Description
Sweet, earthy roasted beets are the star of this vegan kale salad with feta, apple, hazelnuts, pomegranate and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Add your favorite protein for a healthy weeknight dinner or serve as a colorful side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium golden beet
- 1 medium red beet
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 6 cups baby kale
- 1/4-1/3 cup toasted hazelnuts (see note)
- 1/4-1/3 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 apple, cored and sliced
- 1/3 cup crumbled vegan feta cheese
Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp maple syrup or honey
- 1/4 + 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚F.
- Wash beets well, trim ends, and peel. Slice each beet in half lengthwise and then slice into wedges. Whisk together olive oil, balsamic, salt, pepper, and thyme. Place beets on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Separate the beets so that the red beets don’t bleed onto the golden ones.
- Drizzle oil/vinegar mixture over the beets and toss well. Roast beets for 30-35 minutes, or until fork tender and slightly browned around the edges.
- Meanwhile, whisk together all ingredients for vinaigrette. Alternatively, add all ingredients to a glass jar, seal and shake well until emulsified.
- Prepare all other salad ingredients. Drizzle 2/3 of the dressing over the kale and toss well to coat. When beets are finished roasting, add them to the salad with the rest of the ingredients and the remaining dressing and toss to coat. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
We recommend this brand of vegan feta cheese. Of course, if you're not vegan or dairy free, feel free to use regular feta.
If you don't buy pre-toasted hazelnuts, here's how to make them at home. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Spread whole hazelnuts in a single layer on a sheet pan. Roast for 10 minutes, then wrap in a dish towel while they're still hot and rub together to remove skins. When skins are mostly removed, chop and add to recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Bowl
- Calories: 212
- Sugar: 9.7 g
- Sodium: 357 mg
- Fat: 16.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.5 g
- Fiber: 3.5 g
- Protein: 3.6 g
- Cholesterol: 7.4 mg
