Beet Salad Recipe
by Martha Rose Shulman
Mediterranean Beet and Yogurt Salad
Many of us long for simplicity during the complicated holiday season. Helen Nearing was a shining example of living simply but well, and her recipes show us how to eat whole foods in ways that nourish body and soul.In this perfect winter beet salad recipe, beets provide grounding, earthy nourishment in the stressful holiday months, and marvelous flavor and color, as well. Beets are rich in zinc, an essential nutrient. This recipe couldn’t be easier or quicker to make, and it’s a great way to use up leftover beets.
The below version is quite popular in Turkey and slight variations can be observed in different Mediterranean countries. Try and add the yoghurt on top rather than mixing it into the beets or your salad will be too pink. Enjoy!
Beet Salad Recipe Ingredients:4 medium size beets, roasted
11/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, white wine vinegar, or cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 to 2 garlic cloves (to taste)
1/2 cup thick Greek style yogurt or drained yogurt
2 tablespoons minced dill
Preparation:1. Roast the beets, peel and cut in wedges or slice into half-moons. Stir together the vinegar, sugar, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with the warm beets and allow to marinate for 2 to 3 hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
2. Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle, add 1/8 teaspoon salt, and mash to a paste. Stir into the yogurt. Stir in half the dill. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drain the beets and stir some of the marinade into the yogurt (to taste). Toss with the beets, or arrange the beets on a platter and drizzle the yogurt over the top. Sprinkle on the remaining dill, and serve.
Advance Preparation: The beets can be prepared and marinated 4 or 5 days ahead.
Variation: You may substitute chopped or slivered fresh mint for the dill.
*Yield: Serves 4
Approximate Nutritional Information:136 calories per serving; 67 calories from fat; total fat: 7.5g; saturated fat 1.3g; cholesterol 2mg; sodium 103mg; total carbohydrates 14.5g; dietary fiber: 2.2g; sugars 11.3g; protein 3.6g (Data provided by calorie-count.com)
*Here I'd like to tell you about my favorite diet program that uses a lot of the healthy lower GI foods: Isabel de los Rios' 'The Diet Solution Program'.
The Diet Solution Program favours a long term health orientated approach to fat loss, but not offering anyone a quick fix to their weight troubles. It has loads of valuable data and research to support its approach. I personally investigated the program thoroughly and my mum has been using it for a while now. I have to say she got some great results.
The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a try and let me know how you’re doing.*Original Mediterranean Beet Salad Recipe