Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Pistachios

By nancytripp

Ingredients

• 3 large red beets (1 2/3 lb without greens)
• 2 large golden beets (1 lb without greens)
• 1/4 cup minced shallot
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup pistachio oil
• 4 oz soft mild goat cheese
• 3 tablespoons salted shelled pistachios (not dyed red), coarsely chopped
• 1 oz mâche (also called lamb's lettuce), trimmed (4 cups)
• Special equipment: a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter (without handle; at least 2 inches high)

Details

Servings 8
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 150mins
Adapted from epicurious.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Separately wrap red and golden beets tightly in double layers of foil and roast in middle of oven until tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Unwrap beets.

While beets are cooling slightly, whisk together shallot, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then add oil in a stream, whisking.

When beets are cool enough to handle, slip off and discard skins. Separately cut red and golden beets into 1/4-inch dice and put in separate bowls. Add 2 1/2 tablespoons dressing to each bowl and toss to coat.

Place cookie cutter in center of 1 of 8 salad plates. Put one eighth of red beets in cutter and pack down with your fingertips. Crumble 2 teaspoons goat cheese on top, then one eighth of golden beets, packing them down. Gently lift cutter up and away from stack. Make 7 more servings in same manner. Drizzle each plate with 1 teaspoon dressing and scatter with some pistachios.

Toss mâche with just enough remaining dressing to coat and gently mound on top of beets. Serve immediately.

Cooks' notes:
Beets can be roasted and diced 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Molded beet salad (without mâche) can be assembled 45 minutes ahead and kept, covered, at cool room temperature.

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