Beetroot Salad with Orange and Feta Cheese is a sweet and savory mix of veggies, nuts, fruit, and cheese, drizzled with a citrus vinaigrette. This easy salad recipe is a refreshing departure from your typical green salad and comes together easily for a filling meal. This beet salad is vegetarian, naturally gluten-free, and can easily be made vegan by omitting the cheese!
If you are looking for tasty ways to incorporate beets into your diet, you’ll have to try our vegan Red Velvet Beet Pancakes, this nutrient-dense Morning Wellness Smoothie, or our hearty Quinoa Beet Burger!
Beets, or beetroots, often get a bad rep but I am not sure why! This underrated vegetable is vibrant and super flavorful. Packed with fiber, folic acid, iron, and potassium, beetroot is a healthy addition to any diet.
In this salad, beets are paired with fresh, tasty ingredients like orange, apples, goat cheese, nuts, and quinoa over a bed of arugula creating a well-balanced side dish or meal. The salad is dressed with a zesty orange vinegarette and I promise, I’ve never drooled over a salad so much! Grab a fork because you’re gonna wanna try this!
You’ll love this Beetroot Salad because it’s:
- Healthy – From the beets to the quinoa, this nutritious salad is packed with fiber and has ingredients that promote gut health.
- Delicious – No boring salad here! Sweet beets, juicy oranges, peppery arugula, and tangy feta cheese are the perfect blend of flavors. This is a yummy way to sneak in some nutrients.
- Easy – This is the perfect salad to make ahead and serve at a hosted party, Christmas, or other holiday dinners. Simply cook the beets and quinoa the night before, then assembling the salad the day of is a breeze!
- Impressive – With a medley of fresh ingredients, this colorful and nutritious salad is like a rainbow of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Who doesn’t like eating something that just looks good?!
Beetroot Salad Ingredients
- Beets: Cook and peel the beets. There are a few different ways to prepare them. Boiling beets is the quickest way to cook beets. Roast beets take longer but have more of a sweet caramelized flavor. If you want to save time, you can purchase precooked beets. Alternatively, you can eat them raw; just slice them so they are thin enough to easily consume. It comes down to personal choice.
- Arugula and Spinach: A blend of bitter arugula and mild-flavored baby spinach is the perfect balance for this salad.
- Cilantro: A few sprinkles of this herb adds a depth of flavor that is unmatched.
- Quinoa: For a heartier meal, this superfood is a must. Just cook it before assembling the salad.
- Fruit: Peel and cut green apples and oranges into wedges in order to give the salad a natural sweetness.
- Walnuts: Add chopped nuts for a nice crunch. Slivered almonds are another tasty option.
- Feta cheese: Cut this creamy cheese into bite-sized chunks. Beets and feta taste wonderful together. The feta really brings this salad to life.
Orange Vinaigrette
Who knew it was so easy to make your own salad dressing? This quick dressing for the beetroot salad is bright, refreshing, and ready in just seconds! It goes so well with the salad, you won’t want to skip it. Here is what you will need:
- Orange juice
- Orange zest
- Honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- Olive oil
- Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
Is beetroot the same as beets?
Yes! Beetroot is simply another way to say beets. You can also call beetroot a table beet, red beet, or garden beet.
What is the best way to cook beets?
Boiling beets is the easiest way to cook beets. Simply bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the beets, and boil for 25-35 minutes, or until the beets are fork tender. Then, place them in cool water and peel off the skin.
You can also roast the beets in the oven for about an hour or steam them.
What cheese goes best with beets?
Beets’ sweet flavor pairs perfectly with the mild, buttery, salty flavor of goat cheese, the tangy flavor of feta cheese, or a pungent cheese like Gorgonzola.
How to Make Beetroot Salad
- Boil the beetroot on medium heat for 25-30 mins or until it can be easily pierced through with a knife.
- Place the beets in cool water and peel off the skin. After removing the skin, chop the beetroot into cubes.
- Assemble the salad. Layer the arugula with sliced beets, orange, and apple. Then, add the cooked quinoa, cilantro, feta cheese, and walnuts.
- Drizzle the dressing on top and toss the salad. Enjoy!
Preparing the Orange Vinaigrette
- Put all the ingredients in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well to combine.
- Use as desired. Store the vinaigrette in a mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Substitutions and Tips
- MAKE IT VEGAN: Omit the cheese to make this salad vegan or use vegan cheese like Violife Feta Cheese. When making the dressing, use maple syrup or agave instead of honey.
- MAKE IT AHEAD: Cook the quinoa ahead of time. Either use precooked beets (you can often find precooked beets in the produce section of the grocery store) or cook the beets 1-2 days before. Make the dressing 1-2 days before and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- SWAP THE CHEESE: Play around with the flavors and use a different cheese if you like. Try blue cheese, feta cheese, or even cottage cheese.
- KEEP CLEAN: When handling the beets, wear gloves and an apron to keep your hands and clothes stain-free.
What To Serve With Beetroot Salad
- Fish: Air Fryer Salmon, flakey cod, or Crispy fish
- Chicken: Crispy Chicken Breast or Pan-seared chicken breast
- Plant-based protein: Add falafel, tofu, or your favorite plant-based sausage/meat
I hope you enjoy this Gluten-Free Beetroot Salad Recipe!
If you try the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! Take pictures, tag #goodfoodbaddie, and share them with me on Instagram and Pinterest! I love seeing my recipes come to life in your kitchen.
More Salad Ideas! (Gluten-Free)
- Cantaloupe Salad with Arugula and Prosciutto
- Detox Cucumber Salad
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
- Watermelon Mint Salad Recipe
- Quinoa Vegetable Salad
- The Best Superfood Salad
- Southwest Chicken Salad
- Vegan Caesar Salad
Beetroot Salad with Orange and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
Beetroot Salad
- 3 Large beets cooked and peeled
- 2 cups Arugula
- 2 cups Baby Spinach
- ¼ cup Cilantro chopped
- ½ cup Quinoa cooked (according to package instructions)
- 1 Large green apple peeled and cut into wedges
- 2 Large oranges peeled and cut into wedges
- ⅓ cup Chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup Feta cheese cut into chunks
Orange Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup Orange juice
- 1 tbsp Orange zest
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 2 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- ¼ tsp Sea Salt plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp Pepper plus more to taste
Instructions
- Bring a medium saucepan filled with water to a boil. Boil the beetroot on medium heat for 25-30 mins or until it can be easily pierced through with a knife.
- Place the beets in cool water and peel off the skin. After removing the skin, chop the beetroot into cubes
- Assemble the salad. Layer the arugula with sliced beets, orange, and apple. Then, add the cooked quinoa, cilantro, feta cheese, and walnuts.
- Drizzle the dressing on top and toss the salad. Enjoy!
How To Make The Orange Vinaigrette
- Put all the ingredients in a mason jar with a tight fitting lid and shake well to combine.
- Use as desired. Store the vinaigrette in a mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 day. Give it a shake before using.
Video
I made this tonight and it was so delicious!!! We dubbed in brown rice for the quinoa and added cucumbers as we had some left over. The orange vinaigrette was YUMMMMM!! Thank you for sharing!
Sounds delish! I am happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for leaving a review 🙂