Roasted Beets with Sesame and Oregano


The holiday season is now in full swing. I had wanted to share this salad with you before Thanksgiving but time got the best of me, so here I am now. Beets have always been one of my favorite vegetables, almost as long as I can remember. Growing up my mom had a large garden. She would can most of her veggies, but the beets she would pickle. To this day they are the most delicious I’ve ever had. This salad would be a beautiful side dish for your next holiday meal. The preparation can be done ahead of time and can be served cold or at room temperature.

This roasted beet salad with sesame seeds and fresh oregano was adapted from the November issue of Bon Appetit magazine. The prep was fairly easy. The beets were sliced and placed in a single layer, then baked until tender. Beet greens were added and wilted right before removing from the oven. The beets and greens are then arranged on a serving platter. A sauce that made up of crème fraiche and Greek yogurt is dolloped over the top and finished with a sesame salt.

Ingredients:

2 bunches red beets with greens
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 hand full fresh Oregano, plus 2 tablespoons
1/4 cup crème fraiche
1/4 cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon, plus 1 tablespoon Sherry vinegar, divided
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

To prepare:

Preheat oven to 400F.

Wash and peel beets, slice 1/4 inch thick. Toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the hand full of Oregano, then season with salt and pepper. Roast about 15 to 20 minutes until almost tender, add beet greens and cook for another 5 minutes or so until greens are wilted. Set aside.


Next whisk the crème fraiche, yogurt and 1 teaspoon Sherry together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


Prepare the sesame salt mixture by first smashing sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle, then add 2 tablespoons of Oregano and a pinch of salt. Transfer to a small bowl, add remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Mix, then set aside.

Place beets and greens on serving plate, drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar and dollops of the crème fraiche mixture. Sprinkle with sesame salt. Enjoy!

Comments

  1. i ate too many pickled beets in my childhood to ever touch them again. :)

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  2. I love beets, but I've never eaten the tops. I could make this at my house and have it all to myself! :)

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    Replies
    1. The tops are delicious, sometimes I put them in soups too!

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  3. I love beets and this is a new flavour combination for me to try :)

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  4. Fantastic! The kind of food I love to eat. Beetroot is ever so versatile, healthy and delicious.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  5. Healthy, pretty and delicious. Loving everything abouy this dish and especially the nuttt sesame.

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  6. I love beets! This look beautiful!!

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  7. Love the sound of this, great way to use all of the beetroot too.

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  8. Beets are the best - love the crème fraiche sauce - yum

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  9. Love the vibrant colors in this salad. Looks like a work of art!

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  10. Thank you!
    Perfect colors too for the holidays!

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  11. I love this! I always forget about having beets. My husband and I both love them.

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  12. I love roast beets! And they work so well in a salad. This is terrific -- thanks.

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  13. I make roasted beets with oregano and balsamic vinegar but the crème fraiche mixture and the sesame seeds adds a whole new dimension to this dish. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Hi Karen, the oregano and balsamic vinegar combination sounds delicious!

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  14. That's a gorgeous and colourful salad. I love the sound of the creme fraiche dressing xx

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  15. Yum Cheri, so nice you used both the beet root and greens in this delicious dish. The dressing sounds wonderful!

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  16. I love beets! Pickled beets and roasted beets are especially welcomed by my tastebuds :) I love the combination of sesame and oregano here - I've never thought about pairing those two flavours, but I can't wait to try it!

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    1. Thanks Amy, I'm a beet lover too, hope you enjoy this!

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  17. This sounds like something Ottolenghi would make ... and therefore stunning! I love that you add Greek yoghurt and sesame at the end to finish is off ... perfecta and a great take-along dish for the holidays, Cheri.

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    1. Thanks Helen, now that I think of it, it is something like Ottolenghi would make. That's probably why I was drawn to it.

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  18. i"m not super into beets, but I love the flavors in this. Such a lovely salad!

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    1. Thanks Joanne, the wilted greens work well with the beets in this salad.

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  19. I love that you used also the beet greens in this recipe. Waste not! :)

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    1. Thanks Mike! I almost like the greens as much as the beet root.

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  20. Beets are all time favourite of mine Cheri. I could eat them day and night in the gorgeous salad.

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    1. Thanks Val, beets are my favorites too! appreciate you stopping by.

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  21. I'd love to try these with golden beets, which I love!

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    1. Hi Beth, I bet golden beets would be delicious like this, happy holidays to you!

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  22. Lovely salad ... toasted sesame seeds fragrance and yummy ^-^!

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    1. Thanks Karen! the sesame seeds were a nice addition.

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  23. I love beets! In fact, I eat them several times a week. They are really good for you and very tasty (to me!) I love them with garlic and mayonnaise. This salad look very delicious!

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    1. Hi Julia, I will have to try them like that, sounds delicious! appreciate you stopping by.

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  24. Such a beautiful dish, Cheri. The colour and presentation will look great on any holiday table - or any weeknight table for that matter. So wonderfully healthy, too!

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    1. Thanks Robyn, I love adding beets to salads too, the flavor is always amazing.

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  25. This has to be the perfect holiday salad, those colors pop!

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    1. Thanks Sue, I really enjoyed this one. Happy holidays to you!

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  26. Replies
    1. Thanks Angie, this would also be good with other varieties of beets too!

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  27. This is such a gorgeous salad Cheri! I didn't always love beets but I'm so glad to say I really do love them now! Your salad sounds lovely with the sesame and oregano!

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    1. Thanks Kelly, the sesame and oregano might sound strange together but they really do work well together in this salad.

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  28. What a beautiful and delicious sounding salad! I too have always loved beets in salads, so I can't wait to try this!

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    1. Thanks Phi, hope you get your computer fixed soon. Thanks for stopping by.

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  29. What a unique combination! I have neer cooked with the best greens before - I think I am due to give them a try! ~ David

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