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- Makes 8 cups
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Not a beet lover? This colorful salad could be a gamechanger. Tender baby beets are brushed with champagne vinegar and roasted to perfection so the earthy bulbs are transformed into sweet treats. The bed of beet and dandelion greens (which have a similar taste to radicchio) make a great base for the roasted beets, asparagus spears, and chewy chickpeas. Whisk together a simple mustard vinaigrette and garnish with a sprinkle of thyme for straight-from-the-garden goodness!
Tip: If you can’t find baby beets with fresh tops attached, substitute 4 cups of baby Swiss chard or baby spinach for the greens. Come summer, use full-size beets and cut them into quarters.
By Shelli McConnell,
Ingredients
- 2 lb. small beets with greens
- 4 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- 1 lb. thin asparagus spears
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- 4 cups coarsely chopped dandelion greens and/or baby arugula
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 15-oz. can no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed and drained (1½ cups)
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a 15×10-inch baking pan with foil. Remove greens from beets; cut stems from leafy portion. Coarsely chop greens; set aside. Arrange beets in the prepared pan; brush with 1 tablespoon of the vinegar. Cover with foil. Roast 30 minutes; uncover. Add asparagus to pan. Roast 15 minutes more or until beets are tender. Cool to room temperature. Cut beets in half.
- In a large bowl whisk together the remaining 3 tablespoons vinegar, the mustard, and maple syrup. Add coarsely chopped beet greens and dandelion greens; toss to coat. Season with pepper. Arrange greens in a bowl. Top with roasted vegetables and chickpeas, and sprinkle with thyme.
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Comments (3)
(5 from 4 votes)I've made variations on this salad several times for gatherings, and it's invariably immensely popular! I substitute white balsamic vinegar, use arugula, lightly roast the chickpeas, add whatever veg are available for color and texture, and often include blueberries and walnuts for health and delight. The delicious dressing really pulls it all together. Thanks for this one! My new go-to. :)
Looks like a tasty recipe! My understanding is that cooking with foil is an healthy idea. But I saw somewhere a recipe where they lined their foil with parchment paper so the foil wasn’t in direct contact with the food. I thought that was a pretty good hack! I thought I’d share it.
I'm so glad to see a recipe using dandelion greens! We have picked them from our yard and eaten them slightly cooked. Don't knock it until you try them. I can't wait to try this recipe!