Paleo + Vegan Golden Beet Salad
Seattle has been uncharacteristically sunny lately (helloooo Spring!!) and it’s making me crave all the fresh salads. This golden beet cinnamon salad is doing quite the job of satisfying that salad craving.
And before you say anything - I KNOW cinnamon and beets are an unlikely combo, but you know how the saying goes… don’t knock it ‘til you try it!!
And if you think “beets taste like dirt” (which I oddly hear far too often), think again. Golden beets are one of the earth’s greatest gifts. And they taste nothing like dirt… period.
This vegan (and paleo) golden beet cinnamon salad is the perfect side dish OR toss in some protein and make it the main attraction. I’m already dreaming of the fun summer picnics I’ll be bringing this to!
And not only does it TASTE amazing, but this colorful salad is also packed with nutrients.
Golden beets are full of magnesium, vitamin C and iron, while blueberries also provide a kick of magnesium and vitamin C, plus vitamin K. Blueberries also have high levels of antioxidants (they’re tiny but mighty). And although the beets and berries take center state in this dish, arugula provides nutritional values as well. It’s full of vitamin C, K, A and E, as well as folic acid and B vitamins.
And truly cinnamon is just one of my favorite things to add to any dish, but it’s also a powerhouse of nutrition as well. It’s full of antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, can lower blood pressure and more.
But, not all cinnamon is created equal. Most cheap supermarket cinnamon is the Cassia variety which contains a compound called coumarin. Coumarin, found naturally in some plants, can actually cause harm if eaten in too large of doses. Ceylon cinnamon on the other hand, does not contain this compound. Although this won’t make a huge difference unless you’re eating large amounts of cinnamon each day, I always stick to Ceylon. :)
So, as you can see, this salad looks good, tastes good AND is very good for you.
The diverse colors in this vegan beet salad itself are an indication of its health properties. Packing your diet with a wide range of colors means you’re getting different health benefits and nutrients. This article breaks down the health benefits of different fruit/vegetable colors.
Bottom line? Try packing in as many colors as you can!! “Eat the rainbow” isn’t just a trendy hashtag - it’s an important tip we should all follow. :)
XO nat
Paleo + Vegan Golden Beet Salad
Ingredients
- 2 large golden beets (about 3 cups when cut into cubes)
- 1 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1 cup chopped arugula
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1/2 lemon squeezed
Instructions
- Start by peeling your beets and cutting them into small cubes. Steam them on the stove until soft (you should be able to easily stick a fork through them).
- After the beets are done cooking, toss them in a large bowl with the blueberries, green onions and chopped arugula.
- Drizzle on the honey and squeeze on the lemon and stir well.
- Sprinkle on the cinnamon and stir once again.