A beet heart salad filled with goat cheese, topped with a maple mustard vinaigrette, sprinkled with pomegranate seeds; this salad is pure delish! It may not be Valentine's day candy, but it is sure to win anyone's heart!
I love a salad before or during my meal, so this year I will jazz up the evening with this fancy schmancy beet and goat cheese salad. This beet and goat cheese salad is superb, and the maple mustard vinaigrette is over the top. You will soon be making it to serve on all your greens. This also might be one way to get your kids to eat beets. It's kind of weird that I never served beets to my kids and now they are the rage. Zoe loves beets and what is more perfect for Valentine's Day? I do love all the pink and red desserts that out there, but this is another way to add some shades of red to your meal and make your family feel special, in addition to lovingly providing them with tons of beetroot nutrition!
Besides a delicious salad I also love flowers...particularly roses and every thing is coming up roses-at least that's how it feels in Colorado. Our weather has been incredibly warm and I'm almost not wanting winter to return. I'm sure it will, but in the meantime I swear my roses are starting to turn green; not a good thing so early in the season. Speaking of roses, (great segue, huh?), Whole Foods has a great rose special for your favorite valentine. If you get there fast you can score 1 dozen fair trade roses for $12.99 or two dozen for $20. Last year the Whole Foods closest to me ran out, so this year I hope Manservant gets there early.
If you are thinking roses, you may want to take a look at this chart. Since everyone seems to be talking shades of grey lately, I thought it best that we add in some prettier colors. Rose colors, if you will. During the Victorian era the language of flowers was an important thing to know. Flowers often conveyed messages of love or dislike, so be careful what you choose, Make sure that posy is sending the right message!
Rose Colors Defined:
· Red - true love, passion and respect
· Dark Red - beauty, perfection and adoration
· Pink - romance and admiration
· Deep Pink - appreciation, gratitude and sincerity
· Light Pink - sweetness and gentleness
· Orange - desire, passion and excitement
· White - spiritual love, purity and new beginnings
· Yellow - warmth, joy and friendship
· Lavender - love at first sight
When I look at this list I think I deserve one of each color! But truthfully my favorite shade of roses are pinks. I love the palest pinks and the deepest pinks. What about you?
Saturday night found us at an engagement cocktail party for one of Zoe's close childhood friends. Since it ends at 7 and I'm not sure we are going to want to go out for dinner, we will probably end up at Whole Foods. (Yes, this is a Whole Foods post!) They have some great dinner for two specials, such as salmon or a petite sirloin or even an eggplant Portabella Napoleon; each with truffled mashed potatoes and asparagus. The specials are $24.99 for two which seems like a great deal to me! Add some cheese before hand, a bottle of wine, a little chocolate for dessert and you've got a romantic evening ahead of you. Well, I hope you do!
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More Simple and Romantic Recipes:
Chocolate Lava Cake
Hot Fudge Cake
Salted Honey Rose Tart
Salted Butterscotch Chocolate Tart
Mussels in White Wine and Garlic
Brazilian Coconut Lime Shrimp Stew
Ziti Al Fresco
Strawberry Crepes
Mushroom Lover's Pastry
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Recipe
Beet Heart Salad with Maple Mustard Vinaigrette
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 - 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Salads/Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Ingredients for dressing:
⅓ c maple vinegar OR 2 T maple syrup and 3 T balsamic vinegar
½ t chopped garlic
Juice of ½ a lemon
¼ to ½ t salt
a few grindings of pepper
1 ½ t Dijon mustard
3 T olive oil
1 T mayonnaise
Ingredients for Salad:
2 beets cooked
1 good size handful of your favorite greens (I used arugula)
3-4 ounces of honey goat cheese
1 handful of chopped hazelnuts or your favorite nut
1 handful of pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries, cherries or strawberries
2-3 thin slices of red onion
2 T of pretty microgreens
Instructions
Make your dressing by combining vinegar, garlic, lemon juice and salt and pepper.
Whisk in Dijon mustard. (My favorite kitchen tool is my teeny little whisk.)
Now slowly whisk in the oil and get a little emulsion going.
Last, add the mayo and whisk that in too. (This is optional, but it gives the dressing a creamier texture.)
Salad:
Take your cooked beets and cut them into thin slices. Pull out your small valentine heart cookie cutter that is hiding somewhere in THAT drawer. Cut your beets into hearts. Put about 1 T of goat cheese between two beet hearts. Set aside.
On individual plates throw on those greens. Toss on some hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds or dried fruit, a few wisps of red onion and maybe some leftover beet pieces and a little more goat cheese. Last but not least, add a flourish of microgreens. Top with a beet and goat cheese heart.
You could toss this salad ahead of time with the dressing, which you may or may not want to use all of. I like to drizzle it on at the table because I think the salad is so pretty before it is tossed.
Pam says
Great salad, Abbe! I've never combined beets and goat cheese, sounds perfect! My dad had over 200 roses in our back yard and he and mom belonged to the Rose Society where he would show them and even one a couple of blue ribbons. The aromas in the yard was incredible! I love love the old Peace Rose, ivory and yellow with pink edges! And all pink roses.
Winnie says
I'm not for the giveaway, but to tell you that I just LOVE this salad - looks and sounds GREAT
Kristen says
I follow on Twitter
@rubylorikeet
Kristen says
I love lavender roses.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I read that list and thought I wanted them all too. Dark red and yellow would be my personal favorites or peach or maybe.. I can't decide!!
I LOVE beets in anything and I did a beet post today too but mine were in a jar. Your salad is outstanding.
Sippity Sup says
I'm a sucker for red rose (and red beets). GREG
shannon weber says
this is totally my go-to salad: i LOVE LOVE LOVE beets for everything they are: i could eat them all the time, and they're especially delicious on salads with vinaigrettes like this one. just perfect for right now, for sure.
Karen @Baking In A Tornado says
Your beet salad is just beautiful.
My husband got me white roses for a change this year. I think they're gorgeous and really didn't know about their meaning.. I'm glad Hubs doesn't either or I'd be having some questions for him right about now, LOL.
Cheri Savory Spoon says
Hi Abbe, I already subscribe to your site but want to say that I read a book last year about the meaning of flowers, and I am sorry to say many of our conservations in our household go like this, it was so and so, I will think of it eventually.
jacquie astemborski says
already a subscriber via email
jacquie astemborski says
yellow and deep pink are my favorites
Susan Christy says
Follow you on Pinterest - susitravl
Susan Christy says
Orange roses are my favorite.
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
I adore beets in salads. I'm making one tonight with grapefruit.
sandyhills x says
I am following as pinterest.com/sandyhills25 - shaunie
[email protected]
sandyhills x says
I am a subscriber as [email protected]
sandyhills x says
I love pink roses - shaunie
Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself says
I heart this salad (see what I did there?) 😉
What a refreshing salad!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I love your post. I guess I didn't know the full roster of meanings. I love roses. I have about 30 bushes in my garden of all sizes. If I had to choose a color---probably pink with a heavy fragrance. Happy Valentine's Day!
Stephanie says
I follow on twitter - @stephanienola
Stephanie
steph 0828 at hotmail dot com
Stephanie says
I subscribe
Stephanie
steph 0828 at hotmail dot com
Stephanie says
I love roses that are two colors like yellow and red or pink and white.
Stephanie
steph 0828 at hotmail dot com
Allison Downes says
I like white roses.
thank you for the chance to win
lola_violets_2010{AT}yahoo{DOT}com
Anna and Liz Recipes says
This salad is fabulous- love the heart shape beet in the center. Our favorite shade of rose is hot pink.
My sister Liz went out last night to see the premier of Fifty shades of grey, waiting to hear from her about the movie. And, we're already subscribed !
Liz Berg says
Your salad looks marvelous, Abbe. We ate at Bang last night here in Maddy's neighborhood---ended up ordering a second order of their beet appetizer---so good! Your salad looks just as fabulous! Thanks again for your thoughtful note. xo
Seyma Bennett Shabbir says
pinterest seymas and FB Seyma Bennett Shabbir
seyma_bennett AT hotmail.com
Seyma Bennett Shabbir says
email subsc
seyma_bennett AT hotmail.com
Seyma Bennett Shabbir says
I love peach colored roses!
seyma_bennett AT hotmail.com
Holly @ abakershouse.com says
Your blog looks great! Have a happy weekend, sounds like it is one filled with celebration and fun.
Kitchen Riffs says
I gotta clean out THAT drawer one of these day. 😉 We do have one of those heart-shaped cutters, but it's buried somewhere in THAT drawer. Anyway, clever and fun dish -- thanks.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen says
I love the beet heart ♥ Such a pretty salad and the dressing sounds delicious. I'll have to tell my hubby about the roses 🙂
Rose-Marie says
My favorite shade of rose is lavender. I only saw this at Whole Foods last year, and when I went back the next day they were gone. So many pretty color roses they have!!!
JC says
follow on pinterest.
JC says
Subscribed to This is How I Cook
JC says
I love yellow roses.
Sock Monkey Diva says
I agree with you...my favorite shade of roses are all the beautiful pinks! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
Sock Monkey Diva says
I follow you on twitter @sockmonkeydiva
Sock Monkey Diva says
I subscribe to this is how i cook [email protected]
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
I already subscribe to your posts!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
My favorite shade of rose must be the coral color - but at this point I would love color!
latanya t says
pinterest follower
latanya t says
email subscriber
latanya t says
email subscriber
latanya t says
I like the pink roses
La Table De Nana says
The ressing sounds very good..love beet salads!
DeniseL says
And I follow you on pinterest as deniseleb
dmarie824 at aol dot com
DeniseL says
I'm a subscriber!
DeniseL says
Peace roses are my favorites...the ones that are a light shade of pink with yellow in the centers. They smell heavenly!
Lisa Brown says
follow pinterest as https://www.pinterest.com/lisalu24/
Lisa Brown says
follow email: jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
Lisa Brown says
I like orange colored roses.
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
VP22 says
I don't know if it's considered a shade but my favorite is the hybrid with yellow and orange.
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Abkenterprises says
I also follow on Pinterest.
Abkenterprises says
I'm a subscriber.
Abkenterprises says
Lavender is my favorite color of roses. We had lavender at our wedding.
Angie Schneider says
This is a heart healthy and delicious salad, Abbe.