Roasted Beet & Citrus Salad with Pistachios

Roasted Beet & Citrus Salad with Pistachios

Julia

This stunning roasted beet and citrus salad transforms humble ingredients into a dinner-worthy masterpiece that's as nourishing as it is beautiful. Golden and ruby-red beets are roasted until tender and caramelized, then paired with supremed citrus segments—juicy oranges and tangy grapefruit—that burst with bright, refreshing flavor. The combination of earthy sweetness from the beets and the vibrant acidity of the citrus creates a perfect balance that awakens the palate.

Inspired by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern salad traditions, this dish elevates simple vegetables into something truly special. The addition of toasted pistachios provides a satisfying crunch and buttery richness, while creamy goat cheese (optional but highly recommended) adds a luxurious tang that ties all the flavors together. A light honey-citrus vinaigrette brings everything into harmony, with fresh herbs adding an aromatic finish.

What makes this salad particularly special is its ability to serve as a complete dinner while remaining naturally gluten-free and incredibly healthy. The beets provide fiber, folate, and antioxidants, while the citrus delivers immune-boosting vitamin C. It's a dish that looks impressive enough for entertaining yet is simple enough for a weeknight meal. The components can be prepared ahead, making assembly quick when you're ready to eat.

This salad is proof that gluten-free eating never means sacrificing flavor or satisfaction. Each bite offers a symphony of textures and tastes—from the tender, sweet beets to the juicy citrus, crunchy pistachios, and peppery arugula. It's a celebration of seasonal produce that will leave you feeling energized and completely satisfied.

Nutrition

1 hour 10 minutes
None servings
285 calories
Fat 16.00g
Carbs 32.00g
Protein 8.00g

Ingredients

4 Nonemedium beets, scrubbed and trimmed
3 tbspolive oil, divided
1 tspsalt, divided
1/2 tspblack pepper, freshly ground, divided
2 Nonelarge navel oranges
1 Noneruby red grapefruit
1/2 cupshelled pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped
5 cupsbaby arugula
3 tbspfresh orange juice
1 tbspwhite wine vinegar
1 tsphoney
1/2 tspDijon mustard
4 ozgoat cheese, crumbled (optional)
1/4 cupfresh mint leaves, torn

Equipment

Cutting board
Baking sheet
Oven
Whisk
paper towels
small mixing bowl
aluminum foil
chef's knife
measuring cups and spoons
small skillet
large serving bowl or platter

16:8 Diet

Ideal for the 16:8 eating window with its nutrient-dense, balanced composition providing sustained energy from healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. The combination of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and healthy oils delivers complete nutrition to help meet daily needs within the compressed timeframe.

80/20 Diet

This recipe exemplifies the 80/20 principle with nutrient-dense whole foods comprising well over 80% of ingredients—vegetables, fruits, nuts, and olive oil—while the small amount of honey and optional cheese represent the flexible 20%. The emphasis on anti-inflammatory, fiber-rich ingredients supports optimal health.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients including antioxidant-rich beets, vitamin C-loaded citrus fruits, omega-3 containing pistachios, and extra virgin olive oil. The colorful vegetables, leafy greens, and fresh herbs provide phytonutrients that help reduce inflammation while avoiding all processed foods and refined ingredients.

Clean Eating

A perfect clean eating recipe using only whole, minimally processed ingredients in their natural state—fresh beets, citrus fruits, raw nuts, leafy greens, and herbs. Contains no refined sugars, artificial ingredients, or processed foods, with simple preparation methods that preserve the nutritional integrity of each component.

DASH Diet

Perfect for the DASH Diet with naturally low sodium, abundant potassium-rich beets and citrus fruits, heart-healthy olive oil, and magnesium-rich pistachios. The recipe uses fresh herbs and citrus for flavor instead of salt, supporting cardiovascular health through whole, unprocessed ingredients.

Diabetic Diet

Suitable for diabetic diets with low glycemic index ingredients including non-starchy vegetables (arugula), moderate amounts of beets (which have a medium GI), and citrus fruits that provide fiber to slow sugar absorption. The healthy fats from olive oil and pistachios help stabilize blood sugar, though portion control of beets and citrus is recommended.

Flexitarian Diet

This plant-forward salad is ideal for flexitarian eating, featuring vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds as the foundation with optional goat cheese as a supporting ingredient. The emphasis on whole, minimally processed plant foods makes it a perfect primarily plant-based meal.

Gluten-Free Diet

This naturally gluten-free salad contains no wheat, barley, rye, or gluten-containing ingredients, relying entirely on whole vegetables, fruits, nuts, and naturally gluten-free components. Perfect for those avoiding gluten while enjoying a flavorful, satisfying meal without any substitutions needed.

Heart-Healthy Diet

Outstanding for heart health with cholesterol-lowering fiber from beets, heart-protective antioxidants from citrus and colorful vegetables, and healthy monounsaturated fats from olive oil and pistachios. The naturally low sodium content and absence of saturated fats (if cheese is omitted) support cardiovascular wellness.

High-Fiber Diet

Excellent source of dietary fiber with beets providing soluble and insoluble fiber, citrus fruits offering pectin, pistachios adding additional fiber, and arugula contributing roughage. This combination delivers approximately 7-9 grams of fiber per serving, supporting digestive health and satiety.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense salad is ideal for eating windows during intermittent fasting, providing sustained energy from healthy fats (olive oil, pistachios), complex carbohydrates from beets, and plenty of vitamins and minerals from citrus and vegetables to maximize nutritional value during limited eating periods.

Intuitive Eating

This salad supports intuitive eating by offering a satisfying, balanced meal with varied textures and flavors that provide both nourishment and pleasure. The combination of sweet beets, tangy citrus, crunchy pistachios, and creamy optional cheese creates a naturally satisfying eating experience without restriction or guilt-based language.

Low-Fat Diet

This salad can be made low-fat by reducing olive oil to 1 tablespoon total (approximately 3g fat per serving), omitting the goat cheese, and using the pistachios sparingly. The naturally low-fat beets, citrus fruits, and arugula provide volume and nutrition while keeping fat content minimal.

Mayo Clinic Diet

This recipe follows Mayo Clinic Diet principles with abundant vegetables and fruits as the foundation, healthy fats from olive oil and pistachios, and whole, unprocessed ingredients. The nutrient-dense composition with appropriate portions supports sustainable weight loss and overall health without refined grains or added sugars.

Mediterranean Diet

This salad exemplifies Mediterranean eating with its emphasis on extra virgin olive oil, abundant vegetables, nuts (pistachios), and fresh herbs. The citrus fruits, arugula, and olive oil-based vinaigrette provide heart-healthy fats and antioxidants while the optional goat cheese adds moderate dairy in true Mediterranean fashion.

MIND Diet

Excellent for the MIND Diet with brain-healthy leafy greens (arugula), nuts (pistachios), berries-adjacent citrus fruits rich in antioxidants, and olive oil as the primary fat. The colorful vegetables and anti-inflammatory ingredients support cognitive health while avoiding butter, cheese (optional), and processed foods.

Mindful Eating

Perfect for mindful eating with its stunning visual appeal, diverse textures (tender beets, crunchy pistachios, juicy citrus), and aromatic fresh herbs that engage all the senses. The whole, minimally processed ingredients and beautiful presentation encourage slow, conscious consumption and sensory appreciation.

Vegetarian Diet

This completely vegetarian salad provides plant-based nutrition through vegetables, fruits, nuts, and optional dairy (goat cheese), with no meat, poultry, or fish. The combination of beets, pistachios, and greens offers protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients in a satisfying meatless meal.

Weight Watchers

This salad aligns with Weight Watchers principles by emphasizing non-starchy vegetables, fresh fruits, and lean ingredients with minimal added fats. The nutrient-dense whole foods and controlled portions of pistachios and optional goat cheese make it satisfying while supporting weight management goals.

Instructions

1

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2

Wrap each scrubbed beet individually in aluminum foil, drizzling each with a bit of olive oil (about 1 tbsp total) and sprinkling with salt and pepper before sealing.

3 min
3

Place the wrapped beets on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, until tender when pierced with a knife.

50 min
4

Remove the beets from the oven and let them cool until comfortable to handle, about 10 minutes.

10 min
5

While the beets are roasting, supreme the oranges and grapefruit by cutting off the top and bottom, then slicing away the peel and pith. Cut between the membranes to release the citrus segments into a bowl, catching any juice.

8 min
6
4 min

Toast the pistachios in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and roughly chop.

7

Make the vinaigrette by whisking together the orange juice, white wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.

2 min
8

Once the beets are cool enough to handle, use paper towels or your hands to rub off the skins (they should slip off easily). Cut the beets into wedges or 1/2-inch cubes.

4 min
9

In a large serving bowl or platter, arrange the baby arugula as a base.

1 min
10

Arrange the roasted beet pieces and citrus segments over the arugula in an attractive pattern.

2 min
11

Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad, using as much or as little as desired.

12

Scatter the toasted pistachios, crumbled goat cheese (if using), and torn mint leaves over the top of the salad.

1 min
13

Serve immediately, or gently toss everything together just before serving for a more rustic presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions