Roasted Beet Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese and Toasted Pecans (Blood Orange Olive Oil and Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic)

This delicious fall salad is bursting with the sweet flavor of our Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic. Our blood orange olive oil perfectly complements the Cranberry-Pear for a sweet and tangy drizzle over the beets. You can also substitute any of our fruity white balsamic for the Cranberry-Pear to try some different flavors!

Ingredient Spotlight. Our Blood Orange Fused Olive Oil brings a fragrant, citrusy richness that softens the earthy beets, while Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic adds a jammy, fruit-forward tang. Whisked together they make a vinaigrette that is at once sweet, bright, and luscious.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds fresh beets
• 8 oz. Chevre (fresh goat cheese)
• 6 cups baby arugula or mixed greens
• 1 cup whole pecans, toasted
• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons North Conway Olive Oil Company Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon good quality grainy mustard
• fresh ground pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons North Conway Olive Oil Company Blood Orange Fused Olive Oil

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Trim the beets and wrap in one foil packet drizzled with a tablespoon of water. Roast for 1 hour or until tender when pierced through with a knife. Once the cooked beets are cool enough to handle, peel them by rubbing the skin off between paper towels. Warning: This will dye your hands bright red.
2. Cut the peeled beets in to 1" pieces and toss with 2 tablespoons of Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic whisked together with 2 tablespoons of Blood Orange Fused Olive Oil, and set aside.
3. In a medium size bowl, whisk the remaining Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic with the grainy mustard until well combined. Slowly drizzle in your Blood Orange Olive Oil, whisking constantly until the mixture is thickened or emulsified. Add freshly ground pepper and sea salt to taste.
4. Arrange the greens in a bowl or on a platter and dress with the Cranberry-Pear White Balsamic vinaigrette. Add the marinated roasted beets to the salad, along with the crumbled fresh goat cheese and toasted pecans.

Chef's Notes

• Toast the pecans in a dry skillet just until fragrant before adding them; that quick step deepens their flavor and adds a welcome crunch against the soft beets.
• Tossing the warm roasted beets in a little vinaigrette first lets them drink up the sweet-tangy flavor before they ever hit the greens.

Make It Yours

• Swap the pecans for toasted walnuts, or scatter over a few fresh orange segments to echo the Blood Orange oil.
• Trade the Cranberry-Pear for our Ripe Peach White Balsamic for a mellower, summery vinaigrette.

Allergens: Contains tree nuts (pecans), dairy (goat cheese), and mustard.

Serves 6-8 generous portions. Shop our Blood Orange Fused Olive Oil at the shop.