Golden beet salad with arugula and goat cheese

15 minute golden beet salad recipe! A delicious and easy beet salad with goat cheese, beet greens, arugula, and tarragon vinaigrette.

Course dinner, lunch, Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 422kcal

Cut the beet greens off of the beets and set aside. Scrub the beets and potatoes well and then dice them.
2 large golden beets with greens, 3 large red potatoes
Place the diced beets and potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, or until just fork tender. Strain and let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, make the dressing. Combine the tarragon, vinegar, olive oil and shallot in a jar with tight fitting lid. Shake until emulsified. Set aside.
3 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon leaves, 6 Tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar, 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 ½ teaspoons minced shallot
Meanwhile, prepare the greens. Wash and chop the beet greens into bite sized pieces and combine with arugula in a large salad bowl.
6 cups baby arugula leaves
Add the beets and potatoes to the greens along with the goat cheese and seeds. Give the jar of dressing a good shake and then pour ⅔ of the dressing onto the salad. Season with a pinch of both salt and pepper and then toss to combine.
¼ cup crumbled goat cheese, ¼ cup sunflower seeds or pepitas, salt and pepper
Taste the salad and add more dressing if desired. Add more salt and/or pepper if desired as well. Serve immediately.

You don't have to peel beets and potatoes if you wash them well! But, if the texture of root vegetable skin bothers you, go ahead and peel them.
If you can't find beets with beet greens, that's okay! Just add another green of your choice like spinach or more arugula.
If you can only find red beets, go ahead and try this salad with those. They have a stronger flavor, but are still delicious. Keep in mind that the salad may turn pink.
Don't like goat cheese? Swap it for feta! Or just leave it out completely.
If you have an herby dressing that you love, go ahead and use that rather than making your own.
If you can't find tarragon, go ahead and swap it out for dill or fresh basil. But tarragon really is amazing with beets!
You can make this salad vegan by omitting the cheese or swapping for your favorite crumbly vegan cheese.