This beautiful winter salad is feisty. Spicy arugula, tangy sweet apple cider overnight pickled beets, sweet and crunchy candied pecans and the bite of apple.
The beets should be prepared the night before desiring to use to allow the full affect of the vinegar and apple juice to take hold. They are slightly vinegary and also sweet from the apple juice.
A reminder about working with beets, things can quickly digress to look like a murder scene with permanent reminders in clothing. I highly recommend wearing latex gloves, using a plastic cutting board and not wearing your favorite outfit (or at least cover it with an apron). The Candied Pecans may be used as an independent recipe.
They require about 45 minutes to make and 15 minutes to cool. They can be made up to 4 days beforehand. Once you make them I think you’ll find many uses and thoughts on how to tweak the seasonings for your creations.
Most vinaigrette recipes suggest 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 oil. I personally prefer much more vinegar. In this case the vinegar is diluted with the apple juice so not as tart. I suggest making it as follows then tweaking it to your taste if you’d enjoy more vinegar or more oil.
This will make far more than you need for this salad but will stay fresh if kept in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. If the oil solidifies after chilling just leave it out before using or set the jar in some warm water to hasten the process.
Recipe
Arugula Apple-Beet Candied Pecan Salad
Ingredients
Ingredients for Overnight Apple Cider Pickled Beets (should be prepared the night before making the salad):
- 1/3 cup peeled, grated beets
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons apple juice (I use organic, unfiltered juice)
Ingredients for Candied Pecans:
- 1 cup halved pecans (not pieces)
- 1 egg white
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon chile powder (preferably Ancho)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Ingredients for Apple Cider Beet Vinaigrette:
- Remainder of Apple Cider vinegar pickling liquid (I had a bit over ¼ cup left)
- Equal amount of quality Olive Oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Ingredients for Arugula Apple-Beet Candied Pecan Salad:
- 2 ½ cups Arugula , rinsed and roughly torn
- 1 recipe Apple Cider Vinegar Pickled Beets
- 1 small red onion , sliced
- ½ Granny Smith apple , grated
- Apple Cider Beet Vinaigrette
Instructions
Instructions for Overnight Apple Cider Pickled Beets (make the night before making the salad):
- Combine all ingredients in a glass container with lid and allow to soak overnight. Remove beets with a slotted spoon and set aside for the salad recipe. Reserve liquid for Apple Cider Beet Vinaigrette.
Instructions for Candied Pecans:
- Heat oven to 300 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, whisk egg white until frothy. Add sugar and spices and whisk again.
- Place pecan halves in the bowl and stir to cover all pecans.
- Remove coated pecans with a small slotted spoon or fork to allow excess coating liquid to drip back into the pan and place on a cookie sheet with a silpat (or a non-stick cookie sheet, or one sprayed with non-stick coating)
- Place in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the nuts are golden brown, softer to the bite but not overdone (I suggesting tasting one at 25 minutes to judge). Remove and cool to room temperature.
Instructions for Apple Cider Beet Vinaigrette:
- Put all ingredients in a sealable jar and shake vigorously.
Instructions for Arugula Apple-Beet Candied Pecan Salad:
- Place arugula on serving plate.
- Layer on pickled beets, apple and onion and top with a handful of the candied pecans.
- Dress lightly with Apple Cider Beet vinaigrette, salt and pepper as desired and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Marie says
I always need inspiration for salad in winter and this is it!
Ann says
This is such a beautiful salad! I love beats, arugula, pecans, vinegar…everything on it! Salt was a smart choice for a deserted island, but I probably would have chosen something impractical, too!
Susan says
Beets, yum! Gotta say I'm a fan from way back when my grandmother served me beets out of a can (imagine my happy surprise when I finally tasted a fresh one). I will give this a try…the market where I get local produce has tons of beets. Haven't seen the arugula (which I also adore), but maybe it'll be there next week.
Rebecca Subbiah says
fab salad and cool farmer he he
Toni (Boulder Locavore) says
Connie: Welcome! I'm so glad you found my blog and I hope you'll keep reading! It's tricky at this time of year to eat locavore in Colorado unless you have stores of food or a great connection in a farmer as I've found. Where there is a will there is a way however. Good luck!
Rebecca: Thanks!
Susan: It's funny how separated people are on beets; love em or hate em it seems. I hope you'll find arugula soon and give this a whirl.
Connie says
I am new to this blog and also a Colorado Blogger. I am attempting to make sure the retreat and education center that I cook at is mostly locavore. I will definately try this recipe.
Lisa @ Tarte du Jour says
What a colorful healthy salad!! Beets can rub me the wrong way too… I do like them roasted, they are somehow “less beety” that way. I would love to give this a whirl… it looks spectacular!! And I appreciate how your napkin is color coordinated to your salad. I like to it when the linens can highlight the food whenever possible!