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Crisp Cucumber & Beetroot Salad with Herb Dressing in a gray bowl, featuring sliced vegetables topped with fresh dill and herbs.
Layla

Crisp Cucumber & Beetroot Salad with Herb Dressing

A stunning jewel-toned salad where cool cucumbers meet earthy roasted beets, brightened by a zippy herb dressing that comes together in minutes.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean-inspired
Calories: 198

Ingredients
  

For the Beets
  • 1 lb beets medium, scrubbed, greens trimmed to 1 inch
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for roasting
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
For the Salad
  • 1 large English cucumber halved lengthwise, seeded, sliced into half-moons
  • 0.25 cup red onion thinly sliced, rinsed under cold water
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 0.25 cup toasted walnuts roughly chopped
  • 2 oz feta cheese crumbled
For the Herb Dressing
  • 0.5 cup fresh parsley packed leaves and tender stems
  • 0.25 cup fresh mint packed leaves
  • 1 small clove garlic smashed
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 0.25 cup olive oil
  • 0.5 tsp honey
  • 0.25 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Equipment

  • Rimmed Baking Sheet
  • Small food processor or blender
  • Large serving bowl

Method
 

Roast the Beets
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place beets on a large sheet of foil, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and wrap tightly into a packet. Roast on a rimmed baking sheet until a paring knife slides in easily, 45 to 55 minutes depending on size. Let cool completely, then slip off skins with your fingers and cut into 1-inch wedges. (Can be done 2 days ahead; refrigerate in an airtight container.)
Make the Dressing
  1. In a small food processor or blender, combine parsley, mint, garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and emulsified, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides as needed. Taste and adjust seasoning - it should be bright and punchy. (Can be made 1 day ahead; cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature and shake or whisk before using.)
Assemble the Salad
  1. In a large serving bowl, combine cucumber, rinsed red onion, and chopped dill. Add roasted beet wedges, being gentle to avoid staining everything deep pink (or embrace it - the magenta streaks are part of the charm).
  2. Drizzle with about two-thirds of the herb dressing and toss gently to coat. Scatter walnuts and feta over top, then drizzle with remaining dressing. Finish with extra dill and serve immediately, or let sit for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Notes

Rinsing the sliced red onion under cold water tames its bite while keeping the crunch - don't skip this step. For a prettier presentation, use a mix of golden and red beets; they taste identical but create a stunning color contrast. If your beets are large golf-ball size or bigger, cut them into smaller wedges so they distribute evenly throughout the salad.