Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad

Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad is a wonderful plate of tastes and textures. The beetroot brings a sweet earthy flavour, the chorizo is crisp and spicy and the feta brings a salty, creamy luxury to this simple salad plate.

These diverse ingredients sit on a bed of fresh lettuce leaves and the whole dish is brought together by an oil and vinegar dressing sweetened with honey.

What ingredients do I need for Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad?

• Cooked Beetroot (Beets)
• Chorizo Sausage
• Feta Cheese
• Olive Oil
• Cider Vinegar
• Honey
• Fresh Mint Leaves
• Salad leaves

What is beetroot?

Beetroot is a round, or long tapered, root vegetable that is most commonly purple. However, beetroot also grows in other colours and these are becoming more easily available. Beets are available in classic purple, golden yellow, white and a variety called Choggia which is white with candy pink stripes.

Can I eat beetroot raw?

Beetroot is delicious grated raw into salads just the way you would with carrots. However, you should cook the beetroot for this recipe.

How do I cook beetroot for Beetroot, Chorizo & Feta Salad?

Beetroot is easy to cook, although it is quite a dense, hard vegetable. Cook beetroot in its skin and always tear off the leaves rather than cut them off. You should do this because if you cut any part of the beetroot before cooking, the colour will ‘bleed’ out.

• In the oven: Wash the beetroot, twist off the leaves and wrap in foil.  Bake in the oven at 180C for an hour to an hour and a half.
• In the Slow Cooker: Wash the beetroot, wrap in foil and place in the base of the slow cooker with a little water. Bake for 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on  high

The cooking time also depends on the size of the beetroot., large beetroot will take longer to cook than small beetroot. Check the beetroot by gently squeezing the beets inside their foil jackets. Remember to use a cloth or oven gloves to protect your hands, as the beetroot will be very hot.

Can I use pre-cooked beetroot?

Yes, you can use the pre-cooked beetroot that you buy in vacuum packs. However, make sure that the beetroot is not preserved in vinegar.

What is Chorizo?

Chorizo is a pork sausage that is seasoned with paprika, garlic and hot pepper. It is very popular in Spanish and Mexican cooking, the main difference between them is that the Spanish chorizo is smoked.

What can I substitute for Chorizo in this salad?

You can substitute any strongly flavoured sausage, try the following:

• Kielbasa
• Pepperoni
• Garlic Sausage
• Salami
• or even bacon (lardons or pancetta)

What is Feta Cheese?

Feta is a brined curd cheese made from sheep’s milk or a mixture of goat and sheep’s milk.  It has a firm texture that doesn’t melt when cooked. Feta adds a deliciously salty tang to the beetroot salad.

Can I substitute another cheese for Feta?

Feta is the best cheese for this salad, but you can substitute any firm flavourful cheese for the Feta. Try the following:

• Firm block mozzarella
• Halloumi
• Edam or Gouda

Do I have to add fresh mint to the salad?

Mint leaves add a fresh taste to the salad and complement the sweet beetroot, spicy chorizo and salty feta. If you don’t have fresh mint you can substitute chopped chives or coriander leaves. Do not use dried mint, if you don’t have any fresh herbs then leave them out.

Can I make Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad in advance?

• Cook the beetroot in advance and store it in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Make up the dressing the day before you plan to use it. Store in a jar with a lid or a lidded plastice box. Don’t put the dressing in the fridge or the olive oil will go solid.

Can I freeze Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad?

You can freeze cooked beetroot but I would not recommend using frozen beetroot in this salad. Frozen beetroot is ideal for adding to soups like Beetroot and Black Cumin Soup or serve as a side dish with a cheese sauce.

Can I make the salad vegetarian?

You can make Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad suitable for vegetarians.

• Buy vegetarian chorizo.
• Buy a vegetarian alternative to Feta as the cheese is traditionally made with animal rennet. Or use an different cheese.

How do I serve Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad?

I serve this salad as a light lunch or supper with crusty bread. Serve as a side salad with grilled chicken, serve the salad leaves separately and make a big bowl of the salad. I recommend you dice the beetroot instead of slicing to make it easy for people to help themselves and ensure they get all the ingredients. If liked, you can increase the quantities of chorizo and feta to make it a more substantial dish.

More Beetroot Recipes

Roast Beetroot with Honey and Thyme

Roast Beetroot with Honey and Thyme is a  simple and delightful side dish recipe. The beetroot is roasted in the oven then coated in a delicious dressing that brings out all the sweet earthy flavours of the beets.

Check out this recipe

Beetroot Chutney

A sweet and tangy beetroot chutney that's perfect to serve with cold meats, burgers and pies.

Check out this recipe

Beetroot and Black Cumin Soup

Beetroot and Black Cumin Soup is such a beautiful rich red colour and it looks so good with a contrasting spoonful of yogurt and some finely chopped parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.

Check out this recipe

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Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad

Janice Pattie

Beetroot Chorizo & Feta Salad is a wonderful plate of tastes and textures. The beetroot brings a sweet earthy flavour, the chorizo is crisp and spicy and the feta brings a salty, creamy luxury to this simple salad plate.

5 from 6 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course lunch, Salad, Side Dish, supper

Cuisine British

Servings 2

Calories 470 kcal

Equipment

• Sharp knife
• chopping board
• Frying Pan
• small bowl
• fork
• Measuring spoons

Ingredients

• 500 grams Cooked beetroot
• 100 grams Cooking chorizo cubed
• 100 grams Feta crumbled or cubed
• 2 tablespoon Olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Honey
• ¼ teaspoon Salt
• 1 Pinch of pepper
• 1 tablespoon Fresh mint roughly chopped
• 100 grams Salad leaves

Instructions

 

• 100 grams Cooking chorizo
  Place the cubed chorizo into a hot frying pan and fry until golden and crisp. Take care that it doesn’t burn. Set aside to cool.
  
• 100 grams Salad leaves
  Cover the plates with a variety of salad leaves.
  
• 500 grams Cooked beetroot
  Slice the beetroot and lay it out on the leaves.
  
• Divide the cooked chorizo between the two plates.
• 100 grams Feta, 1 tablespoon Fresh mint
  Add the crumbled or cubed feta to the plate sprinkle with chopped mint.
  
• 2 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 tablespoon Cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon Honey, ¼ teaspoon Salt, 1 Pinch of pepper
  Thoroughly mix the olive oil, cider vinegar and honey with the salt and pepper.
  
• Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve immediately.
  

Notes

Serve as a light lunch or supper with crusty bread.  Or as an accompaniment to grilled or roast chicken. 

Nutrition

Calories: 470kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 17gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 1794mgPotassium: 1050mgFiber: 8gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 1838IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 384mgIron: 4mg

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First published July 2012