This simple-looking beetroot and goats cheese salad is sweet and salty, sharp and hot all at the same time. It may not look like the best salad you're going to eat this month but I promise it'll surprise you. You'll be making it again before you know it!

You can prepare most of this salad in a matter of minutes, chop some lettuce, dice some cooked beetroot, crumble some goats cheese on top and whisk up the dressing. The only thing you need to take care with is the hot candied pecans as they can easily burn.
I've used candied pecans before in a salad and I really cannot say how addictive they are. Normally I am a fan of making more than you need and saving some for another day. However, with these nuts, that's a dangerous strategy, requiring more resistance than I have at my disposal!
A great combination of flavours!
What I really love about this goats cheese and beetroot salad is the strong flavours! The earthy beetroot with the salty tangy goats cheese and then the mustard dressing on top of that! If you love strong flavours then this is a salad you'll find hard to stop eating.
Ingredient notes for beetroot and goats cheese salad
To make this salad you'll need:
- Pecans - Although I have used pecans, you really could just as easily use walnuts or even hazelnuts. They add a lovely nutiness and because they are caramelised they add a sweetness that goes really well with the beetroot and goats cheese.
- Sugar - I normally use soft brown sugar but I have also used demerara sugar and it also works.
- Cayenne pepper - Feel free to use a different kind of chilli powder or even hot paprika if you don't want the nuts to be too spicy.
- Lettuce - I like the freshness of iceberg lettuce but again, feel free to vary the salad leaves you use.
- Beetroot - You need to either buy ready cooked beetroot or you can roast it yourself first.
- Goats cheese - I've used hard crumbly goats cheese but you could use a log and cut it into slices or even use a different cheese.
Ingredients for the dressing:
- Mustard - I've used English mustard as it has good kick to it and that's the kind we have at home. However, some people find it too strong so feel free to use a French mustard if you prefer.
- Vinegar - I use white wine vinegar but you can use red wine vinegar or sherry or cider vinegar instead.
- Extra virgin olive oil -
- Black pepper - I love black pepper but you can leave it out.

How to make beetroot and goats cheese salad
This beetroom and goats cheese salad is so easy to make. I use ready cooked beetroot to make it easier. The only element I need to prepare is the candied nuts. So, start by making them first and watch them all the time as they can burn easily.
Put the pecans in a dry frying pan and toast over a medium heat, stirring occassionally. When they are just beginning to brown, add the sugar and cayenne pepper and stir into the nuts. The sugar will melt and stick to the nuts quickly. Remove the pan from the heat, spread the nuts out on a piece of non-stick baking paper (so they don't stick to each otheri n one big clump!) and leave to cool.
Put the dressing ingredients in a jar and shake or in a jug and whisk together.
Assemble the salad and pour the dressing over the top. This beetroot salad really is that easy to make!
Can you prepare this salad in advance?
If you want you can prepare the different elements of the salad in advance and then just put them together when you're ready to eat it. The only thing that takes any effort aside from chopping though is making the cayenne spiced candied pecans. And even those are easy to make!
You can also prepare the mustard dressing in advance. The easiest way to prepare it is to put everything into a small jar and shake it vigorously to combine the mustard with the vinegar and olive oil. You can then just keep the dressing in the jar. If it needs mixing again when you are ready to serve it's easy to give it a quick shake.
If you're tempted to put the dressing on the salad in advance then don't, it'll make the lettuce soggy! It really is best to put the dressing on the salad when you're serving it and not before!
What to serve with this beetroot and goats cheese salad?
I think this salad is brilliant by itself as a light meal. It's the kind of salad I love making for myself for an easy quick lunch at home.
However, if you want to make it a bit more substantial then why not serve it with some homemade bread rolls. It's great with these basic yeasted bread rolls or this simple soda bread.
It also makes a great side dish to serve with a baked potato.
Adaptations and substitutions for this salad
There are loads of ways you could adapt this salad. The one thing I wouldn't change would be the beetroot.
However, there are loads of ways of switching up the other ingredients. Take the goats cheese. I used a crumbly goats cheese but you could use blue cheese or feta instead.
You can vary the kind of mustard you use too. I used English mustard as that's the one we have at home and it is quite strong. You could use French mustard but add a bit more. Basically, taste it and adapt it to suit your tastes. You can easily add more if it's not strong enough for you.
As you can see I used iceberg lettuce as I like the crunch of the chunkier bits but you could use any salad leaves.
By the way, if you're looking for more beetroot salad ideas, try my beetroot and almond salad with a sour cherry vinaigrette.
Finally, what about the candied pecans?
These are unbelieveably good and I know you'll love them. However, you can use a different nut. Hazelnuts go very well in this particular salad. If you like the idea of the nuts but don't want the extra sweetness that the sugar adds, just toast them. They'll still be delicious.

Recipe

Beetroot and Goats Cheese Salad
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon pecans
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 tablespoon Roughly chopped or shredded lettuce
- 1 cooked beetroot diced
- 25 g goats cheese the hard crumbly type
For the Dressing
- ½ teaspoon mustard
- 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing or put them in a little pot with a lid and shake well.
- Make the candied pecans by roasting them in a dry pan. Keep tossing them so they don't burn. When they are beginning to look toasted, sprinkle on the sugar and cayenne pepper. The sugar will soon form a caramel. Stir the nuts in it and then take them out of the pan to cool.
- Put the lettuce on a plate. Top with the beetroot, goats cheese and pecans. Drizzle the dressing over the top. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make this beetroot and goats cheese salad or any of my other recipes. I love to get feedback from readers.
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Linda @ 2 Cookin' Mamas
Love the beetroot combined with the candied pecans, which I have to agree are definitely addictive, and goat cheese. I'll have to add this to my salad repertoire.
Corina
It is really tasty - the earthiness of the beetroot with the sweetness of the pecans and saltiness of the goats cheese is certainly an addictive combination!
hijackedbytwins
Mmmmm Corina this looks and sounds so good! I love beetroots and goats cheese but have never had them together. This is a must try. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Corina
I'm sure you'd love them together! I'm pleased you like it.
Mandy Mazliah
I often make beetroot, goats cheese and lentil salad but I've never put pecans with it. Absolutely going to try that!
Corina
I'd love it with lentils in too - it would make it a bit more substantial. The pecans go really well here too. I've caramelised them a bit and so the sweetness is perfect with the goats cheese.
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
What a delicious sounding salad Corina, beetroot and goat's cheese are amongst some of my favourite flavours.
Angela x
Corina
I'm so pleased you like it. I don't eat goats cheese very often as my husband isn't keen but I love the tang and it's perfect with beetroot!
Sarah@WellDined
I love beets and goat cheese together. Good choice!
Corina
Thanks you - they're a great combination!
Kaleigh @Lively Table
I love beets and goat cheese together! This looks so yummy!
Corina
Thank you! It was really tasty.
choclette
I do love beetroot and this salad looks scrumptious, especially with the candied pecans. I love the idea of the Secret Recipe Club - I think I've been on the waiting list for at least two years!
Corina
Glad you like it! Such a shame you're still on the waiting list for the Secret Recipe Club. It's great fun each month.
Eb Gargano
Yum, yum, yum! This sounds awesome - love the combination of flavours. And I know what you mean about pecans - I seriously got into maple roasted pecans at Christmas (which go sooo well with sprouts) - so addictive - and the kids thought so too - they were eating them like sweeties!! Eb x
Corina
I made lots of roasted cashew nuts at Christmas time and we were eating them like sweeties too! I just love nuts and adding them to salads.
Julie
Love the flavors in this salad. Visiting from SRC B.
Corina
Thank you Julie!
Kristy from Southern In Law
Beetroot is one of my favourite salad ingredients and this looks delish!
Corina
I'm so pleased you like the look of it!
Jean
Oh my gosh. Sounds fantastic. I love an interestng salad.
Corina
It was lovely with the strong tastes and mixture of textures too!
Wendy Klik
I love adding beets to my salads and the spiced pecans?,,,,,,heaven!
Corina
So pleased you like the sound of it - The spiced pecans are indeed heavenly!
Jessie
I'm glad you picked this recipe even though my picture is truly awful! So much yummy and happy memories.
Corina
But the picture was still good enough for me to want to make it! Thank you for the recipe