May 30, 2023
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Everything you need to know, from peeling to cubing your beets, is below so your roasted beets are perfect for a salad that’s worth eating.
Oven Roasted Beets for Salads or Sides
Roasted beets are one of the best salad toppings of all time. Ultimately, they’re so delicious you can even make a roasted beet salad and enjoy them on their own.
By roasting them, beets get super tender and develop that irresistible slightly sweet caramelized flavor. They’re definitely better roasted than pickled or thrown raw into a low-sugar smoothie, IMO.
What You Need
The process of roasting beets is simple and with a couple ingredients, you can turn this root vegetable into a mouthwatering cube.
You’ll need:
- Beets: golden or purple beets, greens removed.
- Olive oil: prevents the beets from sticking to the sheet pan.
- Salt & pepper: they season and intensify the sweet caramelized flavors.
*A printable recipe card is below after all the tips!
How to Roast Beets in the Oven
Grab a cutting board, a sharp knife, and some beets. And to avoid purple-stained hands, grab a pair of kitchen gloves first.
You will need to:
- Prep
Preheat the oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. Wash the beets under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel. - Peel and dice
Use a sharp knife to remove the leafy greens and stems. If you want to peel them before roasting, now is the time. Then, cube them. - Season the beets
Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper over the cubed beets. Toss to combine the seasonings. - Roast to perfection
Bake them in the preheated oven until fork-tender. - Serve
Allow the beets to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
How to Know When Roasted Beets Are Done
You’ll know the roasted beets are perfectly cooked and ready to be taken out of the oven when the larger pieces feel tender when poked with a fork. If you’re roasting golden beets, they’ll have a bronzy look with crispy edges.
Do You Eat Skin on Roasted Beets?
Beet skins are edible and get super tender in the oven, but keeping them on is optional, and doesn’t make a significant difference in their flavor or texture.
If peeling beets aren’t your thing, consider roasting beets whole wrapped in foil, and cubing them for salads after they’re cooked.
How Long do Roasted Beets Last in the Fridge?
After roasting and allowing the beets to cool down to room temperature, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Are Beets Healthier Raw or Roasted?
Beets are a healthy option whether you serve them raw or roasted. Roasting them does not change their nutritional benefits; it only enhances their taste by breaking down their natural sugars and making them sweeter.
Best Salads for Diced Roasted Beets
You can turn your diced beets into a salad or upgrade any salad with roasted beets, including the ones below.
Tip: if not serving the beets immediately and want to turn them into a healthy office lunch for a few days, wait for them to cool down completely before topping your bed of greens.
Dressing for Roasted Beets
Roasted beets have a naturally sweet flavor that pairs great with tangy dressings like a Balsamic Vinaigrette, a Maple Dijon Vinaigrette, a Citrus Vinaigrette, or a Champagne Vinaigrette. The combination of tangy, sweet, and savory is *chef’s kiss!
Simple Roasted Cubed Beets for Salads
Ingredients
- 4 medium beets, purple or golden
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- Wash the beets under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Using a sharp knife, cut off the top greens and stems down to the top of the beet and the bottom stem (what looks like a tail). Using a vegetable peeler, peel the beets if desired.
- Cut the beets into 1-inch cubes and transfer them to the baking sheet.
- Drizzle the beets with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat all the beet cubes with the oil and seasonings.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, until fork-tender. Remove from oven.
- Serve them warm over a salad, make a warm beet salad, or wait for them to cool down to room temperature. Once cooled, you can store them in an airtight container up to 4 days.
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