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Tossed in fresh pesto, this roasted beet and radish salad is ready in just 25 minutes and packs loads of garden-fresh flavor. You might associate beets with an earthy, dirt-like taste, but I promise you this salad tastes nothing like that. This salad is refreshing and hearty and brings the humble yet nutrient-packed beet to life.

Roasted beet and radish salad with feta cheese on a wooden board on a red background.
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Gone are the days of squishy canned beets. It’s time to step it up by roasting them! Roasting beets brings out their natural sweetness (similar to roasting sweet potatoes) without needing any sugar. By cutting everything into small cubes, this salad cooks and comes together in no time, making it the perfect busy weeknight side dish or dinner.

Reader rating

★★★★★

“Very good! I created my own radish pesto too. and added a beet and the other half of the lemon. I also used parmigiana cheese because that’s what I had on hand.” —Katie

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Chopped radishes and beets on a baking tray with parchment paper - Here's a way to make your beets NOT taste like dirt! This Roasted Beet an Radish Salad is loaded with fresh pesto, feta cheese, and a hint of lemon, which help to counter that typical beet taste that so many of us can't get over.
Beets caramelize because of how high their natural sugar content is!

Here’s what you’ll need

  • Beets: I love to use red beets because of their vibrant color. They are also one of the sweeter varieties. For a less sweet option, use golden beets.
  • Radishes: These add a refreshing bite to the salad.
  • The Roasting Basics: To roast the vegetables, you’ll need extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
  • Feta Cheese: Feta is creamy and pretty salty, offering a tasty contrast to the earthy beets and radishes. Goat cheese will work, too, but it’s not as salty, so you might need to add a bit more.
  • Pesto: Any green pesto will work. You can use store-bought or homemade pesto.
  • Lemon: Adding a squeeze of acid is another way to enhance the natural sweetness of beets.
Close-up of roasted beets and radishes with feta cheese - Here's a way to make your beets NOT taste like dirt! This Roasted Beet an Radish Salad is loaded with fresh pesto, feta cheese, and a hint of lemon, which help to counter that typical beet taste that so many of us can't get over.

Making a Beet and radish salad is easy

This salad only takes 25 minutes total time thanks to chopping the vegetables small, so they roast quickly!

  1. Roast the veggies: Dice the beets and radishes small and coat them in oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes or until tender.
  2. Toss the salad: Combine the roasted vegetables with the feta, pesto, and lemon juice. Then, enjoy warm or cold!
Roasted beet and radish salad with feta cheese on a wooden board on a red background - Here's a way to make your beets NOT taste like dirt! This Roasted Beet an Radish Salad is loaded with fresh pesto, feta cheese, and a hint of lemon, which help to counter that typical beet taste that so many of us can't get over.
The radishes should be tender but still have some crunch to them.

customize it

You can customize this beet salad recipe in a few ways.

  • Arugula: You can serve this beet salad over arugula to add a peppery bite.
  • Carrots: You can also roast carrots with the beets and radishes. They are also very sweet so they’re a nice addition to the salad.
  • Red Onions: These add a wonderful bite and tang to the salad.

More ways to use beets

Roasted beet and radish salad with feta cheese on a wooden board on a red background - Here's a way to make your beets NOT taste like dirt! This Roasted Beet an Radish Salad is loaded with fresh pesto, feta cheese, and a hint of lemon, which help to counter that typical beet taste that so many of us can't get over.
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Vibrant Roasted Beet and Radish Salad

5 from 9 ratings
By: Sarah Bond
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Tossed in fresh pesto, thiTossed in fresh pesto, this roasted beet and radish salad is ready in just 25 minutes and packs loads of garden-fresh flavor. You might associate beets with an earthy, dirt-like taste, but I promise you this salad tastes nothing like that. This salad is refreshing and hearty and brings the humble yet nutrient-packed beet to life.

Ingredients 

  • 2 red beets, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup radishes, diced
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil, 30 mL
  • Pinch each salt and pepper
  • ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled or diced, 100 g
  • 2 Tbsp pesto, 30 g
  • ½ lemon
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Instructions 

  • Roast: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Dice beets and radishes, and spread onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper, tossing around a bit to evenly coat. Roast for 20 minutes, or until radishes are a bit tender (beets will still have some crunch).
  • Serve: Toss to combine roasted beets, radishes, feta, pesto, and the juice from half of a lemon. Serve warm or cold.

Notes

Storage: This salad can be stored for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also keep the components separate so you can reheat the radishes and beets before remixing the rest.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.4g | Protein: 4.5g | Fat: 14.4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 382mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 0.7mg

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

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5 Comments

  1. Booker says:

    5 stars
    I had no idea how to eat all the beets and radishes in my fridge to I saw this recipe. I must admit, I didn’t follow it all the way. I added more salt to the roasted veg and added some leek for a light onion. I also quick pickled some of the beets and radishes in a mix of balsamic, white wine, and red wine vinegar (any vinegar besides white would work) while I was waiting for the others to roast. Added a bit of fresh apple and some aged cheese with the feta and it turned out so good! Never would have thought of putting beets and radishes and pesto together but dang.

    Reply
  2. Anne Tisdale says:

    Delicious recipe. I make lots of recipes with beets, never thought they had a dirt taste to them.

    Reply
  3. Jazmine says:

    5 stars
    I stumbled upon this recipe while trying to add beets to my diet. I really enjoy this. I personally prepared this with raw beets and radishes. I am not really a fan of the feta but tried it with romona and liked that better.

    Reply
  4. Katie says:

    5 stars
    Very good! I created my own radish pesto too. and added a beet and the other half of the lemon. I also used parmigiana cheese because that’s what I had on hand.

    Reply
    1. Sarah Bond says:

      YUM! I’ll have to try that! 😀