With a sweet, earthy flavor, juicy texture, and beautiful ruby-red hue, beets make a salad into something sensational.  The key to making them the highlight of a simple yet elegant salad is roasting, making the beets juicy and tender with a concentrated sweetness.  Peeling is easier when the beets are still warm.  Also, tossing the sliced beets with the dressing while they’re warm is a must.  This allows them to absorb maximum flavor.  Goat cheese, baby arugula, and toasted pistachios round out the dish, adding tang, peppery notes, and nuttiness.  These flavors help to balance the beets’ sweetness.  It’s important to look for bunches that contain beets of similar size so that the beets will roast evenly.  If the beets are different sizes, remove the smaller ones from the oven as they become tender.  You can use red or golden beets in this recipe, or a mix of both.

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