This easy beet salad with goat cheese for one is made with fresh beets, arugula, hemp hearts, & goat cheese, drizzled with a balsamic glaze and lemon juice. It's done in just 5 minutes, and great with edamame or chicken added.
[This beet salad with goat cheese recipe was originally posted in April 2019. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
Table of contents
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Simple ingredients make for a great beet salad with goat cheese. There are lots of different ways you can get the ingredients-fresh unpeeled beets, cooked beets, canned beets.
You can also steam or roast your beets. Any way this impressive salad will be a delicious side dish.
Buy pre prepared ingredients for your beet salad or raw and do the work yourself. The only difference is the 30-40 minutes that it takes to cook the beets. There are lots of ways to make this salad easier. It's delicious any way.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the beet salad with goat cheese recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Earthy beets: use what you have/like/have access to. Roasted beets, steamed, canned, frozen, etc are all great options. Also, you can use traditional red beets, golden beets, or whatever color you can find.
- Peppery arugula: these are my favorite salad greens in this beautiful salad, but use whatever you have. If you're not a fan of arugula, try other leafy greens (baby spinach, mixed greens, etc)
- Creamy goat cheese: The creamy, slightly salty flavor goes well with beets. Feta or gorgonzola cheese would be good too.
- Hemp Hearts
- Lemon Juice: you could also drizzle a lemon vinaigrette over your beet salad with goat cheese.
- Balsamic Glaze: this is a thick balsamic dressing, you can make your own (I like this Martha Stewart recipe) or buy some. Or just drizzle balsamic vinegar and oil over the salad.
Instructions
Scroll down to the beet salad with goat cheese recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
If you don't have precooked beets, steam them. Here's an easy Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker Beets recipe.
1. Heat up your goat cheese in the microwave for just 10-20 seconds. It'll get warm and super creamy. You're welcome.
2. Assemble your beet salad with goat cheese: Place a large handful of arugula on your serving plate/bowl.
3. Add sliced beets (either hot, room temperature, or cold beet salad) on top of your greens.
4. Add a few spoon sized dollops of soft goat cheese on top.
5. Sprinkle hemp hearts over your beet salad, then drizzle balsamic reduction (or balsamic vinegar) and squeeze fresh lemon juice on top to add a hit of acid to your salad.
6. Enjoy your beet salad with goat cheese as is, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, or make a few substitutions, as you'll find below, in the Substitutions/Tips section.
Storage/Reheating Tips
Store individual salad ingredients from your beet salad with goat cheese in airtight containers in the fridge. They will probably last about a week. Assemble before eating for freshest flavors.
You can freeze the beets and even the goat cheese, but not arugula. Freeze in individual portions for easier use when you're cooking for one.
Substitutions/Tips
- Use whatever kind of beets you like best. This beet salad with goat cheese is great with steamed, roasted, canned, or even really thin sliced fresh beets.
- You can substitute the goat cheese for feta cheese or even sharp cheddar cheese, if you don't have goat cheese on hand.
- You can substitute the balsamic glaze for a drizzle of red wine vinegar and olive oil for dressing in this salad recipe.
- Other Add-ins: sunflower seeds, chopped pistachios or toasted pecans, red onion, halved cherries or blackberries, etc would all be good in this beet salad with goat cheese.
- Other Dressing ideas: lemon vinaigrette, Dijon mustard (mix with balsamic glaze to make a salad dressing), or add some maple syrup. Black pepper is always great in dressings too.
FAQ
I have seen lots of beet salads on restaurant menus. They often have goat cheese and different toppings like nuts, seeds, and fruit. But this is a common beet salad base.
Try this simple beet and goat cheese salad for a quick homemade version.
Add a handful of steamed edamame and your favorite crusty bread to this beet and goat cheese salad.
You can also use any protein/grain that you already have in the fridge such as grilled chicken or rice, farro, or other grain.
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
- Arugula: Use up the arugula by making this Strawberry Salad, Grilled Turkey and Brie Sandwich, or Watermelon Chicken Salad.
- Beets: Roasted Beets and Potatoes, Beet, avocado, and goat cheese salad via Foodie Crush, Pickled beets via Half Baked Harvest, Beet, goat cheese, and honey tarts via How Sweet Eats.
- Goat Cheese: Fig and Prosciutto Pizza, Swap it for feta in Zucchini Salad, or this Pear and Prosciutto Pizza.
Did you make this easy beet salad with goat cheese? leave me a comment to share how it turned out!
Beet Salad with Goat Cheese for One
Equipment
- knife
- cutting board
- Measuring Spoons
- Measuring Cups
- Large mixing bowl
- tongs
Ingredients
- 2 cups arugula
- ½ whole beet cooked and chopped
- 1 oz goat cheese
- 1 teaspoon hemp hearts
- ½ tablespoon balsamic glaze such as Sprout's brand
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Assemble salad by starting with arugula (2 c), then add chopped beets (½ whole), using a spoon, scoop up goat cheese (1 oz) and place into 3-4 dollops on salad, sprinkle hemp hearts (1 tsp) on top.
- Then drizzle balsamic glaze (½ tbsp) over salad and squeeze lemon juice (½ tsp) on top.
- Finish with freshly ground salt and pepper if desired.
Notes
- Want to steam your own beets? Follow these simple instructions
- Add grilled chicken or edamame & a slice of your favorite crusty bread to make this salad into a full meal.
- You can substitute the balsamic glaze with a drizzle of olive oil & balsamic vinegar.
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Abbey Sharpe says
I love simple salads like this! So fresh, healthy, and no fuss
Beth Pierce says
I love how healthy and savory this salad is! This will make the perfect lunch this week; yum!
Rebecca says
it totally would! enjoy
Katherine says
This salad looks so vibrant and tasty. I love the addition of hemp hearts too!
Rebecca says
thanks! it's an easy addition
Heidy L. McCallum says
I love beets and love arugula even more so this salad recipe is a great idea. My husband isn't fond of either of them but MORE for me is what I always say. He can have his plain Jane meat and potatoes and I will make one of your delicious salads and something else. OR I can take this for lunch one day.
Rebecca says
haha! I feel ya, it does complicate things when you have different preferences than who you're cooking for. But at least you can see that you get more!!
Julia says
Mmm...this salad has all my favorite ingredients. Love how refreshing and flavorful it is!
Rebecca says
thanks! it's easy & delish
Ellen says
This salad sounds so delicious! I'd roast the beets too. I think there were be so much more flavor!
Rebecca says
ya roasted beets are great!