Raw Beet Salad with Dried Cherries, Capers and Herbs

Do not fear the pink! Uncooked beets have a wonderful earthy flavor that is perfectly balanced in this salad.

Beets are like other things in life such as oysters, marzipan and liver- you either LOVE it, or- yeah, no thank you ma’am.  Of course I am in the first camp to the point that I can get a bit single minded sometimes. Most of the time I consume roasted beets with a tangy vinegary dressing.  I will be honest that raw beets are slower to make it to my table.

What a mistake. This salad is so beyond different and enjoyable that I have a new beet gig. Piling on tons of fresh herbs adds balance to the earthy beets, the cherries give a perfect sweetness and the capers give a sharp salty zing that just makes this divine.

All in all this salad took me 5 minutes to make. The worst part is the pink fingers I was left with, but a healthy washing makes that fade right away. As much as that pink can linger, it does not stain. So fear not your kitchen towels being ruined, or that T-shirt you are wearing as you make and/or eat this.

Nutritionally beets are powerhouses. High in fiber (4 grams per cup), high in protein (2.5 grams per cup), loaded with vitamin C and folate. The best part of beets might be that it’s a good source of healthy nitrate. This transforms into your body to nitric oxide which is spectacular for your heart and arteries. Nitric Oxide expands the blood vessels allowing better blood flow. As an athlete this can be a real bonus to your performance, and if you are suffering from heart issues, than this is a no brainer.

And all those herbs? Count as leafy greens in your diet. How about that?

So please get past the pink and give this salad a try. It’s a winner!

Raw Beet Salad

Gail Watson Do not fear the pink! Uncooked beets have a wonderful earthy flavor that is perfectly balanced in this salad. Beets are like other things in life such as oysters, marzipan… Recipe index Raw Beet Salad with Dried Cherries, Capers and Herbs European Print This

Serves: 6 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 3 minutes 3 minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Ingredients

• 4 cups shredded raw beets
• 1/2 cup chopped basil
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 1/4 cup drained capers
• 4 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

Instructions

Combine the beets and the herbs in a bowl and toss. In a small bowl combine the capers and vinegar and crush the capers into the dressing. Pour the dressing over the beets, add the cherries and toss again. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. Add salt and pepper if needed.