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Salads

Ensalada de Remolacha con Naranja

The Quirky Foodster Team

(0)
15 min
Prep
40 min
Cook

Ingredients

  • 4 Medium beets, boiled, peeled and diced
  • 2 Oranges, peeled and segmented
  • 1/2 Red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 tbsp Fresh orange juice
  • 1 tsp Red wine vinegar
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • 2 tbsp Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro

Method

  1. Boil whole beets in water for 35-40 minutes until fork-tender, then cool, peel and dice.
  2. Soak the sliced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow its sharpness, then drain.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, vinegar, salt and pepper to make the dressing.
  4. Combine diced beets, orange segments and red onion in a serving bowl, then drizzle over the dressing and toss gently.
  5. Garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro and serve at room temperature or chilled.

Introduction: This beet and orange salad reflects the fresh produce of Ecuador's Andean valleys, where beets thrive in the cool highland climate and citrus arrives from lower coastal elevations.

Cultural Background: This beet and orange salad reflects the fresh produce of Ecuador's Andean valleys, where beets thrive in the cool highland climate and citrus arrives from lower coastal elevations. It's a common side salad at highland lunch tables, valued for its bright colour and refreshing contrast to heavier stews.

Tips: Boil the beets whole and unpeeled to keep them from bleeding out too much colour and losing sweetness during cooking.

Variations: Add crumbled queso fresco or toasted walnuts for extra texture; some versions use lime juice instead of orange juice in the dressing. Already vegan as written.

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days; the beets will continue to tint the other ingredients pink over time.

Reheating: Serve cold or at room temperature; this salad is not intended to be reheated.

Nutrition: Approx. 140 kcal, 3g protein, 7g fat, 18g carbohydrates per serving.

FAQs:

Q: Can I use canned beets to save time?

A: Yes, drained canned or vacuum-packed cooked beets work well and cut the preparation time significantly.

Q: How do I stop my hands staining from the beets?

A: Wear gloves when peeling and dicing beets, or rub your hands with a little lemon juice afterward to remove staining.