – muscle burns more calories so your metabolism will rev up a bit!
You’re too cute Kathryn. Thank you and I really appreciate you reassuring me that everything will be okay and I’ll see results soon 🙂 xoxoxo
I dunno what your fusion classes look like, but if your doing any lifting along with your cardio (you should because it will help you lose weight faster! Yes, I give unsolicited advice to my bestie! Tehe), you will gain a couple pounds before losing any. So don’t fret, my little pet! I hear ya on chips being SO hard to pass up, especially my favs – salt n’ vinegar. So good. So you should keep this salad on hand 24/7, Karrie, because I would totally devour this over those chips any day! LOVE the flavors going on here and the colors! Beeeet-utiful! Totally making this next week for lunch… and probably dinner. 😉 Pinned! Cheers, lovely! xo
Yes, I am doing some lifting with these classes and that’s what makes them so damn hard!! I like sitting on my couch waaaaay better than exercise. lol! Thanks for pinning bestie! xoxo 🙂
I was not thinking about chips until you mentioned it, so the plan is to go straight to the pantry after I leave this comment and get myself some. That’s okay—I forgive you! 🙂 Great job on the eating light and exercising, Karrie! Keep up the good work! I love all the combination of flavors, especially the peach, and apricot. This salad would definitely leave me happy and satisfied!
Yes Thao! Chips for everyone!!! Thanks and I’ll try to keep at this exercising stuff (only so I can eat more) heeheehee 😉
Girrrrrl!!!! I feel your pain… I am trying to eat healthy but those chips keep haunting me… I feel like Alice and Wonderland being daunted by the “Eat Me” signs…. Chips and Dip, Chips and Salsa, Salt and Vinegar Chips, Jalapeño Chips…. It is a constant love/hate war with the salty, crunchy, non-nutritional junk food. BUT Your Beet Salad looks AMAZING!!! It is so colorful. I would have never thought to add Apricots and Pisatchios!! Brilliant!!! I want a plate of it right now! How do you like the Barre Class? I have never tried it.
Thanks my friend and I know you hear me girl, because you like chips just as much as me 😉 I forgot to tell you but I made your dill pickle dip about a month ago and almost ate the whole dang bowl with a full bag of chips! So good 🙂
This salad is an explosion of colors! It is sooooo beautiful! It would satisfy me on so many levels….flavor, texture, healthy…. Looks just perfect!
Thank you Kathy! Takes a little bit of time with roasting the beets but it’s so worth it 🙂
Karrie! looks great! and I dont even like beets!!! all those colors!!
Hahaha! You’re one of those people who don’t like beets!! You might have to try it and maybe it will change your mind 😉
I must say, Karrie, I’ve never met a person who loved beets! You are a fascinating one… 😉 Meanwhile, I’ve been enjoying your musical tweets and Instagrams about beet “beats.” 🙂 Anyway, don’t sweat it on the pounds! You’re working out hard and kicking butt, that’s all that matters. You’re doing awesome! This salad looks super scrumptious. Thanks for sharing an awesome recipe, Karrie. 🙂
Thanks Demeter and I do love me some beets and beats! lol!
Oh, I understand you very well. I respect healthy food but for me it’s very difficult to actually eat healthy. I love salads and I try to introduce them into my menu as often as I can. Salads are good 🙂 And I like beet too 🙂
Some days I eat super healthy and then I blow it by eating a big ol’ piece (or two) of cake or a big plate of french fries and steak sandwich. heeheehee 🙂
Welcome to the club, Karrie 🙂
It’s nice to be a member Simona 😉
Girl, I’m with you on the beet love! I’ll take them any way I can get them too, but my fave is roasted. You totally found some gorgeous ones with those awesome colors! And don’t even get me started on pistachios and goat cheese. Or potato chips for that matter! I am 100% positive that you only gained weight because you are now a muscle machine after those workouts! 🙂
I think you are onto something…pistachios, goat cheese, and potato chips! That sounds delicious 😉 I’d like to think I’m a muscle machine but there’s still a lot of flab hanging around. lol!
I am with you! I love beets, too! This salad is so pretty especially as a springtime salad! Bring it!!
We all love beets! 🙂 And springtime needs to bring it on after the snow shower we had this morning. I think you might have gotten a little too. It’s almost all melted here but still, we don’t need it to snow in late March!
This salad is delish. The flavors work so well together.
Thank you Rahul 🙂
I love me some beets! (Especially with goat cheese — seriously best combo ever!) This salad looks delicious — love the addition of apricots and my favorite, pistachios! I need this for lunch (and dinner) asap.
I don’t know I better combo than beets and goat cheese Michelle 😉 Thank you and pistachios are one of my favorite nuts too. I eat way too many of those babies every week!
What a gorgeous looking salad, healthy and yummy at the same time! I wasn’t a beet lover. Loreto made me change my mind on beets and now, with your salad, I might become a true beet lover!!
Thanks Nicoletta and I figured you’d be a huge lover of beets 🙂
Love every single thing about this salad! Goat cheese, apricots, pistachios? Yes please!
Thank you Jennifer! I could just eat the goat cheese, apricots, and pistachios together 🙂
WHAT A UNIQUE combo! I know my Food Pervert bestie would totally approve! She loves sweet and savory combos like this!
The Food Pervert knows good food so no doubt she’d like this 😉
Oooh, this is such a pretty salad! I think beets and goat cheese were meant to be together. I must admit that I had a hard time with beets until I had them in a salad that included goat cheese. And these, the colors are just beautiful! I also love the apricots in this salad. As far as the workout, i have done some barre classes, and phew! That is a serious workout. I always notice that after a really hardcore workout I seem to gain weight. I am convinced that it is water retention because your muscles are all inflamed, but I have no idea if that is actually true. Anyway, forget about the scale and just focus on how pretty this salad is!
Thanks and I agree with you Meghan! Beets and goat cheese are the best combo 🙂 I hope this is all water retention because I’m getting a little discouraged. Darn barre classes! hahahaha!
WOW! Lovely colors and interesting combo!
Thank you so much Kushi! I could eat this salad every day 😉
This beet salad looks incredible, Karrie! What a healthy and delicious meal. Love that you’ve got all these textures going on too in the salad. You will make anyone a beet lover with this salad!
Thank you Beeta!