A delicious seasonal salad that combines minimal ingredients for a plant-based recipe. Roasted baby beets and orange segments sit atop massaged kale providing a nutrient-rich, detox-friendly salad. Top this off with an easy homemade dressing (orange balsamic) made with all real food ingredients and no added sugars.
Roasted Beet Orange and Kale Salad
Let’s be honest – you’re here because you’re looking for a healthy salad recipe, right? I mean, was it the roasted beets or kale that sold you? In all fairness, I made this salad because I ordered beets from a local CSA. But when we got them, they were baby beets. First off, I didn’t know what to do with them. Secondly, once I realized I knew I wanted to roast them, I didn’t know how to do it. So let’s start with that – then we’ll get to the good stuff – how this seasonal salad came about.
How to Roast Baby Beets
Roasting baby beets is actually pretty easy. The only tricky part is peeling them, so let me first advise that you peel them after they are roasted. To get started, you’ll need a baking dish. Place beets in a single layer across the bottom of the dish and just barely cover them with water. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, and bake in a preheated oven (375 degrees F) for 50 minutes. When finished cooking, let cool slightly but peel while warm. I find that either a peeler or a simple paring knife works well.
The orange balsamic dressing for beet salad
Once you master making homemade salad dressings, you realize that they truly are so easy and so much better for you. No unnecessary added ingredients or ones that you can’t pronounce. And many of them (think good quality olive or avocado oil, vinegars, etc.) will be ones that you already have in your pantry.
This orange balsamic dressing combines simple ingredients: freshly squeezed orange juice, avocado (or olive) oil, balsamic vinegar and salt to taste. If you like a little sweetener, add 1 tablespoon of honey, but know that it will no longer be vegan. I recently got this measuring glass that was super easy to use. I then transferred everything into a jar and shook it and dressed the salad right before serving.
Additional toppings that you can add to this plant-based salad
- Sliced red onions or even picked onions would be a fun addition to this salad.
- Fresh avocado would also add to the heartiness of this dish.
- Not dairy-free? Or don’t need the salad to be vegan? Add some feta or goat cheese right before serving.
- Pistachios would also be a really pretty add to this plant-based salad.
How to get your kids involved in making this vegan salad
You guys know that I’m passionate about getting kids in the kitchen, and I know that there are multiple ways to have them get involved in many recipes, this one included. Making homemade salad dressings is generally a fun activity for kids. Have them help get the ingredients out, measure with measuring spoons, shake the final product, and of course dress the salad. My 9 year-old is always up for helping make dressings, and helped make this orange balsamic dressing, too!
A delicious seasonal salad that combines minimal ingredients for a plant-based recipe. Roasted baby beets and orange segments sit atop massaged kale providing a nutrient-rich, detox-friendly salad. Top this off with an easy homemade dressing (orange balsamic) made with all real food ingredients and no added sugars.
- 2 cups roasted baby beets (see post for directions on roasting baby beets)
- 1 1/2 large orange , peeled, piths removed and sliced into segments
- 10 oz kale
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil to massage kale
- 1.5 tbsps freshly squeezed orange juice
- 3 tbsp avocado oil sub olive oil if desired
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- salt to taste
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Roast beets by covering them just barely in a baking dish. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and roast for 50 minutes at 375 degrees. Let cool slightly and peel while warm.
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While these roast, massage kale with oil. Really get your hands in there and massage it to take out the uncomfortableness/chewiness.
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Slice oranges with a knife to remove peels and piths. Slice into segments. Use remaining 1/2 orange for the freshly squeezed orange juice.
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Make dressing by combining ingredients together and shaking in a closed jar.
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When beets are cooked and peeled, top them with 1 tbsp of the prepared dressing and let sit for 5 minutes.
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Top massaged kale with orange segments. Add beets. Dress salad and toss before serving.
Totally hope that you like this salad. I will say that I was thinking it was just “good for us”, but after the fact, my kids actually told me that it was good. I was shocked! Total mom win, and I’ll take it. Let me know if you make this!
Other easy salad recipes that you may like to try:
Healthy Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Easy Broccoli Salad (Without Bacon)
