This beetroot salad with its sour cherry vinaigrette is earthy, sharp and sweet. It makes a delicious side dish and is perfect for buffet meals. You can even eat it as a light and healthy main meal.
If you like sharp and sour flavours as much as I do then this sour cherry vinaigrette is for you. The sourness really brings the salad alive and is a brilliant match against the earthy beetroot.
There is a little sweetness from the the honey so it's not an overpoweringly tart salad dressing but it does pack a punch!
I think cherries go really well with beetroot but if you don't like beetroot then this salad dressing is perfect just on a simple green salad. I think it's also lovely on sweet potato and cauliflower. So, make the whole recipe if you can but if not, don't miss out on the sour cherry dressing. You need to try it!
Ingredient notes for sour cherry vinaigrette and beetroot salad
To make this salad and the sour cherry salad dressing you'll need:
- Salad leaves - I used baby leaf salad but you can use any salad leaves. It's great with spinach or rocket (arugula) or even kale.
- Beetroot - I buy the vacuum packed cooked beetroot for this salad. But, there's nothing to stop you from roasting your own beetroot. Try to avoid the beetroot that's packed in vinegar as there's vinegar in the vinaigrette and you might end up with too much of a vinegar flavour!
- Almonds - I think almonds go really well with beetroot but you can use other nuts instead. Walnuts or hazelnuts work well. You can even replace them with beans or chickpeas.
- Cheese - I used Cheshire cheese here. It's one of my favourite cheeses and quite mild but I think it goes well with the sour cherry vinaigrette. You could replace it with another crumbly cheese or even miss it out. Feta also works well as a substitute but has a stronger flavour.
- Sour cherry juice - I use Wellgard 100% Pure and Tart CherryAid. It's a sour syrup made with 100% concentrated Montmorency cherries.
- Apple cider vinegar - Apple cider vinegar has a less vinegary taste than some vinegars and works welll in this. But, if you don't have it, just use white wine vinegar or cider vinegar instead.
- Extra virgin olive oil - I always use a good quality olive oil for salad dressings.
- Honey - This adds a little sweetness to complement the tartness of the sour cherry juice.
How do you make the sour cherry vinaigrette and beetroot salad?
Do check out the recipe card further down the page too. But, this salad is so easy to make. Just mix together all the ingredients for the dressing. Make sure to taste it and adjust any quantities if necessary.
Salad dressings are such a personal thing, especially when sourness is a big factor. Some people are not so keen on sour flavours so you may want to include a little less of the sour cherry juice and a bit more honey for example.
The rest of the salad is just a matter of assembling everything on a plate or bowl. It could not be easier to make!
Can you make this salad in advance?
Yes, if you make up the salad dressing in a jar you can just shake it again before serving. Just don't put the salad dressing on the salad in advance as it will then make the salad leaves go soggy.
How long does it say fresh for?
If you keep the sour cherry dressing in a jar it should keep well in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Just shake it well each time before serving.
Can you adapt the recipe?
Yes, feel free to be flexible with the quantities of the ingredients in the dressing. Also, you can include different ingredients in the salad. Use different nuts, cheeses or beans.
What can you serve it with?
I like to serve this salad as a light meal by itself or with cold ham or leftover roast chicken. It's a brilliant salad to make to serve with roast dinner leftovers the next day.
You can also make it at Christmas time to go on a Christmas buffet with ham, cold meats and other salads.
Recipe
Beetroot Salad with Sour Cherry Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 50 g salad leaves
- 250 g cooked beetroot diced, not in vinegar
- 20 g almonds
- 30 g crumbly white cheese I used cheshire
Sour Cherry Vinaigrette Ingredients
- 20 ml sour cherry juice
- 30 ml apple cider vinegar
- 20 ml extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Arrange the salad leaves on a plate, top with the chopped beetroot, almonds and crumbled cheese.
- Whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing. Or put them in a little jar and shake.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad.
Notes
Nutrition
More easy salad recipes
If you like this salad then why not try one of these salad recipes:
Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make this sour cherry vinaigrette and beetroot salad or any of my other recipes. I love to get feedback from readers.
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