This simple beetroot and walnut salad with feta cheese is one of my favorite year round salad recipes. Earthy beets pair really well with creamy feta, topped off with crunchy walnuts. Plus you can make this salad with ready cooked beets so it takes just 10 minutes to pull together!
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Why You'll Love This Walnut Beetroot Feta Salad
- The perfect balance of flavors with the salty feta balancing out the earthy taste of beetroot and the crunchy, bitter walnuts.
- Beet and feta salad can be served as a hearty side salad, or light salad main.
- I use ready cooked beets in this quick salad so it only takes only 10 minutes from start to finish.
- Beetroot salad with feta and walnuts is ideal for celiacs or anyone following gluten free diet.
If I have fresh beetroot I will roast them for this salad, but for ease here I've used Trader Joes beets - ready cooked. This means I can get the salad on the table, ready to enjoy, in just 10 minutes.
I like to make my own salad dressings, free from refined sugars and preservatives. I've served the beetroot and feta salad with homemade maple mustard dressing, but feel free to substitute with your favourite salad dressing. Simple olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing works perfectly too.
You will see that I refer to both beets and beetroot within this post, they are one and the same. Here in the US we call them beets, whereas in the UK we'd call them beetroot.
If you're a salad lover try my ever popular Arugula Burrata Salad with Balsamic Dressing This Herby Potato Salad is also a great side salad option. For another delicious beet salad try this version with yoghurt.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Walnut Beetroot Feta Salad
- Ingredients
- How to Make Walnut Beet Salad
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Variations & Substitutions for Beetroot & Feta Salad with Walnuts
- Tips & Tricks
- How To Serve
- How to Store
- Pin This Simple Beetroot & Walnut Salad with Feta Recipe For Later
- What Do You Think?!
- More Easy Salad Recipe Ideas
- Printable Recipe
- Simple Beetroot & Walnut Salad with Feta
- Reader Comments & Ratings
Ingredients
Find the full list and quantities in the recipe card below.
Beets - For ease I recommend using a pack of ready cooked beets. I like to use Trader Joe's Beets - ready cooked, which you should be able to find in larger stores. If you can't find ready cooked, you can always roast some fresh beets.
Feta - I like to use salty, crumbly feta cheese in this salad as it pairs perfectly with the other flavors in the salad. Feel free to swap feta for another cheese that you enjoy.
Walnuts - For ease I like to use a pack of ready cut walnut pieces. If using whole walnuts or walnut halves, just chop them smaller.
Dressing - I've dressed this salad with my own maple mustard dressing, however you can buy or make your own preferred dressing.
How to Make Walnut Beet Salad
Find the full printable recipe below.
Make the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together or by shaking them in a jar. Make sure the lid is screwed on tight before shaking!
Start assembling the salad by adding the salad leaves to a large bowl then pour over roughly half of the dressing and toss the leaves until they're fully coated.
Transfer the dressed leaves to a serving dish then arrange the the sliced beets, walnut pieces on top and crumble over the feta cheese.
Drizzle with more dressing, serve and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are beets healthy?
Yes, beets are a heart healthy vegetable packed with nutrition and full of antioxidants.
Are packaged beets good for you?
Yes, packaged beets retain a lot of their nutrients and are a great source of fibre, iron and folate. Always look for beets that are packaged without any added salt or sugar.
Variations & Substitutions for Beetroot & Feta Salad with Walnuts
For ease I've used packaged beets, but you can roast fresh beets if you prefer and it's a great way to use up an abundance of beets if you grow your own. Check this Beetroot Salad Recipe for instructions on how to roast beets.
Tangy feta cheese works really well with earthy beetroot and is a great addition to this vibrant salad. Feel free to swap with any other cheese, try a creamy goats cheese, mozzarella or Parmesan.
I've used walnuts for crunch and texture, but you could swap in other nuts like pistachios, pecans or almonds.
I've used arugula (rocket) in this beet salad recipe, but you can use any variety of leafy salad greens. Romain lettuce and baby spinach
Try adding some fresh herbs like fresh dill or parsley to this salad. Fresh mint is also a delicious option.
If you can find them golden beets make a lovely addition. Candied walnuts can also be swapped in for even more crunch.
I've used Dijon mustard in the salad dressing, but you could also use a wholegrain mustard for extra flavor. Avoid yellow mustard as it is too strong and will overpower the rest of the ingredients.
I've made a maple mustard salad dressing, but you can swap maple syrup for honey if you prefer to make a honey mustard salad dressing. Add some chili flakes if you like heat.
Tips & Tricks
- To get ahead I like to prepare everything in advance then store in individual containers until I am ready to assemble and serve the salad. This is a great opportunity to use a large serving platter to make the dish look really pretty.
- Don't be tempted to use jarred beetroot from the grocery store as it is stored in vinegar which will overpower the rest of the ingredients in the salad.
- Make sure you taste and properly season the salad dressing, as it's the salad dressing that will be seasoning your salad veggies.
- The maple mustard salad dressing stores really well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It will separate a little when left to sit, but just give it a quick whisk (or shake) to emulsify the ingredients again.
How To Serve
This delicious salad can be served either as a side salad, or as a light salad main with a side of crusty bread.
As a hearty side dish, serve it with any meat or seafood main as beets pair really well with both. Try it with my Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin, Easy Bavette Steak, Roast Chicken or Grilled Chicken Thighs with Lemon & Garlic.
How to Store
If you have leftovers, the best way to store the individual ingredients is in separate containers. This will avoid the juices from the beets bleeding into the salad dressing or feta cheese. You can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Pin This Simple Beetroot & Walnut Salad with Feta Recipe For Later
What Do You Think?!
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More Easy Salad Recipe Ideas
Printable Recipe
Simple Beetroot & Walnut Salad with Feta
Ingredients
Maple Mustard Dressing (½ cup)
- ½ tsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Mustard
- ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp White Wine Vinegar
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper
For The Salad
- 4 cups Arugula (Rocket) - or greens of your choice
- 6 medium Ready Cooked Beets - sliced into bite sized pieces
- ½ cup Walnut Pieces
- ½ cup Feta Cheese - crumbled
Instructions
- Make the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together or by shaking them in a jar. Make sure the lid is screwed on tight before shaking!
- Start assembling the salad by adding the salad leaves to a large bowl
- Pour over roughly half of the dressing then toss the leaves until they're fully coated.
- Transfer the dressed leaves to a serving dish.
- Add the sliced beets, walnut pieces and crumble over the feta cheese.
- Drizzle with more dressing, serve and enjoy!
Lillian says
This salad is fabulous! I love it!
Jo Keohane says
So glad you enjoyed it!! I love beets - and so easy if you buy them from the store. Thanks so much for commenting.