Beetroot Feta Grain Salad Recipes

FETA & BEETROOT SALAD

Steps:

• Scatter the spinach leaves onto a large platter. Slice the beetroot into wedges and arrange on top of the spinach. Scatter over the feta, mint, spring onions and chillies.
• To make the dressing, put the oil, honey, lemon juice and mustard in a glass jar with a lid. Season and shake well. When ready to serve, pour the dressing over the salad and toss lightly to combine.

FETA, BEETROOT & POMEGRANATE SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk the oil, pomegranate molasses, cinnamon, cumin seeds and lemon juice together in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp water to loosen, and season.
• Toss in the herbs, beetroot, feta, rocket and lettuce, and toss to coat in the dressing. Sprinkle over the pomegranate seeds to serve.

FARRO SALAD WITH BEETS, GREENS AND FETA

Steps:

• Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and the greens. Blanch for two minutes, and transfer to the ice water. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop coarsely and set aside.
• Bring the water back to a boil, and add the farro. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes, stirring from time to time, or until the farro is tender. Remove from the heat and allow the grains to swell in the cooking water for 10 minutes, then drain.
• While the farro is cooking, make the vinaigrette. Whisk together the vinegars, salt, garlic and mustard. Whisk in the oil(s). Add to the farro. Peel and dice the beets and add, along with the beet greens, feta or goat cheese, herbs and walnuts. Toss together, and serve warm or room temperature with a little more cheese sprinkled over the top if you wish.

MINTY BEETROOT, FETA & BULGUR SALAD

Steps:

• Put the bulgur in a small pan, cover with water, bring to the boil, then cook, covered, for 5 mins or until tender. Drain well, press out any excess water and tip into a bowl.
• Stir in the orange zest and juice, garlic and vinegar, then toss through the mint, spring onions, walnuts and olives (if using). Finally, stir in the beetroot, spoon into containers and top with the feta to mix through just before eating.

SALAD: BEETROOT SALAD WITH FETA, GREEN BEANS & PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Place the pine nuts (or hazelnuts) on non-stick foil under the grill and cook until brown - this will only take a few minutes, and they do need watching carefully as they can easily burn if left too long. Remove from under the grill and allow to cool. Prepare the beetroot by trimming and washing the leaves and scrubbing the bulbs.
• Bring a saucepan of water to the boil, place the beetroot in the water then return to the boil, cover and reduce the heat. Simmer the beetroot until tender. (This will probably take around 30 minutes. Pierce with a knife to test that it is tender right through to the middle.).
• Once tender, remove from the pan, drain and leave until to cool enough to handle then peel off the skins (I like to wear kitchen gloves for this so that my hands aren't stained deep purple all day) and cut into wedges.
• Meanwhile, boil the green beans for 2 - 4 minutes (they should be tender but still crisp). Place a sieve or colander over a bowl large enough to accommodate the water from the saucepan. Tip the beans into the sieve and reserve the hot water.
• Then turn the green beans out of the sieve into a bowl of ice-cold water (this will arrest the cooking process and the beans will retain their vibrant green colour).
• Return the hot water in to the saucepan and bring back to the boil. Add the beetroot leaves/baby spinach and cook briefly. Once tender, drain in the same manner as the green beans, and again - plunge into a bowl of cold water, then drain again (or, if you have a salad spinner, spin them until dry enough to serve).
• Make the dressing by placing the vinegar, oil, garlic, capers, and salt and pepper in a seal-tight jar and shaking to combine.
• The salad can either be served warm or cold. If you decide to serve it cold, keep all the ingredients separate whilst cooling or the beetroot colour runs into the green beans and cheese.
• To serve: place the leaves on 4 salad servers, carefully place beetroot wedges on top then arrange the green beans among and on top of the beetroot. Lastly, crumble the feta cheese over the salad and drizzle with the salad dressing.