Roasted Beet, Walnut & Goat Cheese Salad

• 1.5 lb (about 4 medium) beets (scrubbed, tops and tails trimmed; golden beets bleed less)
• 5 cups (about 5 oz) arugula
• 1/2 cup, roughly chopped walnuts
• 4 oz log, crumbled goat cheese
• 1/4 small, very thinly sliced red onion
• 1 orange (zested, then juiced)
• 1/4 cup, divided olive oil (1 tbsp for roasting the beets, 3 tbsp for the dressing)
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp raw honey (optional)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Set the whole, unpeeled beets in the center of a large sheet of foil, drizzle with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and a pinch of the salt, and wrap them into a tight packet.
2. Roast for 50 to 60 minutes, until a knife slides into the center of the largest beet with no resistance.
3. Meanwhile, toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until they smell nutty, then tip them onto a plate to cool.
4. Whisk the orange zest, 3 tbsp of the orange juice, vinegar, mustard, honey, remaining salt and the remaining 3 tbsp of olive oil into a vinaigrette.
5. Let the beets cool for about 10 minutes until you can handle them, then rub off the skins with a paper towel and cut the beets into wedges.
6. Toss the warm beets with 2 tbsp of the vinaigrette and let them sit while you prepare the greens.
7. Toss the arugula and red onion with a little of the remaining vinaigrette and pile it onto a platter.
8. Top with the beets, crumble the goat cheese over the top, scatter the walnuts, and drizzle with the last of the vinaigrette.

Tips

• Roast the beets up to 5 days ahead and keep them peeled in the fridge. Dress the greens only when you are ready to eat.
• Cutting the beets into quarters before wrapping them cuts the roasting time to about 35 minutes. Very large beets can take up to 90 minutes whole.
• Beet juice stains hands, boards and cloths, so wear disposable gloves to peel if you like, and add the goat cheese last so it stays white.
• For a plant-based version, skip the cheese and the honey and add a spoonful of toasted sunflower seeds or white beans.

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