Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (2024)

  • Gluten-free Salads
  • Vegetarian Salads
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Pistachios
  • Beets

Roasting enhances the sweetness of the beets while creamy horseradish sauce adds a touch of heat.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated January 27, 2024

Why It Works

  • Roasting beets in foil concentrates their flavor while keeping them juicy and tender.
  • Hot horseradish is a classic pairing with sweet, earthy beets.
  • Pistachios add texture and a toasty, nutty flavor.

I typically think of beets as a late-fall or winter vegetable, since they store very well after their growing season. But early to mid-summer is the best time to enjoy the sweetest, smallest beets of the year. Beets and horseradish are a classic Slavic/Jewish combination, and I think they work particularly well when those beets are roasted to enhance their sweetness and the horseradish comes in the form of a creamy sauce.

I start by roasting beets using mytried-and-true method: I form a pouch out of aluminum foil; place the beets inside with a little bit of oil, salt, and pepper (you can also add some herbs for extra aroma if you like); then seal it tight and throw it on a tray and into a 375°F (190°C) oven. The beets end up roasting in their own steam, which gives them a deep beet-y flavor. As soon as they're tender enough to pierce easily with the tip of a toothpick or a metal skewer, they're done; it should take about an hour and a half total. You can poke your toothpick or skewer straight through the foil to test.

Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (2)

The best part is that roasting beets like this makes them extremely easy to peel. Their skins slip right off under cool running water.

While the beets roast, I toss together the horseradish cream, which is as simple as it gets: crème fraîche andprepared horseradish, seasoned to taste with some salt and pepper. This combo, by the way, isn't good for beets only—it's an excellent sauce for cold roast beef or steamed asparagus, or on seared tuna or a potato salad or any number of other cold or green dishes. Horseradish and crème fraîche is one of my go-to combos.

Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (3)

I let it sit in the fridge (after doing a few extra taste tests with my finger, of course) to allow the sauce to thicken and the flavors to mingle as the beets finish up.

Beets love horseradish, but, as with any proper love affair, they need a little saucing up first. I like to give the beets a base layer of flavor by tossing them with a simple vinaigrette made with minced shallots, lemon juice, and olive oil, flavored with a touch of honey—I love the way the sweetness of honey brings out the natural earthy sweetness of the beets—and some minced tarragon and chives.

To serve, I pool some of the horseradish cream in the bottom of a bowl, then pile the beets on top.

Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (4)

It's really delicious, and near perfect as is, but if you're feeling a little experimental, there's no harm in inviting a third guest to the party. Pistachios are another classic and natural pairing with beets—they add texture and a great toasty flavor to the mix.

Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (5)

April 2017

Recipe Details

Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe

Prep10 mins

Cook90 mins

Active20 mins

Total100 mins

Serves4 servings

Ingredients

For the Beets:

  • 2 pounds (about 1kg) beets, unpeeled, greens removed, scrubbed clean

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml)extra-virgin olive oil

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Horseradish Crème Fraîche:

  • 4 ounces (100ml) crème fraîche

  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) prepared horseradish, store-bought orhomemade

For the Dressing and to Serve:

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml)fresh juice from 1 lemon

  • 1 tablespoon (about 5g) mincedfresh tarragon

  • 1 tablespoon (about 5g) minced fresh chives

  • 1 small shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons; 15g)

  • 1 teaspoon (5ml)honey

  • 3 tablespoons (45ml)extra-virgin olive oil

  • 4 ounces pistachios (115g), toasted and roughly chopped

Directions

  1. For the Beets: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Fold a 12- by 24-inch sheet of aluminum foil in half to form a square. Crimp together foil on 2 sides of the square to form a pouch with an opening on one side. In a medium bowl, toss together beets, 1 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste until beets are coated. Add to pouch and crimp remaining side to seal. (If using beets of multiple colors, roast in separate pouches.)

    Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (6)

    Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and place in oven. Roast until beets are completely tender and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into a beet through foil meets little to no resistance, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and allow to cool. When beets are cool enough to handle, peel by gently rubbing skin under cold running water. Cut beets into 1 1/2–inch chunks. Beets can be cooked and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (7)

  2. For the Horseradish Crème Fraîche: In a small bowl, stir together crème fraîche and horseradish. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.

    Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (8)

  3. For the Dressing: In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, tarragon, chives, shallot, and honey. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while stirring vigorously with a fork. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

  4. To Serve: In a large bowl, toss beets with dressing. Spoon half of crème fraîche mixture on the bottom of a serving plate. Place beets on top and drizzle with remaining crème fraîche mixture. Sprinkle with pistachios and serve.

    Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (9)

Special Equipment

Rimmed baking sheet, aluminum foil

Read More

  • Beet and Citrus Salad With Pine Nut Vinaigrette
  • Roasted-Beet Salad With Goat Cheese, Eggs, Pomegranate, and Marcona Almond Vinaigrette
  • Roasted-Beet and Citrus Salad With Ricotta and Pistachio Vinaigrette
  • How to Roast Beets
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
496Calories
38g Fat
35g Carbs
11g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories496
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g49%
Saturated Fat 10g51%
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 684mg30%
Total Carbohydrate 35g13%
Dietary Fiber 8g29%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 16mg78%
Calcium 95mg7%
Iron 3mg19%
Potassium 1049mg22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Roasted-Beet Salad With Horseradish Crème Fraîche and Pistachios Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to roast or boil beets for salad? ›

The softest texture will be the boiled beets, the roasted beets will be tender, but will still have a little “bite” to them. The steamed beets will be somewhere in the middle. If using the beets in a salad, or serving them as a side dish, I prefer the roasted or steamed beets.

What do you eat with beet horseradish? ›

The horseradish lends the relish a unique heat that tickles your nose while grated beets provide an earthy sweetness. I like to pair it with sausages or other roasted meats (which is quite typical) —but sometimes eat it with nothing more than a cracker.

How to make beet root salad? ›

Roast until the beets are just tender when pierced with the point of a knife, about 1 1/4 hours. Unwrap the beets and let them cool. Meanwhile, whisk oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and pepper in a small bowl to make the dressing. When the beets are cool enough to handle, slip off the skins.

Should beets be peeled before baking? ›

Keep checking whichever method you're using. Don't remove the beet skin before cooking. It's really not necessary and it's much easier to do so after cooking. Some also find that removing the skin prior to cooking takes away some of the beet's earthy test.

What makes beets taste better? ›

Slow-roasting beets in a foil packet or covered baking dish takes away much of the earthy taste and intensifies the flavor, but you will still have a bit of bleeding and nutrient loss. Grilling beets over wood or charcoal will add a layer of smokiness.

Is it better to peel beets before or after roasting? ›

As much as I adore Beet Salad, I rarely made it at home, because by the time I finished the beets, my hands, cutting board, and counter all were stained with telltale red juices. Then, I picked up a transformative piece of information: you do not need to peel beets when roasting.

Does horseradish cleanse the liver? ›

Horseradish: This is an important root that helps to digest fat, which eases the liver's job of digesting fats. When consumed, horseradish can also help to regenerate and heal the liver, which helps to keep the liver cleansed from bad eating habits.

Is horseradish an inflammatory food? ›

Horseradish root is also known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial characteristics and is consequently used for the treatment of acute sinusitis, bronchitis, and urinary bladder infection [2–5].

Is horseradish and beets good for you? ›

Betalins help lessen growth of tumor cells in the colon, stomach, nerve, lung, breast, prostate, and testicl*s. Beets are especially protective of our eyes and our nervous system. They also help protect against heart disease, birth defects, and cancer.

Why do you put vinegar in beets? ›

Beets are a weekly ritual around here. Usually we boil them and toss them in a sweet sour vinaigrette and keep them in the refrigerator to eat all week. The vinegar in the dressing "pickles" the beets, helping them last longer in the fridge.

Why do you put vinegar on beetroot? ›

Beets are naturally sweet and earthy, making them a versatile vegetable to incorporate into your meals. By adding vinegar to the boiling process, you can elevate the flavors of beets and give them a delightful tangy kick.

How healthy is beet salad? ›

Beets are an incredibly nutritious ingredient, meaning beet salads are good for you. They taste earthy with a hint of sweetness and are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and folate. Beet lovers rejoice with my Beet Hummus.

What is the least messy way to roast beets? ›

Trevino likes to roast beets with olive oil and herbs in individual foil packets. The foil packets capture the juice as it's released, so all you have to do is remove the beet when it's finished cooking and toss the juice-filled foil before it has a chance to stain anything.

How do you keep beets from bleeding when roasting? ›

Whatever the cooking method, you can minimize bleeding by not peeling the skin and by not slicing off the tops of the beets. Peeling after cooking is simple; the skin slips right off with a paper towel.

What is the healthiest way to prepare beets? ›

Stir-Fry Them

While cooking techniques like pan-frying, shallow-frying and deep-frying increase calorie, salt and fat content, stir-frying is a healthier technique. We recommend using a stainless steel wok from Saladmaster to stir-fry beets and other vegetables.

What is the difference between roasting and boiling beets? ›

The trick to successfully cooking beets is to soften them while also concentrating their sweet flavor. Roasting beets can result in something akin to jerky. Boiling them will produce soggy sponges.

What is the healthiest way to cook red beets? ›

Steaming beets is a healthful cooking method because they retain most of their vitamins and minerals—they're not boiled out in water—and stay incredibly vibrant. Plus, steaming small beets or beet quarters is quick and easy for weeknights.

What is the healthiest way to eat beets? ›

Eating beets raw or juicing and roasting them may be more beneficial than boiling them. Beetroots, commonly known as beets, are a vibrant and versatile type of vegetable. They're known for their earthy flavor and aroma. Many people call them a superfood because of their rich nutritional profile.

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