Beet And Stilton Salad With Orange Vinaigrette
This vibrant salad is a celebration of textures and flavors, showcasing tender roasted beets paired with a zesty orange vinaigrette. The earthy sweetness of the beets is enhanced by the fresh dill and tangy orange, while the addition of creamy Stilton cheese brings a rich contrast to the crisp salad greens. A perfect dish to brighten up any meal.
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 4 beets, about 1 1/4 lb. total
- 3 Tbs. fresh orange juice
- 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbs. red wine vinegar
- 1 Tbs. minced fresh dill
- 1 tsp. grated orange zest
- 1/4 tsp. minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 3 green onions, white and light green portions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
- 1 Tbs. finely slivered orange zest
- 10 oz. mixed salad greens (about 8 cups loosely packed)
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced English cucumber
- 3 oz. cold Stilton cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
- Fresh dill sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 400°F. Trim off the leafy green tops from the beets and reserve for another use. Wrap the beets individually in squares of aluminum foil, tightly securing the foil. Place on a baking sheet. Bake the beets until tender when pierced with a skewer, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let cool in the foil. Unwrap and peel off the loosened skins. Cut each beet crosswise into 4 or 5 slices. Place in a bowl.
- To make the orange vinaigrette, in a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, olive oil, vinegar, minced dill, grated orange zest, garlic, salt and a grind of pepper until blended.
- Pour all but 2 Tbs. of the vinaigrette over the beets. Add half of the green onions and half of the slivered orange zest; stir gently just to blend. In a separate bowl, combine the salad greens and the reserved 2 Tbs. vinaigrette and toss to coat the greens.
- Arrange the salad greens evenly on a platter or divide among individual plates. Using a slotted spoon, remove the beets from the bowl and place on the greens. Tuck the cucumber slices in among the beets. Drizzle any vinaigrette remaining in the bowl over the beets. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining green onions and slivered orange zest and top with the cheese. Garnish with dill sprigs and serve. Serves 4.
- Adapted from Williams-Sonoma, <i>Essentials of Healthful Cooking</i>, by Mary Abbott Hess, Dana Jacobi &amp; Marie Simmons (Oxmoor House, 2003).
Yield
Serves 4.
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