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Roasted Beet and Caramelized Pear Salad with feta and walnuts.

Roasted Beet and Caramelized Pear Salad

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings: 4
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Calories: 315
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 medium beets trimmed
  • 2 firm Anjou or Bosc pears sliced into wedges
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for pears
  • 5 oz baby arugula or mixed greens
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 1/2 cup walnuts toasted
  • For the Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Roast Beets: Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap beets in foil and roast for 45-60 mins. Peel and slice once cool.
  2. Caramelize Pears: Heat oil in a skillet. Sauté pear wedges for 2-3 mins per side until golden.
  3. Make Dressing: Whisk all dressing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
  4. Assemble: Place greens in a bowl. Top with beets, pears, feta, and walnuts. Drizzle with dressing.

Notes

  • Beet Tip: To prevent the "bleeding" effect, do not slice the beets until they have cooled for at least 10 minutes. For a cleaner presentation, dress the greens and pears first, then gently nestle the beets on top.
  • Pear Selection: Use Bosc or Anjou pears. They have a denser flesh that won't fall apart or turn to mush when hitting the hot skillet.
     
  • Nut Prep: Always toast your walnuts. A quick 3-minute toast in a dry pan transforms the texture from soft to crunchy and removes any bitter aftertaste.
  • Feta Quality: If possible, buy feta in brine. It is significantly creamier and more authentic to the Mediterranean style than pre-crumbled varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents.
  • Make-Ahead: You can roast the beets and make the vinaigrette up to 3 days in advance. Store them in the fridge, but bring the dressing to room temperature before whisking and serving to liquefy the olive oil.
  • Vegan Substitution: Simply replace the honey with maple syrup and omit the feta or swap it for sliced avocado for that same creamy mouthfeel.