1 / 1
Marinated Autumn Beet Salad
Sweet orange and yellow beets, thinly sliced and marinated in a maple-vinegar blend, take center stage in this colorful salad. They're paired with smoky applewood bacon, toasted pecans, and fresh apple slices for a deeply savory, satisfying bowl. A peppery base of arugula and green leaf lettuce balances the richness, while the reserved beet marinade doubles as a tangy dressing. It's a make-ahead option that easily doubles as a holiday starter or a light lunch.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. orange and yellow beets, peeled and thinly sliced into half-moons
- ½ cup white balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup champagne vinegar
- 5 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- ½ medium-size sweet onion, cut into thin strips
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp. grainy Dijon mustard
- 6 thick applewood-smoked bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
- 1 Jazz apple (about 8 oz.), thinly sliced
- 3 cups firmly packed baby arugula
- 3 cups loosely packed green leaf lettuce, torn
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh chervil or flat-leaf parsley leaves
- ¼ cup toasted chopped pecans
Instructions
- 1Combine the white balsamic vinegar, champagne vinegar, maple syrup, kosher salt, and 2 tablespoons of water in a large resealable plastic bag. Add the sliced beets and sweet onion strips. Seal tightly and refrigerate for 4 hours. This long soak softens the raw beets and infuses them with sweet, tangy flavor.
- 2Drain the beets and onions, reserving 1/3 cup of the pickling liquid. Discard the remaining liquid. In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, white wine vinegar, grainy Dijon mustard, and the reserved pickling liquid until smooth. Season the dressing with salt and pepper to taste.
- 3In a large bowl, toss the crumbled bacon, sliced apple, arugula, green leaf lettuce, fresh chervil, and toasted pecans with your desired amount of dressing. Top with the marinated beets and onions, serving any extra dressing on the side.
Notes
- Make ahead: Marinate the beets and onions up to 24 hours in advance for an even deeper, sweeter flavor.
- Swap: If you don't have champagne vinegar on hand, substitute it with apple cider vinegar or extra white wine vinegar.
- Prep: While orange and yellow beets stain less than red varieties, it's still a good idea to wash your cutting board immediately after slicing.