Marhaba! I think most of you might somewhat identify with one of my recurrent food adventures: the search for the perfect salad (سلطة). Similar to my case, you might be on some diet (حمية) and exercise schedule to become healthy (صحي) and shed off some extra weight. Or you might really be a vegetarian (نباتي) and just enjoy a tasty salad. Today I am going to teach you how to prepare one of my favorite salads: beet salad (سلطة الشمندر). My wife and I really enjoy this salad, and it has been hard to find a restaurant that really knows how to prepare it. Given it’s a salad, it is does not require any difficult preparation. Like all salads, just make sure you have fresh produce and the right ingredients. Also, do not forget to be creative and selective regarding the different ingredients. You might dislike one item or another, but still that should not discourage you from preparing this excellent tasty salad!
Like some of the other websites that I have used before, today I am borrowing this recipe from another great Mediterranean cooking website called DedeMed Mediterranean Cooking, the owner of the website Dede refers to it as ‘Dede’s Mediterranean Kitchen. I have also added a YouTube video from the same website that provides you with cooking instructions (تعليمات الطبخ) visually. According to this recipe and out of our experience, you need around 50 minutes to prepare it. The cooking time is around 40 minutes. Do not worry about the cooking time, because the only ingredient that needs preparation is beets.
Description from the website:
Beet Salad is a refreshing way of combining Mediterranean flavors in a nice, healthy salad. It goes great with any protein, chicken or fish. And a lot of the parts of the salad can be prepared in advance. Try this beet salad if you want to discover some nice new flavors.
Ingredients:
6 roasted beets (شمندر)
1 whole endive (الهندباء), finely sliced
1 cup finely sliced red onion (البصل الأحمر)
1 tbs chopped fresh mint (النعناع الطازج)
2 tbs chopped fresh chives (الثوم المعمر)
1/2 cup sliced radish (فجل)
1 cup black kalamata olives ( زيتون أسود)
1 cup crumbled feta cheese (جبنة فتّا)
1 tbs whole grain mustard (خردل)
1 tbs red wine vinegar (خل أحمر )
2 tbs olive oil (زيت الزيتون)
3 tbs lemon juice (عصيرالليمون)
1 tsp salt (ملح)
1/2 tsp black pepper (الفلفل الأسود)
Directions:
Place the red beets in a 2 inch deep baking dish with 1/4 inch of water and cover with foil, roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 40 minutes, set aside and cool completely.
In a large bowl combine sliced endive, red onion, radish, mint, chives.
Peel the beets and cut into cubes, add to the bowl.
In another bowl prepare the dressing by combining the mustard, vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper add to the salad and toss lightly.
Top salad with olives and feta and serve with grilled chicken.
I encourage you all to try it! You won’t regret it. If you are a vegetarian, you can still have beet salad without any protein. Just another great Mediterranean salad!! Enjoy!!!
Salam everyone! Born as an American to two originally Arab parents, I have been raised and have spent most of my life in Beirut, Lebanon. I have lived my good times and my bad times in Beirut. I was but a young child when I had to learn to share my toys and food with others as we hid from bombs and fighting during the Lebanese Civil War. I feel my connection to Arabic as both a language and culture is severing and so it is with you, my readers and fellow Arabic lovers, and through you that I wish to reestablish this connection by creating one for you.
