Most days, whatever I have leftover in the fridge will serve as lunch. Sometimes, it is as simple as a can of sardines, mixed with yogurt, salt & pepper and a side of avocado. Other days; dinner leftovers. I was lucky enough to have roasted these beautiful golden beets a few days earlier.

My friend Nancy Partington who writes the blog Urban Kitchen Apothecary at http://www.urbankitchenapothecary gave me a very simple tip on roasting beets; add a little salt before tightly wrapping them in parchment and foil. The salt acts like a magic elixir and these beets come out perfectly every time;  tasty, tender and so incredibly good for you. Thank you, Nancy!

This salad was quick and easy to make since I roasted the beets ahead of time. I buy my mixed greens in the bulk section of the market so it’s as simple as washing and drying to construct. Make sure not to skip the pomegranate & balsamic vinegar reduction. It really adds the right touch of sweet flavor and a wow factor to this salad. I’m eating my colors for lunch and here’s how you can too….

Golden Roasted Beet Salad

Top 8 Free

Serves: 2

How to Roast Beets: Preheat oven to 400 F. Wash beets. Leave a little damp so that the salt sticks to the skin’s surface. Season the outside with course sea salt. Wrap tightly with parchment paper and foil. Lay on a small baking sheet. Bake for 45-60 minutes. Vent open a bit to cool. Skin will peel off easily. Beets should be tender not mushy. Set aside.

Ingredients for the salad:

• 2 golden beets, washed and scrubbed
• salt
• 1 watermelon radish, thinly sliced in rounds
• mixed greens
• slivered almonds or seeds of choice. I like pumpkin or sunflower
• 1 carrot, shaved

Assemble greens, cut beets into rounds, thinly slice radishes using a mandolin or sharp knife, shave carrots with a peeler and scatter slivered almonds or seeds of choice. Drizzle reduction on top.

Ingredients for the pomegranate & balsamic vinegar reduction:

• 2 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses or  3 tablespoon sweet aged balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup ( or to taste)
• pinch of salt
• squeeze of lemon
• water to thin out

Place the vinegar and molasses in a small saucepan with the maple syrup . Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat and simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, until it thickens.

Add a squeeze of lemon. Be sure to remove the pan from the heat when the vinegar/molasses mixture is still runnier than honey, it will continue to thicken as it cools.

Stir in a drop of room temperature water before serving if it becomes too thick to drizzle.

Enjoy!