This 7-Layer Beet Salad is a stunner! Studded with cooked beets, supremed oranges, chopped pistachios, creamy truffle ricotta, and a bit of fresh mint. So fresh, so good!
My main food goal at the moment is finding ways to brighten up winter, either with fresh vegetables and fruits, or lots of great flavors.
And, not to brag, but I’ve been doing that really well by way of this beet salad for the last few weeks.
How Do You Serve This?
Individual Beet Salads
I’ve been doing this for my lunches! I got all my elements cut up and prepped in the fridge, and then every day I just layer myself a nice 7-layer beet salad on a plate for lunch. Easy.
If this is going to be a stand-alone meal, I’d recommend serving it with some good bread for swooping through all the layers. I like the rosemary focaccia from Kowalski’s. No, that’s a lie, I LOVE it. Best lunch ever.
Family Style Beet Salad / Beet Salad for the Whole Table
Just do the same thing, but build on a much larger platter and use a lot more of everything.
This makes an awesome dinner party salad because it’s so beautiful. Just let guests use a spoon to scoop servings onto their plates.
Or, if you are very casual and just eating it at home with your spouse for dinner, you just both take a fork and devour it off the same plate. Not that I have done that.
How Do You Cook Your Beets and/Or Where Do You Buy Them?
Buying Them Pre-Cooked
For the sake of time, I almost always buy the Love Beets brand pre-cooked beets, which are sold in the refrigerated produce section.
Locally, I buy them at Cub Foods or Kowalski’s. Still waiting for my Target to start carrying them!
Cooking Them Yourself
If you’re using fresh beets, YUM. We made a lot of fresh beets this summer with beets from our CSA and they are so buttery and delicious. I cooked mine in the Instant Pot! Just steamed them for about 20 minutes and then pulled the skins off once they were cooked. Easy peasy.
Orange Options
How Do You Cut the Oranges Like That?
I use a knife and a cutting board – I cut the bottom off so I can set it flat, then I cut around the sides to remove the peel and the white outer layer so what you’re left with is just the juicy center. Then I cut the center into little rounds!
Using Other Types of Oranges
I’ve made this a lot with Cara Cara oranges – I love the pink on the plate! SO pretty. I would highly recommend using (or at least trying) those if you can find them!
In these photos and in the written recipe, I just used regular oranges as they are easier to find year-round.
The Ricotta / Creamy Element Discussion
Truffle Ricotta vs. Not
I love truffle, so obviously that’s a yes from me. I bought my truffle ricotta (it’s actually something of a dip) from ALDI. Highly recommend with rosemary crackers, dolloped on pasta, and smeared on a plate for building this salad. It’s good with so many things.
If you’re sensitive to / don’t like truffle, regular ricotta will work great.
Can I Use Something Besides Ricotta?
Yes – you can also use plain yogurt! Full fat works best since it’s thicker.
Goat cheese would be a different eating experience since there would be no swooping, but also good. Just crumble it over the top!
If you’re dairy free, I think you’ll still love this salad without the plate shmear. Or I would recommend trying one of the dairy-free brand creamy dips or alternative products, like Kite Hill. That way you can still experience the creamy, scoopy deliciousness.
